vintagecar Posted May 3, 2016 Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 I am doing the 318 swap in my 48 Desoto. I have used the Butch's Cool stuff engine/transmission offset kit (worked awesome). I would like to have power steering. I have read a cavalier rack and pinion works, but havent found a good technical write up, also heard Fatman Fabrication has cavalier mounting tabs? so I'm kinda lost on what I need to get to acheive power steering. The 318 has a power steering pump, so I'm looking for someone who has done this, maybe some pictures, technical write up that lists what components to buy? I haven't been able to gather enough info for me to dive into doing it yet. Thanks for the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fstfish66 Posted May 24, 2016 Report Share Posted May 24, 2016 ok im surprised no one has answered,,,i dont get on the forum every day so i let my mail build up,,,, i wish ide of seen this a week ago i could of gotten u all the pics u need,,but i still can it will just take a little time,now that the car is back on the ground,,, fat man fab is the only one making a rack and pinion kit to adapt to the stock frame,,,lots make complete front frame kits,,,, the fat man kit, is available as an extra, the front shock brakets to relocate the front shocks,, nite and day difference,,, it come with the frame brakets for the rack,,sorta,,,you have to cut/shape/trim them to fit your fram e and weld them on,,,,it comes with instructions, and pay attention to the rack position,,,, it comes with threaded adapters that fit the inner cavilier tie rods and adapt to the outer tie rod ends, which will be from a 2005 for explorer,,,if you can make the brackets,,its not worth buying them from fat man,,,,but the adapters are worth getting from him,,and the instructions,,,, you will need a donor car 1987 till some time in the 1990s,,cavilieres are getting harder to find,,,in the yards,,,if you go to rock auto and search cavilere rack and pinion,,,click on the correct link,,it will show all the GM bodies that use the same rack,,,easier to find the other bodies in the yards,,, get the rack,,,,the inner tire rod arms,,one each side long narrow bars,,and dont destroy the rack mounting brackets,,,getting it offf,,,, then you will have to find out if your power steering pump has enough or too much pressure for the GM rack,,,it is easier then it sounds,,, hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayfarer Posted May 24, 2016 Report Share Posted May 24, 2016 ...the black is much easier to read than the violet........just sayin'........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintagecar Posted May 24, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2016 (edited) so the fatman kit is worth it for the instructions and the adapters but not so much for the brackets? Edited May 24, 2016 by vintagecar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windsor8 Posted May 25, 2016 Report Share Posted May 25, 2016 (edited) I running a stock 318 in my 48 Dodge and Cavalier R & P. Using the ps pump that was on the engine from the donor car, a 70 Coronet and every thing works just fine. Didn't use Fatman set up. I can send you more of my info if you would like. Edited May 25, 2016 by windsor8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintagecar Posted May 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2016 windsor8- that would be awesome. I really don't want to go buying what I dont need to, but have no problem buying what I need. I can fabricate without issues, so pictures are always best to see how the setup looks. any info/pics sure would be great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windsor8 Posted May 25, 2016 Report Share Posted May 25, 2016 I'll get the info and pictures to you as soon as I can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P15-D24 Posted May 25, 2016 Report Share Posted May 25, 2016 I'll get the info and pictures to you as soon as I can. If you can post them here also. A lot are interested in this mod. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windsor8 Posted May 26, 2016 Report Share Posted May 26, 2016 Correction...... I did use a "Fatman" rack and pinion kit. It was very easy to install. The mounting brackets would be easy to fabricate but the tie rod adaptors not so much for me anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fstfish66 Posted June 7, 2016 Report Share Posted June 7, 2016 so the fatman kit is worth it for the instructions and the adapters but not so much for the brackets? yes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pez Posted August 22, 2016 Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 What are you using for the inner tie rods? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintagecar Posted August 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 mid 80's cavalier inner tie rods with fatman kit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fstfish66 Posted August 26, 2016 Report Share Posted August 26, 2016 older fat man kit used datsun outer tie rod ends,,,they needed an adapter sleeve,,now a 2005 ford explorer is what he uses,,,no adapter needed,,,much beefier too then the datsun outer tie rod ends Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fstfish66 Posted August 26, 2016 Report Share Posted August 26, 2016 ther are other gm cars that use the same steering set up,, if you know how to use rock auto web site you can see what other models are the same parts,,,not so many cavileres in the yards these days but the other models are still around,,, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaryPrice Posted August 27, 2016 Report Share Posted August 27, 2016 Sorry to be late to the game. I haven't logged-in, in quite some time. I fabricated my own brackets and have a bone yard Cavalier rack and pinion in there. I had the original steering arms to begin with, but found a guy that made a custom set that was shortened, so those are in there now. They made a huge difference in turning radius. I used the inner tie rods from the cavalier, and then cut the original tie rods from the Plymouth, using original style replacement outer tie rod ends. I tapped the original tie rod, that I'd cut, to match the metric thread adjuster on the Cavalier. Works well. I had a 318 Magnum with Saginaw pump, which was too much for the Cavalier rack. I installed a flow reducer fitting in the pump and it feels great, not really sensitive at all. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fstfish66 Posted August 30, 2016 Report Share Posted August 30, 2016 wow when did this forum change ???,,,, any chance you have pics of your outer tie rod ends, sounds interesting, and ide be willing to give it a try ,to tighten up my turning,,, so it sounds like you deleted the thread adapter ?? cant picture the out tie rod end reaching the inner calivere tie rods,,, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaryPrice Posted September 17, 2016 Report Share Posted September 17, 2016 Sorry. I've been working long hours. Haven't been on here in a while. I'll try to get some pics in the next few days. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.