Miata Rack with JTR kit?

[zkoresko]

Hello everyone, I'm not new to the site or Z cars, but I am new to V8 zcars. I'm just starting my build of a 350 T5 swap. I have searched for "power steering" "miata rack" "power steering rack" I have not found the answer to two questions.

 

1. What year Miata power steering rack would I use with my set up and the JTR kit?

 

2. Is the Subaru rack better, easier, cheaper, than running the miata rack? I have seen more info on people using the Subaru racks than I have Miata racks and I would like to know why.

 

Any help would be great, or if my search was not good, can someone tell me what keywords will get me the information I need?

 

 

Just a little of my history, if anyone cares. I rebuilt my 1977 280z to be a fun street car. I did some engine work (cam/shaved head/intake/throttle body, injectors) then some suspension and brake work (Tokico HP's and strut tower bars, toyota's). Then I found this thing called Autocross and I love it. Problem is, with the mods I did I was put in SM2 class and my ~200hp inline just couldn't catch the competition. So, if you can't beat em' goin em' I bought a 71 240z and I am in the middle of gutting it and putting in a roll cage, fuel cell, and of course the SBC 350 with a T-5 transmission. I want to run 275 series tires all the way around so I will be using POWER STEERING and I will use flares to make room for the tires. I can't afford coil overs right now so I'm going to go with the Tokico Illumina strut/spring package with plans to use heavier springs in the future. Unfortunely I will be running a 3.90 open differential for now since everyone wants the CLSD's and I think they are selling for just under 2 Billion dollars right now

[fastzcars]

As a person who actually done both swaps, I can give you some insight into both racks.

I started off with the miata about 4 years ago because while I was at a junk yard finding parts for my Z, I saw a maita and the rack LOOKED very similar to the stock z rack! but it was 3 inches too long! I thought I'll just offset it to the passenger side to compensate for the extra length.

So I bought it and proceeded to do the modifications to my car to install it. Now mind you the passenger side tierod assembly was 3 inches shorter than the driver side, but In my experiences driving it around town, I found no adverse affects of the different length tierods. The feel around city street speeds was great, but on the freeway it was a little twitchy. But I got used to it.

Then I got into an accident alost 2 years ago and almost totaled the Z! While it was in the body shop I started seeing pictures here on HybridZ of the subi rack and how it was a much closer match fit to the stock Z rack. So I purchased a 2003 forester rack and proceeded to do the modifications to the crossmember to install that rack back into my Z while the body work was being done to my car. I was lucky that the body shop owner allowed me to work on my car while my car was in his shop! You know liability issues and all! Anyway, my car was finally finished and now I have to admit that the subi rack feels better than the miata. Although it was a harder install that the miata rack. The mods were more extensive but I think it was worth it. The steering around town has a better weighted feel to it and the freeway twitchiness is not as bad. I think you'll like the feel of it! I hoped that answers your questions! If there are any particular questions that I can answer , just P.M. me.

Happy motoring!

[zkoresko]

Thank you for your help and insight, that is exactly what I wanted to know. I too was walking through a local junk yard and saw the miata rack. Just so happens my car is already apart so I thought if I'm going to do it, now is the time. I will start looking for a Subaru rack. Thanks again.