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?

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

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.

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 )

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

Quote:

Originally posted by nils 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 )

Have you fitted it Nils?

Hi

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

Steve

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

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

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!

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....

Nice Bus , please keep up the build thread. Mitchell

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.

Yikes. i had no idea that the bus beam was that narrow. On the beetle i cut the tower off to make it fit