Notices
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Fat Fendered and Classic Ford Trucks

Darkside panel rack & Pinion question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 12, 2011 | 05:37 PM
  #1  
SCRAPHEAP51's Avatar
SCRAPHEAP51
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
15 Year Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 407
Likes: 2
From: Oregon
Club FTE Silver Member

Darkside panel rack & Pinion question

My Truck has a Dakota Truck front end on it, The rack and pinion sits in front of the crossmember below, the angle of the shaft is in a bad location Since I using a V8 with Hugger headers. My qestion is this....

if I pulled the rack out 2-1/2" and offset the mounting holes by 1-1/2" and tilted it 10 deg toward the rear. Does any one know if there will be any problems with this change as far as geometry of the sterring? I would like some thought about it before I go further. I have made temp brackets (See pics below)to see how it fits and the angle is much better to work with.
Thanks for your input.





 
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2011 | 06:54 PM
  #2  
56panelford's Avatar
56panelford
FTE Legend
20 Year Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 283,694
Likes: 8,276
From: northwestern Ontario
What pics you be talking about,lol. Could you work the rack to see how things move in different positions. I'm only guessing it wouldn't make a difference but I've never peeled back the rubber boot to see how a rack actually works. Sorry that I'm no help but hello just the same.
 
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2011 | 09:30 PM
  #3  
52 Merc's Avatar
52 Merc
Hotshot
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 3
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 16,174
Likes: 4,781
From: Burbank, WA
Actually, it will make a huge difference, and if you're describing what I think you are, you will induce bump steer like crazy. I can promise you that Dodge engineered all of the rod ends, joints and angles in the steering and suspension and put them right where they did for a reason. When you start changing angles and the location of pivot points, that's when you start asking for trouble.

While you might get away with pivoting the rack slightly for clearance of the steering pinion shaft, you don't want to move the rack fore or aft from the crossmember, and you really don't want to move it side to side at all.
 
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2011 | 10:08 PM
  #4  
lexcoe's Avatar
lexcoe
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 581
Likes: 2
From: Byron Bay Australia
I TOTALLY agree, tilting it a LITTLE will be ok, but moving it in any direction is a big NO NO. Bump steer is not something you want and moving the rack will bring it on bigtime. John
 
Reply
Old Jul 13, 2011 | 05:56 AM
  #5  
fergusonicford's Avatar
fergusonicford
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 463
Likes: 0
What do you mean when you say it's in a "bad location"? It interferes with the BlockHugger headers? Pictures would be of great help. Would the Stock manifolds clear everything?
 
Reply
Old Jul 13, 2011 | 07:38 AM
  #6  
SCRAPHEAP51's Avatar
SCRAPHEAP51
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
15 Year Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 407
Likes: 2
From: Oregon
Club FTE Silver Member

Hello to you 56panelford!
Basicly the rack is tilted back about 10 degrees and pushed out 2-1/2 inches. no drop or moving it to one side or the other. I was affraid that was going to be a problem. I guess I will have to find another solution. I was tring to avoid having to many steering joint to make it work.

Fergussonicford, The rack shaft is at a steep pitch and the motor mount is in the way, Just looking for a better solution. Last picture is the rack and shaft with the adapter I made.

Thanks for the advise guys.
 
Reply
Old Jul 13, 2011 | 08:30 AM
  #7  
merc546's Avatar
merc546
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,243
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Can't seem to find a picture of the rack to engine but you can pivot the rack back around it's current center line ( in other words you can lean it rearward with no problems ) just don't change the location of the assembly forward or side to side.

Chuck
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Tyler S
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
13
Jun 11, 2012 10:58 PM
plessasrdjr
1994.5 - 1997 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
18
Apr 22, 2011 11:30 PM
taxreliever77
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
11
Sep 12, 2010 02:14 PM
Greywolf
General Automotive Discussion
78
Feb 28, 2010 09:00 PM
RicManSr
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
4
Jul 1, 2009 04:00 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:30 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-4
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-6
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-7
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-8
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE