Rack and pinion questions

[terryracing86]

So who’s done the RnP swap on their 51s. What year cavalier rack does it require and what other parts? Was the original steering column used or replaced? Thanks  pics also if u have any plz. Trying to fit a 318 down into my Cambridge and looks like more room if that bulky steering box is out of the way 

[Plymouthy Adams]

While there are yet other ways to do this I answer based on the stated want of the Cavilier rack....

 

The Caviler rack you have to choose only one of the two options....power or manual.  On the column...do you wish to retain the look and spear of death or modify and keep a bit of both, original look inside with new lower collapsing shaft.  This will be your call...big safety item...do it right either way you go.  The slight offset of the V8 with the A body exhaust manifold is doable with room for the steering now provided.  You next biggest challenge is working the inner fenders, if you wish to retain your battery in the engine compartment even a redesign of the actual brace comes into play here.  While you firewall will need no mod, your forward advancement of the radiator will possibily require some hood latch post trim and weld and if you go with AC and the condenser this is now a necessity.  

Edited December 7, 2021 by Plymouthy Adams

[Sniper]

There are at least two recent threads on this very swap.  One with very detailed information on it.

 

Search is your friend.

[terryracing86]

17 minutes ago, Sniper said:

There are at least two recent threads on this very swap.  One with very detailed information on it.

 

Search is your friend.

I did search this and found that thread. I’m looking for a parts list of what was used or needed besides just the rack. 

 

32 minutes ago, Plymouthy Adams said:

While there are yet other ways to do this I answer based on the stated want of the Cavilier rack....

 

The Caviler rack you have to choose only one of the two options....power or manual.  On the column...do you wish to retain the look and spear of death or modify and keep a bit of both, original look inside with new lower collapsing shaft.  This will be your call...big safety item...do it right either way you go.  The slight offset of the V8 with the A body exhaust manifold is doable with room for the steering now provided.  You next biggest challenge is working the inner fenders, if you wish to retain your battery in the engine compartment even a redesign of the actual brace comes into play here.  While you firewall will need no mod, your forward advancement of the radiator will possibily require some hood latch post trim and weld and if you go with AC and the condenser this is now a necessity.  

I’m probably going to use a trunk mount battery kit but also I’m going to try and fit the inner fenders back in after motor fitment is done. I honestly don’t see a way for motor to fit unless the firewall is massaged to do so. Looks like if I mount motor to fit without firewall issues the front crank pulley will hit the crossmember unless the motor sits higher than I’m looking at it to sit lol 

[Sniper]

47 minutes ago, terryracing86 said:

I did search this and found that thread. I’m looking for a parts list of what was used or needed besides just the rack. 

 

You read thru this thread and could not find your list of parts needed?

 

 

 

[terryracing86]

57 minutes ago, Sniper said:

 

You read thru this thread and could not find your list of parts needed?

 

 

 

Isn’t the 48 frame different than a 51? Wasn’t sure if the same rack would apply for the 51 or not. 

[Sniper]

The differences for this swap are negligible.

 

there is no bolt in kit for any of our cars, you will be hand fitting things regardless.  Which is why Scotty's thread is nice, he pretty much goes through what he had to do to make the "kit" actually work.

[terryracing86]

29 minutes ago, Sniper said:

The differences for this swap are negligible.

 

there is no bolt in kit for any of our cars, you will be hand fitting things regardless.  Which is why Scotty's thread is nice, he pretty much goes through what he had to do to make the "kit" actually work.

Yes sounds like it’s not for an amateur with no welder or major fabbing skills lol 

[Racer-X-]

Welding is definitely required.  Attention to detail is also definitely required. 

 

Our 1948 DeSoto already had the Cavalier rack installed.  The rack used is a first generation J Body (and N Body and L Body) rack, with the center steering plate with the inner tie rods attached at the center of the rack.  The years for the Cavalier are 1990 +/- a few years.

 

For outer tie rods, we've switched over to the original size outer tie rod ends (for the DeSoto) with right hand threads, because the Cavalier inner tie rod ends have left hand threads.  Also, we replaced the "couplers" that come with the more common "kit" because we had a failure with one of those couplers.  The outer ends recommended by that kit are a little small for the steering arms and the fitment there is poor, or at least it was on ours. I posted more details, with pix of the new tie rod adjusters we had made by a very good machine shop on the other trhead here: 

.

There's a gallery link there with lots of pix.