Slick 60's

Quite by accident, I just discovered No Limit Engineering has a Power Rack and Pinion setup for a 1964 F100. (most vendors skip right over the 64).

Has anyone tried this product? Seems to be a fairly basic bolt-on (based on article in Classic Trucks Magazine). I'm thinking that this along with a disk brake upgrade might solve two of of my problems (ie steering & braking).

Wouldn't that require cutting/welding etc? I don't have that ability. The No Limits option seems like something I can handle (drilling holes and installing bolts, lines etc.(

Call and ask how a solidly mounted steering collum mounts to a moving rack? and do they sell those parts in the Kit?

Garbz

Garbz wrote:Call and ask how a solidly mounted steering collum mounts to a moving rack? and do they sell those parts in the Kit?

Garbz

With a slip joint. A tube with a shaft that slides in and out, similar to the slip joint on a drive shaft with a solidly mounted carrier bearing.

Tracy

This is very similar to the setup that Kid was investigating building.

I went and checked it out on their website also, and am considering trying it out also, complete kit is under 600 bucks and you need to buy your own pump. and I get to keep my straight axle up front

as it sits right now it reminds me of an old gasser car from the 60s and I dont want to change that

Thanks for the responses from all. I will try to do more research, but for what I'm trying to accomplish (easier low speed steering and a smaller steering wheel). I think I'm going to give it a go too!

I also have a lead on a way to install a front sway bar on the 64.

Just add disc brakes and I'll be in business.

You might want to PM Uncle skip on that stuff. He has done how-to articles on both the front sway bar and the brakes, and seatbelts and gas tanks,but he usually deletes his pictures about 2 days after he posts an article, so maybe he can help in private.

Johnny Canuck wrote:You might want to PM Uncle skip on that stuff. He has done how-to articles on both the front sway bar and the brakes, and seatbelts and gas tanks,but he usually deletes his pictures about 2 days after he posts an article, so maybe he can help in private.

Just got a PM from him regarding the sway bar. I have to ask him about the other things too. Thanks.

Greg D wrote:The R&P setup Kid is looking into uses a slip joint from a big truck (straight truck/semi). I drive this stuff for a living and you would never know the slip joint is in there if you didn't know about. Works flawlessly!

Is this something that "KID" is building or buying? Any links to posts. I couldn't find any. Thanks.

Why can`t the rack be bolted to a bracket(crossmember style) this would fix the floating between collum &rack, then the connecting rods do all the moving with there unijoints.I know I`ve said this before but no-one has explained why it wouldn`t work so BRING IT ON !prove me wrong

Alan

Oh Geez, you really want me to prove your ignorance?


Bolting the rack and pinion to the frame on a fixed crosmember is quite possibly the most dangerous arrangement possible and here is why. For the sake of this discussion we will leave out steering input and just focus on the tie rod aspect.

Your solid beam axle is a fixed length. Your original tie rod is also a fixed length that travels with the axle as it articulates under the truck. No toe change occurs. When a rack and pinion is mounted to the frame, the tie rods still need to be connected to the steering arms. Because of the nature of a rack and pinion the tie rods are fairly short and will travel in a small arc.

For example, you have your toe set at ride height then lift the truck and let the axle hang. The tie rods will droop and because they are on a short radius the toe will change dramaticaly. On a rear steer system the wheels will toe out in this situation.

This is classic bumpsteer. This situation will put you in a ditch when you least expect it to.

[quote="ELpolacko"]Oh Geez, you really want me to prove your ignorance?


Yes and now I`m not .

Alan



P.S. ever been fishing!

Greg D wrote:Thes slip joints are found on trucks with air ride cabs. If it safe at 80,000 lbs should be good for a 1/2 ton truck.

The concern isn't for the slip joint but for the bushings in the rack being able to resist the force of the colapsing or expanding joint under input loads.


I'm sick of the subject quite frankly. The way I see it if it was a good idea then FORD would have done it that way.... Right?

well considering R&P was not a option in 64 that is a pretty good reason Ford did not use it on a straight axle back then..............Kid