Aftermarket Rack & Pinion

[Bobby Bennett]

Please forgive me if this has already been a topic covered recently.

Can someone tell me why having an after market rack and pinion steering unit on an older car is not permitted in the Super Stock division, especially in the Super Stock Hemi classes?

Is this a purist issue? I really can't see that it's a performance gain.

Without slamming the NHRA and all of this stuff, is there a reason why this is an issue?

BOBBY BENNETT

[BlueOval Ralph]

It takes more than a rack change. The Hemi's cam with a steering gear box. Danny tried to slip this through several years ago. Could open up a performance advantage in the oil pan area. Why would you want make all the Hemi cars change? As far a gain it takes a lot of work on those cars to get the front end geom correct.

Originally Posted by Bobby Bennett

Please forgive me if this has already been a topic covered recently.

Can someone tell me why having an after market rack and pinion steering unit on an older car is not permitted in the Super Stock division, especially in the Super Stock Hemi classes?

Is this a purist issue? I really can't see that it's a performance gain.

Without slamming the NHRA and all of this stuff, is there a reason why this is an issue?

BOBBY BENNETT
CompetitionPlus.com

[Robert Simpson]

Bobby I'm with you on this. I like keeping things as stock or super stock as possiable. But, on the flip side, have you seen what is allowed to be done with a FWD conversion car to run GT or Modified? I do see the rack an pinions steering on those, because they came with it. But, to allow, round tube lower frame rails on the front with tube A-arms? But if you have a RWD car in GT or what ever you can't run tube A-arms? Or rack and pinion location in relation to the cross member, Weird. To go back to your question I know of several SS/AH racers who have asked about using rack and pinions in there cars. I was told they were told NO, period! Crazy... I say if it could be a bolt on unit then yes.

[NWDragracing]

Originally Posted by Robert Simpson

Bobby I'm with you on this. I like keeping things as stock or super stock as possiable. But, on the flip side, have you seen what is allowed to be done with a FWD conversion car to run GT or Modified? I do see the rack an pinions steering on those, because they came with it. But, to allow, round tube lower frame rails on the front with tube A-arms? But if you have a RWD car in GT or what ever you can't run tube A-arms? Or rack and pinion location in relation to the cross member, Weird. To go back to your question I know of several SS/AH racers who have asked about using rack and pinions in there cars. I was told they were told NO, period! Crazy... I say if it could be a bolt on unit then yes.

Yep, the FWD cars have the freedom to use a manufactured or fabricated crossmember and lower control arms when the RWD are not allowed. The aftermarket has some good pieces available from BMR, AJR, QA1 and others for RWD cars that probably would make them safer than the old OEM parts that may eventually need repairs or replacement.

If it was allowed on RWD, you could also expect some of the ADRL, NMCA and NMRA cars cross over and race in some of the NHRA classes.

[Bobby Bennett]

So, you feel completely safe running against an 8-second car with a stock 1960's style unit or something like that?

[Barnstorm]

Originally Posted by Bobby Bennett

So, you feel completely safe running against an 8-second car with a stock 1960's style unit or something like that?

How about a SS/AH [ or most SS Mopars] having a catastrophic crank failure at 9500 with the centerlink thru the pan? This was a big topic at Indy several years ago wishing for rack and pinion. Catasrophy waiting to happen. NHRA said "yeah...we gotta take care of that".

[NBD MGT]

Originally Posted by Bobby Bennett

So, you feel completely safe running against an 8-second car with a stock 1960's style unit or something like that?

If the parts are new or in good shape I would.

Do you think a rack (especially a typical aftermarket drag racing version) is actually as strong as the old stuff (designed back in a day when there were many many many dirt roads with pot holes)?

Think about the mounting pads on the rack.......

[jaythorne]

i say leave a little stock in superstock

[NWDragracing]

Originally Posted by jaythorne

i say leave a little stock in superstock

Do you also mean that FWD should stay FWD and not converted to a RWD???

[NWDragracing]

Originally Posted by Bobby Bennett

So, you feel completely safe running against an 8-second car with a stock 1960's style unit or something like that?

Again, it all depends what they have for a front suspension and frame.

Most of the SS/AH cars have a Lamb Components suspension system that makes them safe.

However, like it was implied earlier. what happens if the centerlink is damaged due to an engine putting a few windows in the block?

I have also many GM cars develop cracks in the lower arms, elongate the bushing and ball joint holes and eventually fail.