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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
November 2002
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Complete front end swap for rack & pinion conversion?
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Tue, 21 October 2003 15:52
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I am investigating options for a rack and pinion conversion. The car in question is an MX13 Corona Mark II.
The picture below (donated by/stolen from gianttomato) demonstrates the current crossmember and steering setup. The aim is to remove the horrible steering box as they:
(a) are old and sloppy, even when in mint condition
(b) make it impossible to fit any quality engines
(c) should never have been invented, just like drum brakes!!!
I was wondering if anyone had attempted a similar job and if it is a feasible proposition. I don't want to spend thousands of dollars - it would only be viable if it could be done for $500 or so.
Are there any Toyotas that came with a pre-strut suspension but fitted with rack & pinion steering? I am hoping that a late 70's Cressida might have this setup as the wheelbase (1370mm) is quite similar to that of the Corona Mark II (1360mm). This would make one aspect of the conversion easier.
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Location:
Montrose, VIC
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Complete front end swap for rack & pinion conversion?
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Tue, 21 October 2003 23:17
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I really can't think of anything Toyota (apart from maybe 100 series landcruiser) with rack+peanut and wishbone suspension (discounting later supras, soarers, chasers, MKIIs, etc. as I severely doubt their front end would even come close!) - therefore I daresay you're going to have to fabricate the lot yourself... Which engineers *love* 
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I supported Toymods
Location:
I renounced punctuation
Registered:
May 2002
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
November 2002
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Re: Complete front end swap for rack & pinion conversion?
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Wed, 22 October 2003 11:17
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Well, you're the second person I've spoken to that has suggested it is possible as long as the rack is mounted on the same plane as the drag link.
When I am under the other Corona tomorrow I'll have a much closer look at the way it all mounts up.
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I supported Toymods
Location:
I renounced punctuation
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Complete front end swap for rack & pinion conversion?
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Wed, 22 October 2003 14:51
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| 7M-Brisbane wrote on Wed, 22 October 2003 21:17 |
When I am under the other Corona tomorrow I'll have a much closer look at the way it all mounts up.
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Not much to it really - the steering box mounts to the chassis rail with 3 bolts and the idler arm bolts up on the opposite chassis rail with 2 bolts.
You would remove those items and use the bolt holes to bolt in a custom crossmember. You would need to make the crossmember with your engine of choice in position (I presume something with a J or U) so as to determine clearances.
When you eventually go looking for the magical rack, make sure you bring some Mk2 steering arms (they bolt on to the stub axle and connect to the outer tie rod end) so you can check the rod end tapers and make sure they fit. You can do some mixing and matching provided the threads match.
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Location:
Perth
Registered:
May 2003
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Re: Complete front end swap for rack & pinion conversion?
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Thu, 23 October 2003 00:14
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if you are able to fit R&P steering make sure you do a tech article  . I would like to do the same to mark2 as the steering how can i say could be improved 
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