steering rack swap

[quikstang2]

I was looking to stay fairly stock with this car... but my steering rack, and/or pump, is dying quick. My dad really seems to want to put a quick ratio manual rack in it, but after reading some threads and taking into consideration that it's my daily driver (so it's not something he has to put up with all the time) that I'm going to keep power steering. I'm looking at the quick ratio Flaming River rack, which is what I was going to put in my other car. So I might use it on the SVO only until I can rebuild the original and then move the other one into the convertible.

Any thoughts/suggestions?

[Raven855]

Just upgrade to the later SVO rack. Works nice.

[BDBYS59]

I had heard that a late model (05 &up) rack will work and it is a quick ratio. Not sure how true this is, been wanting to go to the parts store and put the 2 of them side by side to see if it would work.

[thomp22]

I used a rebuilt cardone rack from napa on mine, no problemo.

[Dave S]

The '85 and '86 SVO had a different rack than the '84. The 85 and 86 racks have a casting number SPR-CV or SPR-CW that is unique to the SVO-different valving....these are the best driving ones I've found. I believe the '84s had a different rack; the same as mustangs with the handling package (casting numbers SPR-CT, SPR-DA or SPR-ET). I'd check the casting number that is on your car now before making any decisions.
If you have an '85 or '86 rack, I'd get that rack rebuilt rather than doing an exchange at a parts house. If you DO have an '85 or '86 rack and want to do an exchange....let me know; I could use a good original SVO rack that needs rebuilding!
Rockauto will have Cardone rebuild YOUR existing rack for about $140; NAPA will sell a rebuilt Cardone rack (with exchange) for about $90. I can't comment on the Flaming River rack.
Hope this helps,
Dave

[cometcyclonemk]

I put the quick-ratio flaming river unit in my 84 this last summer. I "daily drive" it in the sense that it's my only car, but only put a few thousand miles on it a year. Steering effort for anything but parking is great. Parking is meh, but livable. The rack seems to be pretty high quality with no noticeable play.

[quikstang2]

It's got the original '84 steering rack in it, which I'd eventually put back in after I rebuild it. I would just be temporarily replacing it with the Flaming River power quick ratio one until I have the original rebuilt, or I need the Flaming River rack to go into the other car.

I put the quick-ratio flaming river unit in my 84 this last summer. I "daily drive" it in the sense that it's my only car, but only put a few thousand miles on it a year. Steering effort for anything but parking is great. Parking is meh, but livable. The rack seems to be pretty high quality with no noticeable play.

Yeah, I drive a lot more than that. Sounds like you have the manual rack though... I'm looking to get the power rack. I'm at school and spend a lot of time in the parking lots and fighting for spaces... don't feel like dealing with a manual rack.

[quikstang2]

Ok, turns out Flaming River no longer offers a quick ratio power steering rack. Looks like AGR ($250 chromed cast aluminum) and Summit ($250 silver painted steel) both offer that type of rack. I'm leaning towards the AGR one.

I had heard that a late model (05 &up) rack will work and it is a quick ratio. Not sure how true this is, been wanting to go to the parts store and put the 2 of them side by side to see if it would work.

This would be cool to look into. Maybe I'll stop by Ford and annoy the parts department in the next couple days. I could pull the rack out of my '84 convertible to compare them if I need to. Would be cool to do since that car will be a hodgepodge of Mustang and Ford parts anyways... TC parts, SN95 parts, Ranger parts... might even have a spoiler from a Firebird I pulled off another Mustang I found in the junkyard... might use Lincoln or Jag headlight parts... it's a frankenstien for sure.

[Mr. Pink]

http://www.svoca.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20741&page=5

Check out post #62 and #66. I've put in a '03 Mach I steering rack. I had to swap the hoses of my stocker. Keep in mind too that if you were to do this it will require a new rag joint and the stock SVO one will NOT work. You'd need a hybrid which I believe only Maximum Motorsports sells.

[quikstang2]

Steering rack died. I've been talking to the company a little so I'm ordering the AGR quick ratio power rack with proper valving and their p/s pump which should be a good deal less noisy than a typical Ford pump.
Hopefully I'll be able to rebuild the original.

[quikstang2]

Ford, Autozone and Bennett do not carry replacement p/s hoses for the turbo cars. Any suggestions?

[RTStabler51]

Ford, Autozone and Bennett do not carry replacement p/s hoses for the turbo cars. Any suggestions?

get them for a 5.0. That's what I did for mine.

[quikstang2]

Cool, thanks. Your 5.0 had the cooler on it too?

[RTStabler51]

Cool, thanks. Your 5.0 had the cooler on it too?

No, when I had a leak, in searching the forums that is what was recommended was to just ask for a p/s hose for the 5.0L

[quikstang2]

gotcha, thanks.