FrontEngineDragsters.Org Forum
Technical => Roo Man's Room => Topic started by: Blind Mule on February 02, 2013, 10:51:54 PM
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OK guys not trying to start a peeing match with this question :-[ I am undecided between a rack or steering box for my build I have been told that one is better than the other now I ask because I DON"T KNOW :-\ Some say a rack is the wrong ratio for a FED some say a box is too slow and harder to correct if it gets outa shape my junk won't have enough power to get wild (I Hope)
My car will also have a solid front axle if that makes a steering difference?
Flame on I got on heat treated undies ;D
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Seem's to me that it would be an awful lot of work to make a rack work on a FED . As far as the ratio goes you can change it by going to longer or shorter steering arms .
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Pretty sure Parks sells rack for feds.Give him a call he will tell you which is best and he will be straight.Hes cool guy and tell it like he sees it.
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Not trying to pee, but I do not see an advantage to the rack and pinion? As said earlier you can change the ratio on either set up and the box is certainly more traditional. You would have to do some real fab work to get the shaft and ujoints arounf the motor and back in line wouldn't you?
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I'm updating my tired box and I've been researching on this. Both Strange (www.strangeengineering.net) and Pro-werks (www.pro-werks.com) make nice boxes. Rooman (Keith Burgan) has both.
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Although a few people have run rack and pinion deals in FED's (as far back as the mid 60's) it appears that the conventional steering box is a better choice. Getting the shaft for a rack around the motor is a hassle (one 60's car ran it through the valley of the motor between the injector stacks) and as noted it takes some ratio juggling to stop it being too direct.
The Strange and Flaming River boxes are virtual clones of the SPE (no longer available) which itself was based off the P & S Machine box (still available from Tom Hanna). The Stiletto box has what is probably a better internal mechanical package as Gary Wood always made very nice parts that are well engineered but it is a little bulky compared to the others. The Stiletto product line is now part of Stu Spears' Pro Werks/ Chassis Shop line.
Roo
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I don't run a rack I have always run a crosley box and a long pitman arm ( I FAB ) and a single (one piece) drag link and a support arm and has always work for me this is what a Crosley box looks like. from 1959 to now.
(http://buds-motorsports.webs.com/100_0415.JPG)
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What about the Corvair box?
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Go with the Strange box. It's for fed/ funny cars. They will make the shaft length custom if you want. Don't run those old junky boxes off of old cars, bad taste.
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Blind Mule : I have used the Corvair box on the Dragster and on my T Bucket as well but did not care for it on the Dragster so I went back to the crosley Box. This I posted on HAMB last year : I hate to say this but I like what don garlits said in an interview on TV when ask where did he Buy the part they were looking at.
( you know I don't run that store bough junk.) lol
I'm to cheep besides anybody can buy there way out, its the guy that is willing to try to do it on there own . Your going to Fine a lot of nay Sayers and most of them are in Business for them self's. Myself I Have interest in NAPA and also own Gramma Sophie Antiques in Boonville, MO.
So what I am saying Research and make the best design for what it is you need, Be a leader not a follower.
I received this from one of the guy's HAMB :
Crosley steering boxes are a "Ross" unit.....
I used one in my "T" roadster back in 1960....I just sent a very good one with no slop down to Garlits for one of his recreations....
And there is a crosley web site, you can google..