Bart Vangampelaere
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| posted on 21/11/09 at 01:37 PM |
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steering rack questions
I'm (still) not building a locost, but as ever I enjoy coming here for tips on car building that help me modifying my own car.
I was wondering about the steering rack used for the Locost/Seven-style cars.
This sits in front of the axle, right? But doesn't the excort rack (fe the Rally Design one) normally sit behind the axle line?
I'm thinking of converting my Mazda RX-7 (first gen) to rack and pinion, but obviously need a suitable rack. It'll need to be in front of
the axle line, just as with Seven-style cars, but a rack that's intended to be used behind the axle line would make the car steer the opposite
direction.
How do you guys do this? Can a RHD rack be used in a LHD car, upside down, to overcome this problem? Or are you not using an Escort rack?
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blakep82
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| posted on 21/11/09 at 02:06 PM |
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i've got a mk2 escort rack on my car, rack is in front of the axle line, works fine 
its a normal RHD drive rack, not sure, but i think the rack is in front of the axle on RWD escorts too, definitely is on a cortina too. i sort of
think they generally are on most RWD cars, otherwise the sump on the engine gets in the way
[Edited on 21/11/09 by blakep82]
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Bart Vangampelaere
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| posted on 21/11/09 at 04:01 PM |
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thanks, I was under the impression that the Mk2 Escort had the rack on the other side. Maybe I've been looking at the wrong pics  I'm
not really an expert on old Fords...
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Canada EH!
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| posted on 21/11/09 at 04:39 PM |
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There are LHD escort racks available, I have one, quick rack purchased from a supplier in the UK
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Bart Vangampelaere
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| posted on 21/11/09 at 04:51 PM |
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LHD is not a problem, I was just wondering about fitting them in front of the axle. From the few pics I found on the web, I was getting the idea the
racks are fitted behind the axle on stock Escorts.
Anyone who knows the length of these racks? And the track of a stock Escort or Locost? My books are all buried after moving, meaning I can't
look up the numbers.
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beaver34
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| posted on 21/11/09 at 05:25 PM |
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ive got a lhd mk2 quick rack that i will be selling soon as im converting to rhd
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 21/11/09 at 06:36 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Bart Vangampelaere
LHD is not a problem, I was just wondering about fitting them in front of the axle. From the few pics I found on the web, I was getting the idea the
racks are fitted behind the axle on stock Escorts.
Mk1 and Mk2 Escorts have the rack in front of the axle, just like a Locost.
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RAYLEE29
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| posted on 21/11/09 at 07:00 PM |
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Hi,the rack is out front on rwd and on the bulkhead on fwd escorts (mk3 onwards)
Ray
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Bart Vangampelaere
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| posted on 21/11/09 at 07:06 PM |
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Ok, thanks, now I can try to find out if it'd be possible to fiddle in one in my RX-7.
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Bart Vangampelaere
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| posted on 21/11/09 at 07:06 PM |
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Ok, thanks, now I can try to find out if it'd be possible to fiddle in one in my RX-7.
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Bart Vangampelaere
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| posted on 22/11/09 at 11:16 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by beaver34
ive got a lhd mk2 quick rack that i will be selling soon as im converting to rhd
Condition? Price? I'd be intrested, but would need to know the length etc first, since it's a custom install, and I'm not sure
it'd even fit.
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blakep82
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| posted on 22/11/09 at 11:34 AM |
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rack extentions are not uncommon. i've got some on mine, so don't worry too much if its a bit short
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Bart Vangampelaere
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| posted on 22/11/09 at 01:34 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by blakep82
rack extentions are not uncommon. i've got some on mine, so don't worry too much if its a bit short
I'm more worried it'd be to long, although that's rather unlikely. I'd also need to know where the input shaft is (approx) so
I can check if it'd clear the engine.
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blakep82
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| posted on 22/11/09 at 02:05 PM |
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http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/upload/steering%20length.jpg
picture is huge  any good browser should resize automatically ^
red line is 40 inches approx (i don't know exactly how much is inside the extentions so i've added about 2" extra
blue line is 13 inches approx
Its a MK2 escort quick rack, MK1 is the same i think, except the threads on the ends are imperial rather than metric. to fit one to an rx7, i think
you'd be better with a mk2 as its metic and should find ball joints to fit easier thread is M14
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blakep82
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| posted on 22/11/09 at 02:05 PM |
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http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/upload/steering%20length.jpg
picture is huge any good browser should resize automatically ^
red line is 40 inches approx (i don't know exactly how much is inside the extentions so i've added about 2" extra
blue line is 13 inches approx
Its a MK2 escort quick rack, MK1 is the same i think, except the threads on the ends are imperial rather than metric. to fit one to an rx7, i think
you'd be better with a mk2 as its metic and should find ball joints to fit easier thread is M14
________________________
IVA manual link http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCES&itemId=1081997083
don't write OT on a new thread title, you're creating the topic, everything you write is very much ON topic!
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Bart Vangampelaere
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| posted on 22/11/09 at 05:54 PM |
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Thanks a lot, that's gonna help.
Metric ends would sure be helpfull, M14 is probable the same as the RX7, must check that.
I think this should work on my car. The only problem I can thnik of is connecting the rack to the excisting column.
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blakep82
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| posted on 23/11/09 at 10:56 AM |
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sliped end on the collumn end is 14mm too. if you's is the same then perfect. if not, then have a search on the forum. almost everyone (except
me ) have had to extend the steering at some point, so the principal on taking the top end of one, and bottom end of a sierra, cortina, or escort
mk2 collumn could be welded up together
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Bart Vangampelaere
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| posted on 23/11/09 at 03:21 PM |
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The existing top part should be able to connect without welding, but it'll need a shaft in between (UJ at both ends there). I definitly want to
make sure the column stays deformable, I really wouldn't want to be pierced in case of an accident.
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blakep82
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| posted on 23/11/09 at 03:27 PM |
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of course not! what i mean is though, plenty of folk on here have had to modify and lengthen sierra/escort collumns, be welding them (after adding a
extention) so if you had to, you could take the top part with the deforming part, and weld in the bottom part from a ford to match the splines. so if
there is a mis match, between mazda and ford (they're both the same actually aren't they?!) shafts and UJ then it can be modified
you keep the same length, and the deforming part, but you have the right spline on the bottom bit
________________________
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don't write OT on a new thread title, you're creating the topic, everything you write is very much ON topic!
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Bart Vangampelaere
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| posted on 23/11/09 at 03:55 PM |
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Depending on how the shaft actually looks (haven't seen one taken apart yet, the inner shaft is running in an outer one, a sort of tube all the
way to the old steering box, so I have no idea about splines etc yet) it might be neccessary to get a new lower shaft. The inner shaft is actually two
parts, joined by melted plastic (doesn't sound strong, does it???). An American conversion kit replaces the lower shaft, so I might need to do
the same.
Anyway, there must be a way to fix this, I'll just need to look into it.
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