power steering rack swap

[mcb82gt]

Will the power steering rack and tie rods end out of an 84 SVO bolt into my 82GT. What modifications may this require???? Anyone,Anyone

[Puter]

AFAIK, the 79-93 rack is pretty much the same. In the early years, there were two makers - Ford and TRW. The TRW piece was half aluminum. Yet, both are pretty much interchangeable according to specs that I remember. There were two main racks in the later years - one offering a 2.5 turns lock-to-lock, and the other 2.25 turns.

[Chuck W]

Shouldn't be a problem as both are the high effort racks.

You might do a quick tierod to tierod width check just to make sure. the tie rods on the SVO rack are perhaps wider...

[negusm]

one offering a 2.5 turns lock-to-lock, and the other 2.25 turns.

I think that should really be 3 turns lock to lock and 2.5 turns lock to lock from everything I have read. The 2.5 is called "sport steering" and the 3 is for any car without t turbo 4 or v8.

Please be aware that you are supposed to use a V8 power steering pump with the 2.5 rack. A v6 or non turbo 4cyl pump might lock up the sport rack.

-Mike

[negusm]

I searched and here is where the 2.25 turns pops up:


And there are only two ratios: 15:1 (2.5 turns LTL) and 20:1 (3.0 turns LTL). The 91+ (I think) racks also had rack limiter clips installed to keep the bigger 16" tires on those cars from rubbing the suspension. They are approximately 2.25 turns LTL, but the ratio is the SAME! The rack limiter clips just take about 1/4 turn off for tire clearance.

I've seen some places sell the 2.25 LTL racks for a lot more money than the 2.5 racks. I guess some people are fooled into thinking they are quicker ratio. That's a load of BS, because the only difference is a couple of 10 cent rack clips!

[mcb82gt]

Are the spindles the same to bolt up to the tie rods on both cars????

[richpet]

Around 84 the bushings changed. I am under the impression the diameter of the rack mounting bolts changed in 84 so you would need to make sure and use the correct bushings and rack bolts for your 82. The rack should bolt in with 82 era bushings though, unless you get them from the 84 with the rack or something.

[Chuck W]

Are the spindles the same to bolt up to the tie rods on both cars????

Yes

[Puter]

I searched and here is where the 2.25 turns pops up:

Huh. All these years and I keep learning something new everyday.