non -power steering rack

Slickfoot · 12-09-2016, 10:41 PM

Is anybody running a Ford non-power steering rack in their stock class Fox bodys or is everyone running Flaming River ?

JHeath · 12-09-2016, 10:46 PM

I have a manual rack from a 79 Fairmont in my 89 Mustang GT stocker

Sean Marconette · 12-09-2016, 11:15 PM

I have a 78 Mercury Zephyr non power steering rack in my 83 Mustang. Unless you can find a non power steering car Flaming river may be your cheapest option.

Rock Auto has reman racks for $218

http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/m...lete+unit,7388

Shadylane · 12-10-2016, 12:33 AM

I bought one from Rock Auto but it was boxed wrong and wasn't even close to bolting up. Sent it back and received another one from them, it was also boxed wrong. I talked with the Rock Auto rep and was told the manual racks were no longer available, so I bought this Unisteer. Works perfect. Cheaper than a Burning Creek.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/u.../model/mustang

Rory McNeil · 12-10-2016, 01:46 AM

My 78 Fairmont started life as a manual steering and brake car, so I retained both itemms when I made it a drag car. My 85 Mustang has a factory Ford manual rack that I pulled off a plain jane 1980 Mustang at a local wrecking yard. Over the years, I have pulled 4 or 5 manual racks from 78-80 Fairmonts, or 79-82 Mustangs. (Also have found clutch pedal assemblies, aluminum rear brake drums, and aluminum bumper rebars at wrecking yards.)
One thing to be aware of, from 1978, into at least 1982, the steering racks had pressed in mounting bushings, with a thick steel sleeve, and used long, large diameter bolts. On my 85 Mustang, the rack mounting bolts were much smaller diameter, there were 2 'slip on" bushings per mount, and the Kmember had a steel tube on either side, that the rubber bushings slide over, and the mounting bolts fit into. To use the early rack on the 85, I had to remove the pressed in bushings and sleeves, and use the 2 piece slip on bushings.
Do NOT use a press to try to remove the pressed in bushings, I tried, and snapped off the lower mounting eye of the rack. I found that drilling a bunch of small holes thru the rubber bushings, and lots of silicone lube and a small hammer popped the pressed in bushings out nicely. Be sure that you get the splined coupler from the manual steering cars steering shaft, as the splined diameter is much smaller on the manual rack.

BRETV · 12-10-2016, 09:47 AM

Just buy a Flaming River with the steering shaft and get some offset bushings to lower the rack in the chassis, not the cheapest but the easiest and it looks great.

Bret Velde
2003 SS/LA

Dave Gantz · 12-10-2016, 11:39 AM

Flaming River sells different ratios. Something to consider when making a choice.

Slickfoot · 12-10-2016, 11:05 PM

Do you know the ratio on that Unisteer, Shadlane ?

Shadylane · 12-11-2016, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slickfoot

Do you know the ratio on that Unisteer, Shadlane ?

The one I bought is standard ratio.

12-09-2016, 10:41 PM	#1
Slickfoot Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Lewiston NY Posts: 77 Likes: 2 Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts	non -power steering rack Is anybody running a Ford non-power steering rack in their stock class Fox bodys or is everyone running Flaming River ?

12-09-2016, 10:46 PM	#2
JHeath Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 786 Likes: 2,876 Liked 370 Times in 101 Posts	Re: non -power steering rack I have a manual rack from a 79 Fairmont in my 89 Mustang GT stocker __________________ Jerry Heath I/S '93 Cobra FS/J 2010 Mustang "Ebay CJ"

12-09-2016, 11:15 PM	#3
Sean Marconette Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 977 Likes: 786 Liked 274 Times in 76 Posts	Re: non -power steering rack I have a 78 Mercury Zephyr non power steering rack in my 83 Mustang. Unless you can find a non power steering car Flaming river may be your cheapest option. Rock Auto has reman racks for $218 http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/m...lete+unit,7388 __________________ Sean Marconette 84 Mustang 5060 SS/N

12-10-2016, 12:33 AM	#4
Shadylane Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Farmington, New Mexico Posts: 201 Likes: 257 Liked 166 Times in 50 Posts	Re: non -power steering rack I bought one from Rock Auto but it was boxed wrong and wasn't even close to bolting up. Sent it back and received another one from them, it was also boxed wrong. I talked with the Rock Auto rep and was told the manual racks were no longer available, so I bought this Unisteer. Works perfect. Cheaper than a Burning Creek. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/u.../model/mustang

12-10-2016, 01:46 AM	#5
Rory McNeil VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: from Vancouver BC Canada, now in Nova Scotia Posts: 1,300 Likes: 302 Liked 1,074 Times in 294 Posts	Re: non -power steering rack My 78 Fairmont started life as a manual steering and brake car, so I retained both itemms when I made it a drag car. My 85 Mustang has a factory Ford manual rack that I pulled off a plain jane 1980 Mustang at a local wrecking yard. Over the years, I have pulled 4 or 5 manual racks from 78-80 Fairmonts, or 79-82 Mustangs. (Also have found clutch pedal assemblies, aluminum rear brake drums, and aluminum bumper rebars at wrecking yards.) One thing to be aware of, from 1978, into at least 1982, the steering racks had pressed in mounting bushings, with a thick steel sleeve, and used long, large diameter bolts. On my 85 Mustang, the rack mounting bolts were much smaller diameter, there were 2 'slip on" bushings per mount, and the Kmember had a steel tube on either side, that the rubber bushings slide over, and the mounting bolts fit into. To use the early rack on the 85, I had to remove the pressed in bushings and sleeves, and use the 2 piece slip on bushings. Do NOT use a press to try to remove the pressed in bushings, I tried, and snapped off the lower mounting eye of the rack. I found that drilling a bunch of small holes thru the rubber bushings, and lots of silicone lube and a small hammer popped the pressed in bushings out nicely. Be sure that you get the splined coupler from the manual steering cars steering shaft, as the splined diameter is much smaller on the manual rack. __________________ NHRA 6390 STK M/S 85 Mustang

12-10-2016, 09:47 AM	#6
BRETV Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 554 Likes: 4,035 Liked 756 Times in 192 Posts	Re: non -power steering rack Just buy a Flaming River with the steering shaft and get some offset bushings to lower the rack in the chassis, not the cheapest but the easiest and it looks great. Bret Velde 2003 SS/LA

12-10-2016, 11:39 AM	#7
Dave Gantz Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Verrry South Jersey Posts: 537 Likes: 134 Liked 251 Times in 125 Posts	Re: non -power steering rack Flaming River sells different ratios. Something to consider when making a choice.

12-10-2016, 11:05 PM	#8
Slickfoot Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Lewiston NY Posts: 77 Likes: 2 Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: non -power steering rack Do you know the ratio on that Unisteer, Shadlane ?