Classic Mustangs List Archive

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: Lev Lvovsky (email redacted)

-- [ From: Lev Lvovsky * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] --

first off, I'm sure that the two lists that I'm sending this stuff to aren't
completely overjoyed that I'm rambling about this rack and pinion conversion
with a message appearing daily about it. A while back, I asked my ISP admin
to make me my own mailing list for cars when the Fordnatics list was in need
of other senders. That list capability still exists, and if anyone is
intersted in getting letters about this thread more often, please send me an
e-mail message (with the appropriate title), and place your e-mail message
on it's own line in the actual text. The address (Hope this doesn't piss
off Chuck) is (email redacted).


As a student with 20 college units, work, tutoring math, and this project I
don't think it needs to be saidthat I'm lacking in time. I reply to all of
the messages I recieve, albeit slowly.

I got a call from Terry Buch this morning. He's the engineer behind the Sac
Mustang rack and pinion conversion. He got a message that I left on his
machine (they supply Sac Mustang --Total Performance?) asking for some info
on the racks. Well, had I the oppurtunity, I would have simply strapped him
down to a chair, and interrogated him for hours about the design, but
needless to say, that didn't happen. I will say however, that he was BY FAR
the most open person in this circle of secrecy that I've delved into. I'll
cut the crap now, here's the conversations good points (VERY paraphrased):


Q: When the service life of the rack wears out, where can I get a new one?

A: To tell you the truth, there are very few parts to wear out inside the
rack. Only two bushings; the rack itself is pretty tough. It's a TRW unit,
and we called up all of the parts suppliers over the nation. We bought ALL
of them, so there's no more avaialble anywhere.

Q: I"ve asked this of a lot of people, but in your opinion, what're the
handling deficiencies of the early Mustang? In terms of bump-steer etc...
What's the measurements on the rack from the inner tie rods Blah blah blah?

A: Boy, that's a tough one. I've talked to MANY people, and a lot of them
simply don't know what they're talking about, and will try and fill your
head with their own theories. The Current Sac Mustang rack has definite
geometry problems, not the least of which is the bump-steer. It's primarily
made for people that use the cars for street. A lot of the people that get
the kit haven't even heard of bumpsteer, and don't take it into
consideration. Now, someone like yourself, that's concerned with these
things would definetly find the rack inadequate. If you were to take the
Mustang to a track like Laguna Seca, different drivers would tell you
different things about what's wrong with the Mustang's suspension.
Personally, I think they handle like shit. Don't get me wrong, they're a
blast to drive, but there's a lot of room for improvement.
Matter of fact, I'm engineering a new rack for the 'stang, and it's a
totally new design. Instead of the arms coming out of the side, they come
from the middle, off of an internal rack. The arms are as long as half the
rack's length in other words. this will markedly improve the bump-steer
characterisitics of the rack. It's kind of hard to explain.

Q: Wow! you'd think that would totally throw it off. I know a guy that
saw this same kind of rack on a Pontiac, and disregarded it for that reason.


A: Nope, it's a very cool setup blah variable power steering blah blah.

Q: Well Tery, I must thank you for your openness to my questions. I've
gotten the run around from so many people on this.

A: My pleasure, I figure that even if I were to give you the exact plans of
the rack right now, that you as an induvidual wouldn't hurt me in any way.
Plus, anything you make, I'm probably going to be able to make better with
my extensive shop.

Q: yeah you're probably right. Thanks again.




Needless to say, that last thing kind of got to me, but in reality, he's got
the dough. Very nice guy nontheless.


He mentioned in-cab adjustment of the steering-assist. I don't see this as
being anything more than a prop valve. leading me to beleive that a PS pump
isn't really system specific (too much at least).


Thinking about it today, I kind of understood what he was talking about with
the new rack idea. The way it works (I injected my own exaplanation into
his comments), is that instead of the rod ends coming our of the opposite
sides of the unit, they come out directly underneath it, all the way in the
center. I got a look at one of these units, and it seemed very goofy at
first, but then I understood its degree of modability. you can adjust the
length of the "outer-tie rod" by simply putting a solid arm coming out of
the unit, and then putting a joint wherever it is ther you want along the
path of the rod. This leaves room for bump-steer adjustment VERY easily
(for free!). If this is in fact how it works, it makes everythign a lot
simpler (from a manufacturing point of view also). I'm guessing on it so
far. I'm going to the junk yard tomorrow (barring any precipitation), and
will check as many racks as possible for proper dimensions (I figure it's
cheaper than ordering a different one and "looking" at it instead of buying
it). Will keep you updated on that.


I guess I might be getting ahead of myself here, but as someone suggested,
reverse-engineering is a very good way to get a product (sneaky as it is).

Also talked to my physics prof. Cray or Intel probably have half of their
guys selling their wares to car companies, the angles, and computations get
UNBELIEVABLE. I'll try to put a basic version onto a spreadsheet sometime
soon.


*sigh* this ain't as easy as it looks

-lev




--
|URL: www.smartlink.net/~levl289/ = Lev Lvovsky
|FTP: ftp.smartlink.net/pub/users/lev
|Most cherished possesion: '66 Ford Mustang (modified)
|"There is no race with a franchise on misery"--MR. KABC AM 790
|Q:"What do you think about American culture?"
|A:"I think it's a good idea."