rack to suit hk front end

[Sudsy]

I thought the Cortinas were forward steer


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Yeah I wish we had those in Perth , going to Adelaide in June and plan on visiting a couple with a tape measure while we are there I have a TE Cortina power rack at home , will offer that up and see how it looks as well.
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[blacky]

I thought the Cortinas were forward steer

Yeah they are mate, I have one in my FB on a HR front end. HKTG being wider I am not sure if they will be any good but it will cost nothing to try.

[Sudsy]

I thought the Cortinas were forward steer

Yeah they are mate, I have one in my FB on a HR front end. HKTG being wider I am not sure if they will be any good but it will cost nothing to try.

You will need to use the HQ,J,X steering arms to get correct ackerman angle with front steer

[blacky]

You will need to use the HQ,J,X steering arms to get correct ackerman angle with front steer

Correct. I used to race speedway and did a lot of reading up on suspension design and setup , got a reasonably good idea of what is required.

[jeffa]

I got onre from V6 conversions in Moree the mounting kit and a non powered rack and pinion to suit and it wasn't expensive.

I bought a kit from Rodtech. Only problem was, it had about 5 turns lock to lock (commodore manual rack).
I had originally had a shortened Austin 1800/MG rack that I fitted to my Essex years ago (which I still had at that stage).
So the rodtech kit went into the Essex (now sold) and the MG rack went into my Chev roadster. (Essex and Chev both had HG front ends).
That rack has only 2.5 turns lock to lock, and is light enough without power steering, to turn the wheel, lock to lock, with the car stopped.

Finding such a rack now would be difficult, but might be worth advertising (in say, Restored Cars etc).

[blacky]

I bought a kit from Rodtech. Only problem was, it had about 5 turns lock to lock (commodore manual rack).

That is my main gripe about mine , it’s not direct enough.
Naturally the more direct the higher the steering effort which is why I am exploring power rack options.
Jeffa, What model MG was the rack out of and are they front mount or rear ?

[jeffa]

I am pretty sure MGB? Might have been MGA. BMC 1800 were similar.
I bought it off a guy here in Canberra. Had it shortened here.
That was many years ago.
It is set up for rear steer.
I had a lead for two more up Lithgow way. I'll see if I can find the number.

[monte]

The TAC blokes up here told me to fit HQ steering arms to reduce the turns but I dont like the idea at all ,I have about 4.5 turns from lock to lock ,HK front end with shortened commodore rack with the standard HK steering arms .I looked ar electric steering column but they only assist what you already have so same turns from lock to lock

[zuffen]

Monte,

I think youré right in not wanting to fit the HQ arms.

This would alter bump steer as outer end of the steering arms would be out of sinc with the inner ends as the arms would now go further forward rather than the straighter path to the shorter arms.

The real answer is in the getting the correct length rack in the right place.

Easier said than done.

[jeffa]

Someone mentioned earlier about an Astra rack.
I don't know the rack dimensions etc, but they are hydraulic powered, with an electric hydraulic pump mounted on the front cross member.
I think they did it that way so the steering assembly (rack, pump and hoses) could be assembled by the supplier ( ie, offsite), then fitted to the car as an assembly. Saves mucking around with hydraulics when putting the car together.
Much the same way throttles don't use a cable, and automatic gearboxes don't have kickdown or TV cables, nor gearshift linkages. All replaced by a plug and socket. That means no adjustment of cables, linkages etc is required when the car is assembled. And that saves time, and you don't need to pay someone who can adjust stuff on the assembly line. Just plug in the sub-assemblies.

[Sudsy]

The TAC blokes up here told me to fit HQ steering arms to reduce the turns but I dont like the idea at all ,I have about 4.5 turns from lock to lock ,HK front end with shortened commodore rack with the standard HK steering arms .I looked ar electric steering column but they only assist what you already have so same turns from lock to lock

Monte the HQ arms are for forward steer so throws the akerman angle out totally. If you can find someone to bend them out AND certify them they would work. Not sure if anyone makes shorter arms for these.

Jeffa, the Astra rack is centre steer like a Camira so can be made to work. Not sure about the travel though

[spanners]

I had a manual Commodore rack narrowed by Stewie Campbell, Edgeworth for the HG crossmember I put in a '39 Chev pickup that I was building. I think the arms I used were HQ 6 cylinder drum brake. Unfortunately I sold it unfinished but it had been passed by the engineer as good to go with only blowing apart for painting and trimming needed to be done. I only ever drove around my backyard and up and down the long driveway but steered good and was not many turns lock to lock. I never felt it needed power steering.