[1foxbody]

I have a 93 2.3L that I want to convert to manual rack & pinion because a inner tie rod is shot, since I have a manual rack and bumpsteer kit just laying around it's a good time to install it anyways. I don't know what to do with the power steering pump until I do the v8 swap since my bro drives the car often. I know on a v8 car you can just get a shorter belt and re route it but Ive never done that before on a 4 banger lol. Maybe a certain year came with manual steering so I can see how it came from the factory? I'm just trying to figure out what to do with the belt. Let me know thanks

[89Fox351]

if i remember correctly there are 2 things you can do.. measure to see if there is a belt that will fit.. sometimes you'll get lucky like that! i know for the v8's there is an alternator bracket that changes where your alternator sits so that a different size belt will work.. but again i'm not sure if that is more along the lines of being for an electric water pump, or for power steering

[TOM RENZO]

Hay not for me to lecture anyones idea. But i will make an exception HERE. DONT DO IT. The modern fast ratio power racks ARE AWSUM. AND EASY TO TURN. Manusl racks SUCK for a street car. SORRY just wanted to be truthful. What is a bump steer KIT????????? Peace TOM:headscrat ch:

[89Fox351]

Originally Posted by TOM RENZO

What is a bump steer KIT????????? Peace TOM:headscrat ch:

Bumpsteer kit basically replaces your tie rod ends and helps keep your car going straight during the entire length of suspension travel. best example is when you hit a bump, your car wants to jerk the wheel and steer you by itself.. and bumpsteer helps prevent that

as for manual racks sucking... I disagree entirely. The quick ratio manual rack that i bought is incredible. i have a 205 tire on the front of my stang for the street and it is no problem at all. not even getting out of my driveway or into a parking spot. love the feel of it also!

[b_chandler]

Nowadays a 205 tire is skinny. Call us when you're crankin a pair of 245/55's around. it'll be better for you than a Bowflex +1 for keeping the power rack.

Tom, bumpsteer kits correct the tie rod geometry when using a non-OE rack, spindles, or any other component that would change the tie rod angle. It basically helps make the tie rod parallel with the lower control arm again so the toe doesn't change dramatically through the suspension's range of travel. It' replaces the factory tie rod end and is usually a bolt, heim joint with a collar to fit the tie rods,and a handfull of spacers.

[TOM RENZO]

Hi chandler I figured as much but just checking. We use the offset rack bushings to accomplish the parallel axis on the rack. Let me give you some info on those aircraft heim ends. They are great little gizmos and i use them all the time. But not on a street driven car. We just finished a collision job on a modified S10 pickup. It had not only the front but also the rear set up with heim joints. No lie EVERY ONE OF THOSE JOINTS WERE SHOT. Most were seized and some had loads of play. Dont get me wrong i know they make high quality heim joints. But leave them for track car usage on the steering racks. Hay 89 fox my wheelbarrel has a bigger tire on it DUDE
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...r/IMG_0525.jpg

Try running 285 45X18 or like chandler explained 205 dude not for nothing my MOMS car has bigger tires.
I am not putting anyone down let me be clear on that . But dont give up the power rack its a big mistake brother. I have a power rack conversion for my early F body and cant wait to ditch that manual BOX. Powert racks are available in very fast ratios. I am actually thinking about an electric rack like the one in the saturn. Now thats JAKE. (jake is an old expression for cool) Just thought i would explain that. Peace brother TOM

[89Fox351]

Originally Posted by TOM RENZO

Hay 89 fox my wheelbarrel has a bigger tire on it DUDE

a 285 on the front?? sounds absolutely absurd to me.. i have 295s in the rear but i've never seen a 285 on the front of a foxbody.. although i might live a sheltered life. my life isn't a road course though, i live for the straight line!!

[b_chandler]

Yeah, not a big fan of heim joints on daily driven street cars either. There's some really nice stuff out there, but like anything else, it only stays nice if it's properly maintained.


Laughing at the pic. All you need is one of those hand-painted USED TARS signs.

"Come on down to Cheap Tom's Used Tars. Big, small, we gottem all. Guaranteed to hold air or we'll throw in a can of fix-a-flat."

[1foxbody]

Hey guys I have a quick ratio rack that I had laying around from my other car. I want to put it on for sure. I hate power steering and all it's bullshit especially on a drag car. I already have 3.5 wide skinnys on the front with a 26x4.5 tire. Don't get me wrong power steering is great on a street car that's daily driven. I have a nice luxury 02 acura cl that I daily drive with power steering lol. So does anyone know if maybe the older stangs came with manual I'm just trying to figure out what they did with the belt and tensioner. Thanks

[b_chandler]

No they were all power steering.

Just take a string, run it around all of the pulleys in the proper direction pull it tight, and mark the string where it reaches the beginning and then measure the length of the string. It'll get you in the ballpark. Take that number and head to a decent parts store that will let you try them on for size. Start out a size or two smaller than your initial measurement

The trick to serpentine belt part numbers is that the numerical part is the length of the belt. Say for instance you go to autozone and get a Kelly (or Duralast I'd imagine by now) belt and the part number is 365K6. That belt is 36.5 inches in length and has 6 ribs. A 440K5 is 44 inches in length and has 5 ribs. Pretty simple right?

Gates and I think Goodyear do it backwards a K0603650 Is the same as a 365K6 (K06) 6 ribs 03650 (36.5 inches)

[TOM RENZO]

Hi chandler i think a gates for example is like a KO60680 is a 68 inch belt a K060685 is a 68.5 inch belt. Hay 89 hi dude i run 335 on the rear and i am going bigger. If you want handling you need tire on the pavement. I run 18X9 front and 18X10 in the rear. NOTE lots of tubbing and mods to achieve tire clearance. Tom JR says the new porsche comes with 345 sneakers? I will be running a set of those puppies on the rear.

[TOM RENZO]

OK MANY AFTERMARKET MANUAL RACKS ARE AVAILABLE FROM SUMMIT ETC. Just make shure you replace the rag joint with a swivel cupler. Chandler explained how to measure the belt. If its a straight line car you are golden. If its a daily driver or a roundy round car. JOIN A HEALTH CLUB OR THE JIM. The early pintos has manusl racks if i remember correctly. Peace DUDE:wav ey

[J. Rhapsody]

Manual racks ain't that bad. Theres only two ratios for power and manual racks and they are the same. If you've ever driven anything large with manual steering the only time it really sucks is when you aren't moving at all.

[b_chandler]

<----Drove a cabover Freightliner once with no power steering. ONCE!

Trying to back it in, I was literally standing up trying to crank the wheel.

[pookie_25_52]

I ditched the power steering pump on my car and got a shorter belt. I did the string test on it and came up with 48" give or take an inch.