Rack and Pinion Conversion

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Cstorry
Posts: 24
Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2012 11:04 pm
Your car is a: 1984 Pininfarina
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Re: Rack and Pinion Conversion

Postby Cstorry » Wed Jan 04, 2017 8:38 pm

... oh and the rack length is approximately 43" from center to center of outer tie rod end ball joints

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v6spider
Posts: 1035
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 6:57 pm
Your car is a: 4.3L V6 Powered 1972 124 FIAT Spider
Location: Mount Vernon WA

Re: Rack and Pinion Conversion

Postby v6spider » Sat Jan 07, 2017 3:41 pm

Cstorry wrote:... oh and the rack length is approximately 43" from center to center of outer tie rod end ball joints

That's not the only important measurement. You need to know the inner rack length as well from knuckle to knuckle. In order to measure that you need to remove the boots and measure from the center of each balljoint. In fact that is the most crucial measurement. Length of the rod can be longer as it can be shortened to fit. I believe it is 25.5"

Rob
http://www.v6spider.com
4.3L V6 Powered 1972 124 FIAT Spider

Cstorry
Posts: 24
Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2012 11:04 pm
Your car is a: 1984 Pininfarina
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Re: Rack and Pinion Conversion

Postby Cstorry » Mon Jan 16, 2017 12:19 pm

Indeed the tie rods have a fair bit of adjustment.

Depends on exactly where you consider the center of the balljoint

Let me take a pic and post - I'd say the inner rack length is closer to 24 or maybe 24.5"

Chuck

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v6spider
Posts: 1035
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 6:57 pm
Your car is a: 4.3L V6 Powered 1972 124 FIAT Spider
Location: Mount Vernon WA

Re: Rack and Pinion Conversion

Postby v6spider » Tue Jan 17, 2017 7:58 pm

Cstorry wrote:Indeed the tie rods have a fair bit of adjustment.

Depends on exactly where you consider the center of the balljoint

Let me take a pic and post - I'd say the inner rack length is closer to 24 or maybe 24.5"

Chuck

Need to know exactly what that measurement is.
I'm using a front mounted Mustang II rack that I had to lengthen to 25.5" to make it be within the right geometry. Rear mounted rack is a little different.

Cheers!
Rob
http://www.v6spider.com
4.3L V6 Powered 1972 124 FIAT Spider

Cstorry
Posts: 24
Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2012 11:04 pm
Your car is a: 1984 Pininfarina
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Re: Rack and Pinion Conversion

Postby Cstorry » Wed Jan 18, 2017 8:36 pm

I see.

The 85.5 rack is 62.5cm center to center of the ball joints

Image

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Sparky
Posts: 114
Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2016 10:53 am
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124
Location: Pacific Northwest

Re: Rack and Pinion Conversion

Postby Sparky » Thu Jan 19, 2017 1:05 am

Thanks for posting that Cstorry! :D I'll have to make another trip to the wreckers with a tape measure.
-= 1978 Fiat Spider =-

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v6spider
Posts: 1035
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 6:57 pm
Your car is a: 4.3L V6 Powered 1972 124 FIAT Spider
Location: Mount Vernon WA

Re: Rack and Pinion Conversion

Postby v6spider » Sat Jan 21, 2017 2:33 pm

Cstorry wrote:I see.

The 85.5 rack is 62.5cm center to center of the ball joints

Image

Also have to mount it at the exact same height as the original mounts on the 85 Pininfarina. Length of the rack and mounting will affect the ackerman ratios if it isn't done correctly.

Cheers!
Rob
http://www.v6spider.com
4.3L V6 Powered 1972 124 FIAT Spider


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