Front mount rack?

[the4x4pig]

Looking for info on a front mount rack and pinion for a tri5. I have seen cars with them but can not find a kit. Looking for manual steering, no power. Thanks in advance.

[henrys57wagon]

Are you looking for a new front clip? A front mount rack is not a bolt in item unless you change the cross member or front clip to accommodate the rack, good day, Henry.

[fiddysix]

there are a couple out there flaming river make a bollt on pretty spendy thou
wayne

[the4x4pig]

Dont want a new clip but also dont mind doing some welding/fabricating. Its for a drag car. Need room for bigger headers and less weight. Wayne, I'll look into the flaming river, I did not see it in the catalog. Do you remember any of the other companys?

[Rick_L]

The problem with a front mount rack is not the rack, it's the steering arms.

When the rack (or the steering linkage) is mounted behind the wheels, the steering arms should angle inboard a bit. Lines drawn through both steering arm axis should cross at the rear axle.

When the rack (or steering linkage) is mounted in front of the wheels, the steering arms should angle outboard. Again so that the line drawn through them intersects at the rear axle.

When you do this, the inner wheel steers a little further than the outer wheel when you turn. This means they won't fight each other in a turn.

This geometry is called "Ackerman" steering. There's lots of discussion about whether you need full Ackerman or not (i.e., the lines intersecting at the rear axle). But there's no doubt that turning the outside tire further than the inside one is a bad thing. That's what would happen if you just swapped the steering arms.

The reason that the question of the clip came up is that a frame or clip that's set up from the factory with front steer will have the steering arms done for correct Ackerman with no need to modify.

[mark2uall]

The problem with a front mount rack is not the rack, it's the steering arms.

When the rack (or the steering linkage) is mounted behind the wheels, the steering arms should angle inboard a bit. Lines drawn through both steering arm axis should cross at the rear axle.

When the rack (or steering linkage) is mounted in front of the wheels, the steering arms should angle outboard. Again so that the line drawn through them intersects at the rear axle.

When you do this, the inner wheel steers a little further than the outer wheel when you turn. This means they won't fight each other in a turn.

This geometry is called "Ackerman" steering. There's lots of discussion about whether you need full Ackerman or not (i.e., the lines intersecting at the rear axle). But there's no doubt that turning the outside tire further than the inside one is a bad thing. That's what would happen if you just swapped the steering arms.

The reason that the question of the clip came up is that a frame or clip that's set up from the factory with front steer will have the steering arms done for correct Ackerman with no need to modify.
Rick, I'm the one who needs the front mount steering. I currently have Heidt A-Arms and QA-1 coil over shocks. The box I am using now is a 500 CCP. I have found a billet front mount rack but can't find the steering arms to correct the Ackerman angle. I don't want to replace the clip. Any suggestions on where I can purchase just the steering arms? Thanks in advance, Mark

[Rick_L]

I've never seen the steering arms you need.

You've already spent the money for a CPP500. Why do you want to do away with something that works and put in a rack and pinion that's going to cause you all sorts of headaches?

If you ever got the rack installed correctly, it's going to drive the same.

[the4x4pig]

I'll answer that for him. The car is turning into more of a drag car and he needs bigger/better headers and to lose some weight. The rack will open up some room in the engine compartment for race headers. Manual steering will lose the parasitic loss of the pump.

He has Earle Williams headers now and they had to be dented pretty good on the number 5 tube to clear the 500 box. The Earle Williams are not a very good race header for numerous other reasons. I think he is going to Hookers....

The 500 box will be going on my mothers 57 4door so it won't be wasted.

[81LS1Camaro]

I know this is a old thread but I am interested also. I know I have seen some with the rack in the front but it was years ago and dont remember how they did it. I am planning on building a stout 496 and want room for big headers.

[Rick_L]

If you want a correct front steer setup, you will need to cut the front frame clip off and swap in a complete steering system including spindles, brakes, and crossmember.

[airmentbob]

i've seen a front steering rack on a frame of a 55 before...the cross member was cut into pretty significantly and a tube section was welded in for the steering arm of the box to go through. don't know how it steered but looked like it was used on a drag racing car. cheers and post some photos.

[81LS1Camaro]

My brother found some more info on it here.
http://www.trifive.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40202&highlight=%22front+mounted+rack%22