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Yet another steering question..

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humpty Bishop of Volkswagenism

3,336 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#932320
I know, I know.... We've all read the various threads on steering rack conversions into early bays, but I have yet to see this question come up....

Forget all the kits out there.... In this country I'd be up for $2500+ for either the Red9 or the CE versions.... And frankly, neither of the float my boat... I have seen some home brewed setups using various steering racks that are not available in this country, so this begs the question...

Why can't a complete non-power steering rack out of a T25/3 be modded fitted to a Bay?

I have access to as complete bevel box, uni links and steering rack for nix, and I have a very neat 68 Micro (Dec 67 build) that is in dire need of a steering box upgrade/repair/replacement....



I have fitted a 80mm narrowed LP Beam with adjusters and drop spindles for reference, so this might make a difference....

So I leave it with you gurus.....Can it be done?
FUCH your early!

http://www.noh2o.org/

nils Fahrvergnugen

971 posts · joined Jan 2008 ·

#932349
There is no reason it can't be done, think the only reason people shy away is the engineering side of it. it costs money, there are alot of numbers and drawing to be done to prove bump steer and now days pretty sure a test drive? As far as an early bay is concerned, because of the center pivot point the hard work is done becaise this is already the "perfect spot" ( unless heavyly raised or lowered) when in the straight ahead position the center of the ball joints of the new rack must be in the same plane as the center of the ball joints now. there are plenty of options to mount to the beam of a combi
Quit calling rust patina

humpty Bishop of Volkswagenism

3,336 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#932381
Yeah the centre mount of the tierod ends is the go....

In that regard, I have found another option..... I'm attempting to source one of these....

It's off a MK2 or MK3 Vauxhall Astra.



Not available here, but are very common in the UK.....
But powered ones are available here.... I think a powered one can be adapted to work without power.
FUCH your early!

http://www.noh2o.org/

nils Fahrvergnugen

971 posts · joined Jan 2008 ·

#932390


Lookes the same as the daewoo or camira rack to me and you can indeed use a power rack unpowered. that what i have in mine because lock to lock on the manual rack was 4 1/2 turns (3 1/2 for the power )
Quit calling rust patina

Klaus Custom Title Time!

1,439 posts · joined Aug 2004 ·

#932403
you can retro fit late bay steering boxes into a lowlight , easier to get and work nicely ..but passat rack may work too

humpty Bishop of Volkswagenism

3,336 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#932554
nils wrote:
Lookes the same as the daewoo or camira rack to me and you can indeed use a power rack unpowered. that what i have in mine because lock to lock on the manual rack was 4 1/2 turns (3 1/2 for the power )
Perfect....

Cheers for that.... Now to source one.
FUCH your early!

http://www.noh2o.org/

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#932560
Hi

I read somewhere about using a L300 Missinbits racks are doable and they have a bevel box I think.

Steve

tar76 Custom Title Time!

1,622 posts · joined Dec 2009 ·

#932570
Mate keep us posted on your progress as this will be very interesting. Is that a sidewinder exhaust hanging out of the lowie?
"Obey your Dreams"!


62 Std beetle.
65 11 wnd Split "The Cross".
6? coming very soon!!!!

nils Fahrvergnugen

971 posts · joined Jan 2008 ·

#932601
humpty wrote:Have you fitted it Nils?
Yeah mate, I've been running it for years now. Will try and dig up some photos of the mods required. (photobucket is being a pain at the moment)
Quit calling rust patina

humpty Bishop of Volkswagenism

3,336 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#932693
tar76 wrote:Mate keep us posted on your progress as this will be very interesting. Is that a sidewinder exhaust hanging out of the lowie?
Yeah it is a sidewinder.... One of the chinese knockoff ones from Wolfsburg Automotive.... Very nicely made, but contrary to what their advert says, it does not fit a Bay..... Since my bus is low, I wanted max ground clearance, so I made my own rear mount that tucks up and through the header, plus I redid the muffler box.... Moved that up closer to the chassis and further forward to clear the engine mount.
nils wrote:Yeah mate, I've been running it for years now. Will try and dig up some photos of the mods required. (photobucket is being a pain at the moment)
That would be awesome.... Cheers.

Good tip on the 'Bitsamissing' rack idea Steve.... A little late though. 🥲

Picked up the Camira rack yesterday.... Paid a massive 40 bux for it.... Came with tie-rods, coupler and all hard line and mounting hardware!

👍

Got the Bus bevel box for nothing.... Just need to source some small unijoints... I have a LBug wreck down the farm, but I might look as some other options before I pull that car down.

Once I have all the parts together I'll start a build thread....
FUCH your early!

http://www.noh2o.org/

nils Fahrvergnugen

971 posts · joined Jan 2008 ·

#933219
I was thinking about this today, and the mods required to put the rack in a beetle may actually not be required in a bus because the steering wheel is infront of the beam. Infact I am having a problem picturing how to run the joint between to steering shaft and the rack ( lots of uni's perhaps?) and then, because you are approching from the front, is the steering actually going the right way? might want to check this out humpty. Other wise you actually have a better choice of rack that use beetle boys.

Couple of pics that might help



Quit calling rust patina

humpty Bishop of Volkswagenism

3,336 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#933274
Since I have next to no coin in this, it's worth the R&D to test the idea.... The rotation and direction of the rack is a concern obviously.... The rack I have is a local product, so is a rhd unit.... I plan to rotate the unit and fit it behind the beam.... This will place the drive in a forward position and central between the torsion tubes.... I don't know for certain, but I think the T3 bevel box actualy changes the drive ration..... This should work in my favour I think.... The T3 Bus bevel box will be place where the steering box is normally located.... This will send the steering drive to the rear and link to the rack via two small steering uni's.... The mockup will determine whether the steering actually turns in the right direction!
FUCH your early!

http://www.noh2o.org/

humpty Bishop of Volkswagenism

3,336 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#933695
Just mocked up the rack on a spare BJ Bus beam and all is good.... The only issue would possibly be the shock clearance on one end of the rack.... Also mocked up the T3 bevel box to the rack and all turned at is should.... The right direction and all!!!!.....This is all looking very good indeed.

Just need to source some Super Bug steering uni's....
FUCH your early!

http://www.noh2o.org/

waltermitty Legend when my beer goggles are on

1,993 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#933732
Nice Bus , please keep up the build thread. Mitchell
23 windows ...8 too many!

humpty Bishop of Volkswagenism

3,336 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#933984
Picked up this....



And placed the Camira rack on the old bj beam in the rough location....









The only major issue I can see is the close proximity of the rhs shock...

Obviously the LP beam on my low-light will be a little different, but this does give me a good idea of how things will work.
FUCH your early!

http://www.noh2o.org/

nils Fahrvergnugen

971 posts · joined Jan 2008 ·

#933991
Yikes. i had no idea that the bus beam was that narrow. On the beetle i cut the tower off to make it fit
Quit calling rust patina