Got a rack on my 70 mav with headers

Wanted to get this rack on to see if it would fit with the headers and it fits great, the rack is from a 85 Pontiac Sunbird, and the headers are long Headman's, 5.0 Efi and T5 setup

 

really nice!

 

How far back, from the center of the spindle is the rack? I've set mine at 8 1/2".

 

hmmmm, dont know, will have to measure tomorrow

 

Actually, I just went out and measured it.....8 3/4 from center of spindle to center of rack

 

That's gonna have some wicked u-joint geometry on the intermediate shaft...

 

"Piece-of-Cake!!"

 

Nice!!

 

Doesn't look any worse than the R&C setup I have.

I guess the Hedmans are just made better for our cars than the Hookers. The Hedmans just hug the block so much better.

I gave up the long tube Hookers due to the oversize Canton oilpan, more than for the steering rack.

 

Is the travel of the Sunbird rack comparable to the travel of the Maverick centerlink? How did you calculate where to mount the rack itself and did you try to retain the Ackerman angles of the Maverick?

 

The last Mav that I installed this rack onto steered great!! It did have a little loss of turning radius, but it wasnt really noticeable, even in a parking lot. I have not checked this one yet, but will later. I imagine it will be just as good, that is why I chose this rack, it has more turns than a later unit.

As for setting the location of the rack, I just support it under the car with a jack and wiggle it around untill I get it to clear all the obstacles, and gives me the angle to the column I want, and still gives me room for the tie rods to operate. No rocket science here, once in position, I do a lot of measuring to make sure it is the same front to back, and level. The steering column is next, it needs to be taken apart and the steering rod gets replaced with a length of 3/4DD rod, and the column also gets shortened up a little, to get it as close to the firewall as I can get it, then the column to rack rod gets made with a double u-joint at the end of the column and also a support bearing. Then I make a bracket that comes off the rack for the tie rods to mount to. I will try to get the tie rods on the same plane as the lower control arms to eliminate bump steer, which none of my conversions have had. Not really difficult, but mainly time consuming.

 

Nice job with your install considering the tight quarters that you have to work in

 

Very nice. I definitely like the simplicity. Thanks for the response.:Handshake

 

Did you keep the stock Maverick oil pan, or use a double hump like a newer mustang.

 

Stock front sump pan