Steering opinions

**doghows** · October 10th, 2011, 11:39 AM

I am deciding on rack and pinion steering, or stick with the stock stuff for now?? If I skip the steering now I can buy a lot more stuff to get her back on the road. OR buy the steering and hope I have enough funds to finish?
My main concern is to do the Heidst system or just a rack?? Heidts needs to be weld in and should be done before the paint. So I need to make up my mind soon. Any comments or suggestions on been there done that would be great.. Thanks Guys...

**BillP 98201** · October 11th, 2011, 07:01 AM

Arent there some bolt ons you can do later?

**doghows** · October 11th, 2011, 08:59 AM

I think so for the steering, but for the suspension I think they all have some welding to do??
I think Patrick has the RRS rack on his with stock suspension. Larry I think has the Heidts kit on his. Hopefully they will chime in for me.

**BadBird** · October 11th, 2011, 05:05 PM

Yep, I did go with the Heidts, I love the difference it made, I love the looks. There is quite a bit of cutting involved with the shock towers, but even that was a plus for me since I wanted to get rid of that interference in the engine bay and clean it up for looks, plus add long tube headers. It wasn't that difficult to weld in the system and I am an extreme novice.

The cost for the Heidts system that I got was around $2000 on ebay with free shipping, but there are other issues that coincide with getting the Heidts that I ran into. One, I have a 302/347. You must install a rear sump oil pan (with any V-8) to fit, and to do that created some interference with the firewall. Some of that interference was created by moving the engine rearward to clear at the oil pan/power steering rack and also when I put a newer C4 transmission in the car. Not sure if the interference would have been there if I used the older, stock C4, but that tranny wouldn't support the horsepower that I wanted.

Badbird AKA Larry

Not trying to talk you out of the Heidts, just want to give you the pro's and cons.

**doghows** · October 12th, 2011, 07:54 AM

That is what I am looking for. If I go that way I need to do it now. I don't want to get it after the paint work is done.
Thanks for the info. Steve

**pbrown** · October 13th, 2011, 09:31 PM

Steve,

I did the RRS system on mine. It's an easy bolt on kit that is reversible if I wanted to go back to stock. It is based on a common mid-90s GM center take-off rack so parts can be found locally. It was a bit pricy and I suspect that the price will be higher with the current AUS-US exchange rate.

I wasn't completely happy with the way they engineered the column conversion. They provide parts to modify the Ford column so you can use the original steering wheel.

Jay Baker also has the RRS kit on his Falcon.

Another option I considered was the TCP rack kit. It's close in price but needs to have the drivers side frame rail notched to clear.

**doghows** · October 14th, 2011, 08:44 AM

Thanks for the info Patrick. I am going to weight out my options. I am thinking bolt on stuff that way I can get the car on the road for next summer, and upgrade more stuff as time and $$ come available.

**Luva65wagon** · October 14th, 2011, 09:57 PM

I'd really suggest driving a car that has one of these systems in it to see if you feel "the worth" before investing lots of money into it.

I know, for myself, the money I spent on having RedHead steering rebuild my steering box made my wagon drive like a new car (to me). That, combined with the heavy front sway bar made my 50-year-old suspension more than responsive enough for the trips I'm making to local car shows and for cruising it around. It doesn't drive like the new Mustang I drove all last week, but I think it would take far more than a rack to make our cars drive as nice as that car did.

Just offering a couple copper/lead pennies...

**doghows** · October 17th, 2011, 08:02 AM

I am leaning towards leaving it stock for now. I have found a few good bolt on kits so I could change it later. I think I will go for the most bang for the buck option at this point. I REALLY want to get her on the road this summer!!!!

**Luva65wagon** · October 17th, 2011, 06:33 PM

I think you made the right choice. Resist the call of the "whileyoureatit" beast, which will surely doom you to a hell worse than hell itself.

I'd still investigate a box rebuild at the very least. Any 50 year old box can do with a rebuild. And if rebuilt you could always sell it for most of what you paid - with accompanying proof of the rebuild.

http://www.redheadsteeringgears.com/