Ammo's Ute

Post photos of your pride and joy, or updates on your rebuild!

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Errol62
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Re: Ammo's Ute

Post by Errol62 »

Great work mate. Rear mounted rack and pinion details?

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getting my FB ute on the road
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Wrongway Roger
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Re: Ammo's Ute

Post by Wrongway Roger »

Hi Clay,
VB or VC non power steering rack, narrowed by Rod Tech in Clearview. I paid $550 at the time and I had to supply the rack.
He supplied the mounts and the tie rod adjusting nuts.
Mate, this nearly did my head in getting to steering arm sorted.

When you are ready to hot rod your ute, I'm putting up my hand to assist.

Cheers,
Roger.
There is a right way and a wrong way and then there is my way which is usually the long way.
gpi
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Re: Ammo's Ute

Post by gpi »

how much is it shortened by? distance to bolt hole centres?
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Errol62
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Re: Ammo's Ute

Post by Errol62 »

Rog,
Wouldn’t mind if I could try before I buy on the R&P and would retain the original wheel and column. So the rack clears EH sump on the 202?


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getting my FB ute on the road
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FireKraka
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Re: Ammo's Ute

Post by FireKraka »

Don't mean to hi jack the thread Roger but I have done the rear mounted rack and pinion thing twice now first on my FC V6 sedan and then on Frank same manual rack as yours Roger but mine was from V6 Conversions, I ended up doing the same as you with the linkage on the FC it was really frustrating trying to connect it without it binding on the unies I realised it was my steering column that came through the firewall a little to far and that caused the angle to be a bit too acute down to the rack.

When I did Franks I made sure the VT column was in the right spot and didn't have to put in the intermediate uni joint.

The rear racks do sit close to the back of the cross member although I haven't tried it I would assume that the EH sump would be pretty close to clearing, it clears the normal steering so it would be very close.
It would be interesting to see if it did clear.
Neil
Member of WA FB/EK Car Club
Frankenstein EK V6 Ute
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1950's Commer Light Truck (2.5 Ton)
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Errol62
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Re: Ammo's Ute

Post by Errol62 »

Ditto Neil. I remember you recessed the uni back inside the firewall slightly using a cup shaped pressing, thus lessening the angle at the uni. Reason I mentioned this is Rogers rack appears to sit quite a way back from the crossmember in the photos.


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getting my FB ute on the road
EK van on rotisserie
gpi
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Re: Ammo's Ute

Post by gpi »

not just that clay, because Roger offset the column to the right, it should have been a bit longer.

What are the mods to the column?
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Wrongway Roger
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Re: Ammo's Ute

Post by Wrongway Roger »

Hi Guys,
Firstly I did not measure the rack before shortening but a quick measure this morning show it is 925 mm from thread tie rod to threaded tie rod.
The distance from bolt hole to bolt hole is 285 mm
rack width.JPG
rack width.JPG (142.78 KiB) Viewed 400 times
I do remember being told to get the correct rack, part number ending in ***** 911
rack ID.JPG
rack ID.JPG (83.45 KiB) Viewed 400 times
The mount were supplied by Rod Tech and although they appear some distance from the cross member, the rack lines up with the steering arms.
Steering 8.JPG
Steering 8.JPG (117.62 KiB) Viewed 400 times
Very important to maintain the same angle as the lower suspension arm.
steering 10.JPG
steering 10.JPG (133.58 KiB) Viewed 400 times
The angle from the column was too great so I added the mounting.
I needed to position the column, not play with the length or collapsible area and have it so Anne-Marie and I can drive comfortably.
First uni joint is basically just inside the firewall so not sure I could have done it differently.
Trust me, if I did not need the mounting support I would not have used it but It does eliminate the binding.
steering 9.JPG
steering 9.JPG (148.45 KiB) Viewed 400 times

I have not had the motor back in the ute with this steering setup so do not know if sump will clear.
If not then I will change or modify the sump.

And Clay we should be able to work out how to retain the standard column. Surely someone has done this.

I have taken a pattern of the mounts if anyone is interested, I will past.

Cheers,
Roger
There is a right way and a wrong way and then there is my way which is usually the long way.
gpi
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Re: Ammo's Ute

Post by gpi »

did they tell you why it had to be that specific rack?
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Wrongway Roger
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Re: Ammo's Ute

Post by Wrongway Roger »

Hi,
Can not remember why but I was dealing with Rods Rack in Queensland way back when working on the sedan.
He specified which rack to use then so I sourced the same one for the ute.

Roger
There is a right way and a wrong way and then there is my way which is usually the long way.
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Errol62
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Re: Ammo's Ute

Post by Errol62 »

Yeh Rog, there is plenty of detail on making up a collapsible column looking pretty stock as I recall.

Rear mounted are favoured for better steering geometry, you can retain steering arm and calipers position. Looks like a good setup geometry wise in replicating original and eliminating bump steer. So far that is as good as stock steering.

Where stock falls down is insufficient toe out on turns, which contributes to good ol’ understeer were all a bit too familiar with. If the rack improves on toe out, is precise relative to rebuilt worm and sector, retains lock to lock and is at least no heavier than stock, then I see the point. Rod tech I think they know what they are doing?

Certainly if you go to V power you’ll need it anyway.

Thanks for sharing. I’m really enjoying the read. I hope your not up to date yet. Tell us more please.


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getting my FB ute on the road
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gpi
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Re: Ammo's Ute

Post by gpi »

Wrongway Roger wrote: Sat May 02, 2020 1:15 pm Hi,
Can not remember why but I was dealing with Rods Rack in Queensland way back when working on the sedan.
He specified which rack to use then so I sourced the same one for the ute.

Roger
rods racks or rod tech?
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Wrongway Roger
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Re: Ammo's Ute

Post by Wrongway Roger »

Hi,
I believe Rods Rack in Queensland is closed. Their website said to use is Commodore rack.

Rod Tech here in Adelaide is to go to for us locals.
http://rodtech.com.au/steering?product_id=383
It is change over only as per website.

Roger.
There is a right way and a wrong way and then there is my way which is usually the long way.
gpi
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Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 2:08 pm
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Re: Ammo's Ute

Post by gpi »

its interesting that alien retro racks has the same requirements...
gpi
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Re: Ammo's Ute

Post by gpi »

275mm crs
285mm rods racks, rod tech, alien retro columns
335mm v6conversions
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