Rack N Pinion on stock xmember, again...
 

I'm aware its been brought up a few times, but aside from the answer "it would take a lot of fab work"...I' don't get WHY we haven't found a way to do it yet? Personally, I'm on a weight saving mission, but I'm also on a budget. While a full PB xmember would be great, I don't really "need" one, and my truck is far enough along that fully removing the engine and crossmember isn't on my list of desires.

So what actually, specifically, stops it from being doable on a '66? (w/71 front suspension setup). I would think that if you trimmed the "lip" on the 'members front portion, and partially clearanced the a-arms, it could work...but I know standing here with a beer looking at it fully assembled...so ya know...optimism.

Anyone tried and actually had it work? Thoughts?

Re: Rack N Pinion on stock xmember, again...
 

Not sure if this is much help, but Unisteer does offer a kit for the stock crossmember.

http://www.azproperformance.com/Unis...011900-01.html

Re: Rack N Pinion on stock xmember, again...
 

No Limit also makes a rack setup for the stock crossmember, IIRC. It uses a mounting plate you need to weld to the front of the crossmember.

Re: Rack N Pinion on stock xmember, again...
 

it can be done with some fabricating,I used a t-bird r&p from the parts house.

Re: Rack N Pinion on stock xmember, again...
 

I looked at that kit, but I'm running hydroboost and disc brakes, so I don't believe that setup would work. I may be able to make the rack work, but I don't feel like paying extra for bin-parts.

Any more details besides that? Fab isnt' an issue, but knowing WHAT to fab might put me in the right direction.

Re: Rack N Pinion on stock xmember, again...
 

I looked through both the 63-66 and the 76-72 portions of the NoLimit website and don't see any kits or brackets for the rnp

Re: Rack N Pinion on stock xmember, again...
 

Why not figure it out and do your own version for half the price? You can get custom length racks for not a ton of money or find an OE one that has the right inner ball joint length and steering direction and build off that. Tierod ends are easy to adapt, input splines to steering shaft should be no problem. All you need is some metal, information and time. The locostusa forum has some very good discussions on bump steer and ackerman and testing practices.

Re: Rack N Pinion on stock xmember, again...
 

Machine solid stock. Weld it to the crossmember. Look up my crossmember drop I did a long long time ago for pictures

Re: Rack N Pinion on stock xmember, again...
 

[QUOTE=BR3W CITY;6828767]I looked at that kit, but I'm running hydroboost and disc brakes, so I don't believe that setup would work. I may be able to make the rack work, but I don't feel like paying extra for bin-parts.


there is a drop down menu to remove the pump and bracket, Travis is a huuge help from properformance and i am sure he can confirm the fitment.

Re: Rack N Pinion on stock xmember, again...
 

http://www.nolimitengineering.com/pr...47&id=26244520

I was just looking at these. :chevy:

Re: Rack N Pinion on stock xmember, again...
 

It is the width of the rack, head location and the amount of travel that makes it tough.

No-Limits kit works very well.

Re: Rack N Pinion on stock xmember, again...
 

[QUOTE=BR3W CITY;6828767]I looked at that kit, but I'm running hydroboost and disc brakes, so I don't believe that setup would work. I may be able to make the rack work, but I don't feel like paying extra for bin-parts.

I completely understand. If you do find it an option, it is available without the pump, bracket & lines for $300 less. I know still more than you may be able to put one together for, but figured I would mention it.

Subscribed to see what direction you go.

Re: Rack N Pinion on stock xmember, again...
 

Thanks for all the responses. I've been reading a handful of discussion on other forums non-truck related to see whats come up, and turns out the 4wd guys are DOPE when it comes to this discussion. I've found a few builds on pirate4x4 and other places where guys are doing custom rear-steer and such, and I'm looking into all the ways that they made it work.

I'm most concerned about the bump-steer and geometry stuff. I'm solid on the fab, but I lack in engineering experience.

Pro-Performance, good to know too man. It looks like you guys put a really nice setup together. IMO for now, I might try to flex my fab skill and do something on the cheap. You can have a few glasses of scotch courtesy of me if you'll tell me what rack you started with....but I don't blame you for not doing so.

Re: Rack N Pinion on stock xmember, again...
 

That is a Unisteer kit, so not sure what they use in that particular setup. I will see if I can find that out though.

Re: Rack N Pinion on stock xmember, again...
 

"I'm most concerned about the bump-steer and geometry"

This is not a good statement with a ton of bump steer in it is a good way to die.

Re: Rack N Pinion on stock xmember, again...
 

I have pics in my build thread, I did some research and what I found stated that the pivot of the tie rods need to intersect the upper and lower pivot points of the control arms. this can be difficult as it can interfere with the engine in order to get it high enough in the chassis. This is were a shorter rack would help. Also where it is mounted in relation to the steering arms will affect how much ackerman effect is acheived. If it is mounted in front of the crossmember it needs to be mounted as far back as possible in relation to the steering arms. Not exact but hope it helps.

Re: Rack N Pinion on stock xmember, again...
 

I used this kit on my son's '82. It is gennerally a bolt on kit. No welding. Had to drill 5 holes in the cross member to bolt it in. I had to do some light grinding with a flap wheel in a couple of places on the crossmember and the u-bolts that hold the lower a-arm cross shaft to the crossmember.

Used a couple of u-joints and a DD shaft for the steering hook up. Loved the way it worked and drove. I will be doing the same thing with my '65 someday...

There is a install thread here on the board that was done on a '66 I believe. I will see if I can find it...

Re: Rack N Pinion on stock xmember, again...
 

found it...the install starts on post #17...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=465423

Re: Rack N Pinion on stock xmember, again...
 

Huh? How is me being the MOST concerned about bump steer a bad thing?

Re: Rack N Pinion on stock xmember, again...
 

Seems like maybe he misread what your wrote, yeah?

A pretty neat way to test for bumpsteer is to get your rack (with the inner pivots along the line described by jhrusk above) clamped in place and your outer tierods on, springs out. Then you slip a small piece of tube over the two, male threaded ends of the inner and outer TREs. As you cycle the suspension up and down you can watch/measure any movement of the tube. No movement means no bump steer. Move the rack around as needed until you like it and your like your ackerman and nail the rack where it is. If you need it more precise for road racing or something you should probably do the laser/mirror thing or at least a toe bar to refine the rack location further. Making the rack shimable in at least one direction is a great idea also if you like to mess with alignments.

Re: Rack N Pinion on stock xmember, again...
 

We ran another project at Gingerman Raceway, and now we are back ready to make this thing NOT handle like a glazed ham.
So far I have two racks to try, and we'll see what works. I've got a 2002 Silverado rack, which was recommended by another group of enthusiasts, and I've got an fbody rack. Hopefully we'll see what this ends up looking like.

Re: Rack N Pinion on stock xmember, again...
 

I think the rack used in the No Limit kits is from a Chevy Colorado /GMC Canyon, it may be close for track width on your 66.

Re: Rack N Pinion on stock xmember, again...
 

Nope, that's not correct.

Per Rob's post on another thread (63-72 rack and pinion):

"The racks start out as late model chevy truck (like 2000-2006 1/2 ton 2WD) We cut off the OE passenger side mount, and rotate the passenger side housing 180*. To fit up with the rotated housing, the formed pressure hard lines are custom made to fit. All of the consumable parts, boots, seals.... are from the 2000+chev 1/2T "

Re: Rack N Pinion on stock xmember, again...
 

That's bad info on my part, the rack in that kit looked close to rack in my 08 Canyon and to one I replaced in a friends truck, but looking back at the no limits one I can see the differences with the hard lines and an extra mount on the drivers side on the one in my truck.

Re: Rack N Pinion on stock xmember, again...
 

I did a conversion about 12 years ago and modified the cross member then mounted a Tbird rack http://www.thehollisterroadcompany.com/rackpinion.html and then added hydraboost http://www.thehollisterroadcompany.com/hydroboost.html. They didn't have truck racks you could afford to buy back then so you had to go with car rack but if I had to do it again I'd use a Canyon/Colorado or the late model 1/2 ton, it would have fewer issues with rod end tapers and matching parts. fewer pressure issues if you wanted to go with hydraboost.

It was a lot of work. The no limit or unisteer would be much easier than what I did.