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Discussion starter · #22 ·
If you're going through all that work I would definitely ditch any kind of gearbox. I'm sure you have the skills to install a manual Miata rack.

My personal choice would be an Escort Mk1 rack. They make them in very quick ratios, thanks to that car's legendary racing status.
I'd love to go rack and pinion. I've searched for a thread where someone has successfully made the leap. But I haven't yet read anything that makes me confident about what to use and what mods need to be done. Seems like most folks who at first talk about doing a rack and pinion end up going with the ZQ8 steering box instead.
 
I've got the Unisteer rack. It's nice for a bolt-on job but really isn't the ideal placement, there's still bump steer. Still feels much better than any gearbox, if you value feedback and road feel. I wanted a rack, and don't have the skills or tools to fab one in, so it works for me.

 
Discussion starter · #24 ·
I've got the Unisteer rack. It's nice for a bolt-on job but really isn't the ideal placement, there's still bump steer. Still feels much better than any gearbox, if you value feedback and road feel. I wanted a rack, and don't have the skills or tools to fab one in, so it works for me.
Nice.
The Diesel Corvette got a rack from Steeroids. It's better than the old played out gear box but has some issues that I'm disappointed with. Mostly the u-joints bind slightly at certain angles. I haven't been able to totally solve the binding. Admittedly the Vette has much less room for all the bits.The u-joints have to work at pretty large angles. The S10 has a ton of room.
 
Discussion starter · #25 ·
If you're going through all that work I would definitely ditch any kind of gearbox. I'm sure you have the skills to install a manual Miata rack.

My personal choice would be an Escort Mk1 rack. They make them in very quick ratios, thanks to that car's legendary racing status.
After hours of searching and reading I have a handle on the rack and pinion situation. The first problem is finding a rack with enough travel. 99.9% of available steering racks don't have enough travel. I measured lock to lock travel of my S10 center link and got 6-3/8". The Miata rack for example has 4.7" travel. The Escort MK1 rack is 5-1/4". So those are both out. I definitely don't want to end up with a 60' turning circle. The second hitch is that front steer racks are not nearly as common as rear steer racks. The third issue is that the S10 frame is so narrow between the lower control arms that getting the tie rod geometry would be difficult.

What I did find is the Dodge Intrepid rack is front steer and has 6-7/8" of travel with 3.1 turns of the wheel. My manual S10 box with 5 turns lock to lock moves the steering (switching to metric) 32mm per rotation of the wheel. The Intrepid rack is 56mm per rotation. Close to twice as quick. It should end up about 2.9 turns lock to lock. The intrepid rack is 'center takeoff' like your Unisteer rack so should make it easier to get the tie rod geometry close.

I ordered a rebuilt Intrepid rack (they're cheap). My plan right now is to defeat the hydraulics in the rack and give it electric power assist with a Kia electric power steering motor.
 
You're not considering all factors here... look at the wheelbase you are aiming for, you don't need as much travel to get the same turning radius.
 
Discussion starter · #27 ·
There probably are factors I haven't considered but that isn't one of them. I don't want to give up any steering angle angle if I don't have to. It will be better if it ends up with a tighter turning radius than stock - which I expect is what I will get depending on limitations imposed by wheel sizes.
 
I just read your diesel Corvette build and enjoyed it very much. Did you ever get the performance testing done? I would like to see what the car looks like when finished so a mini thread here would be nice in the off-topic section.
 
Discussion starter · #30 ·
I just read your diesel Corvette build and enjoyed it very much. Did you ever get the performance testing done? I would like to see what the car looks like when finished so a mini thread here would be nice in the off-topic section.
The Vette is basically done except for paint. It's WAY faster than it was with the stock 350. I haven't had a chance to take it to the drag strip yet.
I was planning on paint this summer but now it's anybody's guess when I'll be able to get the painting done.
 
The Vette is basically done except for paint. It's WAY faster than it was with the stock 350. I haven't had a chance to take it to the drag strip yet.
I was planning on paint this summer but now it's anybody's guess when I'll be able to get the painting done.
How is the fuel economy now?
 
Discussion starter · #32 ·
How is the fuel economy now?
it's kinda hard to keep my foot out of it so average is low to mid 20s. It will get 30 or a little better if I drive it like a grandma šŸ‘µ
 
Discussion starter · #33 ·
On the S10 I've just been taking it apart.

Motor is out




Bed is off




I've gutted the doors and got some Lexan for the window and black ABS to cover the lower.




Free motor and 5-speed to anyone who will come to Oregon to get it.

 
Yea... a lot of us still drive S10s daily. I don't think it's because we're rich, lol.
 
You're going to need an old van doghouse for that, lol.
 
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