Rack and Pinion Upgrade??

[HollyWoodCharger]

Has anyone upgraded a 68-70 B-body with a Rack and pinion over the stock steering parts....

I'm looking for input and photos of this conversion....

[suntech]

There are a few companies that makes complete front ends, with rack and pinipn setup.
The 2 that has IMO the best suitable setup for road use are XV motorsports, and  Bill Reilly (RMS)

[Mike DC]

       
There's a R/P conversion kit for these cars being made by Unisteer.  But everyone who buys it complains that it's crap for the same set of reasons.  Geometry is shite, and the turning circle SEVERELY shite. 


The AlterKtion setup seems to have the issue licked a lot better, but that's an entire suspension replacement. 


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I would say try overhauling the stock steering/front end setup first.   

Make sure the front end bushings are all fresh.  (They don't really even need to be poly, just need to be fresh rubber.)  Get a rebuilt tighter stock P/S box and adjust it right.  Get some aftermarket A-arms or offset ball joints with more caster.  Maybe even replace the stock pot coupler/rag joint with something tighter from the aftermarket.   

After all this is done, I'd be surprised if the steering was still loose enough for you to be investigating anything further. 

[John_Kunkel]

R&P isn't an "upgrade" unless it improves something and the ones I've seen don't. The replacement K-members like the Alterkation are an exception.

[HollyWoodCharger]

This is the info I was looking for....

I'm probably going to use a Energy Suspension Urethane bushing kit, new Upper Ball joints that will increase the caster adjustment, and use a Better steering box such as Firm Feel's or Flaming River's with a new steering column that they offer..... and replace the rest of the Front end with New Parts of the Stock original design...

[Mike DC]

Even if you use poly on the rest of the front end, I would really encourage you to leave the LCA bushings (particularly the one at the torsion bar area LCA mount) as regular rubber.  That area is prone to metal fatigue and tearing out over time.  The suspension was really designed to need some "give" in that spot in particular. 

[ronwest]

Yes, it's true, I had the Unisteer and was really disappointed. I spent a lot of money having it installed and removed too.
Here's the problems I encountered. And I was excited about getting it.

Loooong turning radius, really bad.
Needed 2 alignments due to mounting location being off.
Didn't fit my application without mods to the supplied bracket.
Felt real loose and floaty and lots of feedback going in driveways.

That was just going around the block. I was done after that.

I recommend Firm Feel's steering box and replace your bushings and balls.
Then you will rock.

[HollyWoodCharger]

I'm glad I did the research now and that will save some Money in the long run to put toward making the uni-body a
lot nicer............

Thanks Guys!