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power steering?


Guest Anonymous

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Guest Anonymous

Hey guys,

 

The LT-1 I'm getting has the all of the Camaro accessories (Alternator, water pump AC compressor, and most important, Power Steering pump) and the serpentine setup like tensioner, belt, all intact, now, my question... Will these all fit in the Z or do I have to move anything? I know the JTR chevy S-10 4x4 conversion requires the corvette accessories as they are in a different arrangement.

 

Now, on to the real question...

is it possible to use a later ZX power steering rack on the early Z's (don't know if they are the same or not) and if so can I use the LT-1 Pump, possibly with a different pulley (under/overdrive) for correct pressure?

 

I know PS takes some horse power, but it would be kinda nice sometimes...

 

also, If I can, how tight are those racks at higher speeds? cause above like 45 in most of the cars I've driven I prefer manual to power steering, as they are light and sloppy.. is this so with the Z rack?? I've mostly driven non-performance cars with PS, so it's hard to tell.

 

I sure would like to adapt one of those variable assist PS systems from a newer rx-7 I beleive... That would be cool!

 

Any way, thanks in advance...

Kris

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Guest Anonymous

Kris, I believe the ZX uses a different scheme altogether for its steering. I think they went to recirculating ball on the ZX's?

 

The known to work, swaps so far is the Ford Mustang power rack. Alsil did that one and said it works sweet. It does require new mounts and some steering shaft work as well as shortening the rack ends, I believe he discovered like 95 mustang rod ends would actually bolt on to the datsun outter tie rods end steering knuckle.

 

Another one recently has come to light, a third gen RX7 rack reportedly mounts the same as the Nissan rack, they look pretty similar, but the RX7 one is wider. Not much else is known on that swap yet.

 

I've seen a system some of the circle trackers use that is basically a ram about the rack to assist in moving it right or left, I havn't seen it modified to a Datsun rack though, but it may be a possiblity.

 

Those are the known ones so far, there may be others that work as well. Just remember if you take a rack from something to make sure its the same be it front steer or rear steer (rack fits in front or back behind wheels?)

 

Just some ideas, good luck,

 

Lone

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In choosing a rack from a donor carr, one thing that is surprisingly not considered it the need for a "front steer" rack (rack is forward of the axle). This in itself greatly restricts our options. I have done the Ford rack conversion, and am quite happy with it, but I think Alsil did a much simpler and easier job of it than I did. A post was made recently where an RX-7 power assisted rack was being investigated for Z car usage. Any new progress on this project?

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Guest Anonymous

My bad, I apologize, Terry Oxandale (BlueovalZ) is the man who did the first Ford rack conversion that I know about from this group. I should have mentioned that, sorry Terry! icon_smile.gif He also was one of the first Ford swaps I'd seen documented, and arguably has the most wikkid looking Z your likely to see.

 

Regards,

 

Lone

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  • 1 year later...

I'm ready to get my power steering installed. I have a Mustang rack, but I think the RX-7 or Miata rack might be the way to go, because of ease of mounting to the crossmember. What's the word on the RX-7 system? I'm using the L-28 engine.

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Hi Tomohawk. I tried modifing a cross member, but my welding abilities are very weak. So I bought another crossmember, and took it to a z car restoration shop,they said they would work it out for me. It'll be ready this week. I'll post some pics this week. So stay tuned.

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