Manual steering rack and tubular engine cross member

[Nismofreek823]

Hey guys, I saw this post reguarding getting a manual steering rack for $1000 american. zer...age=1

Well I want a manual rack but I'm not paying 1k for it. I got the guys at TRZ Motorsports in Kissimmee Florida making suspension parts for me and they said if I could get 10 people willing to buy they could make the tubular crossmember and a manual rack for $700. That 700 has a built in buffer so it will probably be cheaper. The rack would include outer tie rods with heimjoints and bolts so the spindle will have to be drilled to eliminate the taper. The steering rack would be a flamming river rack and the steering ratio would be 15:1.

http://www.flamingriver.comhttp://www.t ... ports.com/

Let me know if your interested.

1. Nismofreek823
Modified by Nismofreek823 at 2:32 PM 12/2/2009

[Steve Lloyd]

A lot of sanctioning bodies that S-chassis people run in don't allow for modification to the front subframe, so this would create a problem.

Also, is the $700 including the subframe?? I would be interested, but need a little more information as well as approval from my certifying officals that they would allow replacement of the front subframe. I know I'm not allowed to modify it, but replacement might be allowed.

[Nismofreek823]

Steve the 700 would include the subframe. The reason for the subframe is it would definitly keep costs down cause they could use an existingflaming river rack and not have to get one made specific because ofmounting points and bracket style. I'm taking mine out this week and giving it to them cause I would like one that bolts up to the exisitingsubframe myself. But by just glancing at it installed that was the original suggestion from one of the guys. I'll keep you updated through this post.

[GTSRolla34]

Keep us posted as you get more information about a direct swap rack vs a rack/subframe combo.

[Steve Lloyd]

They aren't to far away from me, I'd be interested in seeing what they come up with. What othe suspension mods are you getting done???

Shoot me an e-mail............

slloyd70 @ gmail dot com

[Nismofreek823]

My rack and sub frame should get there tomorrow or friday(I got someone dropping it off). So with the holiday weekend I would expect something back next week regarding keeping the stock sub frame. As stated before I'll keep you posted

[GTSRolla34]

Any updates?

[Bumnah]

Certainly a good idea, only downfall I see is if you wreck your car you'll need to get another sub frame to go with the flaming river rack. I suppose the other rack has a similar issue (your replacement is $1k), but you'd be able to swap in a factory rack in the mean time.

15:1 is def. improvement over the 17:1. Hicas is 14.7:1. It almost makes sense to go with a Hicas rack, unpowered. Can flaming river do other ratios?

[Nismofreek823]

Only update is that they have taken measurements of the rack and contacted flaming river to see what can be done and our options. I should have better details before the end of the week.

[Nismofreek823]

Got good news. They say a direct bolt in looks very doable. One rack has been ordered to test fit into my car. Right now they say it would list for around 650. That would include a custom steering shaft, new u-joints, and heim joint tie rod ends. Those are quoted cause they don't know if the factory ones will match up to the rack. It might not need any of that to work so it would be less expensive if it didn't. The ratio would be 15:1 because thats the tightest flaming river offers right now, they could probably make it tighter but that would cost much more due to havingto reengineer components.

I'm sure if the market is there for it it will also help prices to be lower. Hell 650 isnt bad compared to 1K

[kouki munster]

This is very intriguing, I will be watching this for more updates.

[barefoot mat]

as a matter-o-fact, im going to need to change my steering rack out soon.interested-is it going to be a true bolt-in style?

[GTSRolla34]

Very interesting. I really hope that they have an option that will fit standard 240 tie rod options.

[kouki munster]

Any updates on this?

[homeslicej2]

I would be intertested in this as well. My re-manned rack is leaking after only 2.5 years and I'd rather not spend another $300+ for one that will leak again. I'm not too keen on the spindle thing though. How would that affect changing to the S14 spindle for 5-lug swap or if you need new tie rods (inner and outer) where would you buy them?