Posted by rickyracer (IP: 209.20.173.100) on November 24, 1999 at 22:04:58:
In Reply to: Call Me Stupid; Steering posted by John B. on November 24, 1999 at 11:56:18:
:go with the Mav manual steering system and a good sway bar in the front with poly bushings and end links, not the rubber ones. go to a little stiffer but lower front springs a good tire and rim in the front and you'll be fine as far as handling goes.
Anything else and it starts costing big bucks
Call me stupid, but I'm just not getting a clear picture (what with all this talk about power steering on, power steering off) of the best way to get the type of feel in my steering that you associate wih a contemporary performance machine: responsive, not mushy or to easy; some road feel to it but not like a power steering car with a broken belt or even standard steering (too heavy with a V8)---some power assist but not to the point of being out of touch with your tires! Is this possible for a Mav? Rack and pinion looks way too expensive for me. What about a steering box out of some Ford performance machine? Would that be "do-able" or make a difference? By the way, thanks for the input on bushings and sway bars,etc. The comments about lotteries and having a new car fit. I expect to pump $7000 to $8000 into this project before it's done. My ratonale is this--spend that much money on an early 90's such-an-such, (yawn) or build a like-new machine that's different, cusom-tailored to my taste, and exciting. It's a leap in faith but I have decided to take it. By the way, doing something like this is far more expensive here in Canada. I know that our money isn't worth as much, but let me give you an example. I just bought an AutoMeter SportsComp mechanical oil pressure and water temperature gauge set. In Canada these would have cost me about $180 Can. with the taxes. Summit price with shipping;$76.00 x 1.55(exchange rate)=$117.80 Can. + $50.25 for duty, taxes, more shipping (from border) and brockerage fees=$168.05. I recently took delivery of a nylon equalizer bar bushing from Perogie Ent.--$20 U.S. + $10 U.S. for shipping to border x 1.55= $46.50 Can. + $20 for brockers fees etc.= $66.50 for a bushing a bit bigger than a walnut! Oh well-- the high cost of big boys toys, eh? John B.