Steering Rack transplant…. longnose to bullnose

[Chuck #251 [e-mail] [vSAAB]]

I was told years ago by chip that a long nose rack was not suitable for a bull nose car. Not only mounting but ratio. At the time i was asking if a long nose rack would fit my 93F. I had two long nose racks at the time from parts cars. I was told do not use the long nose rack in my race car...and i was handed a bull nose rack to have as a spare if i ever needed for my 93F. Yes the steering shaft universals interchange as i have a '65-'68 dash and column in my race car. I liked the concept of having the tachometer in the center where a spedometer belongs. Easier to see at a glance at speed than most others i have seen mounted under dash.
Firewall boot / gromet for the rack? I'll look. Presently I'm uncertain. I keep most stuff like that sealed in coffee cans attempting to stem further deterioration .
Chuck

Sent from my LG Mobile

Subject car is Project RedBull - '61 model 96 with a transplant steering rack from a '70 V4.
It's apparent that Saab made some changes to the rack for Longnose 2S and V4 cars, but it also looks like they retained the capability to retrofit a later rack in a bullnose 96. And that's my plan, but it appears that the bosses for the attach bolts are about 1/4 - 5/16" thicker for the long nose version as well as closer longitudinal spacing. I envision using a spacer to account for the difference, use longer bolts, and use the outboard bosses to mate with the bullnose firewall bolt pattern.
Since the pinion shaft is the same PN for both racks that means the C/L of the rack and therefore the spline will be pushed fwd at least 1/4." Should not make much difference at the tie rod ends, right? But will I have difficulty making the steering column joint?
Anyone do this retrofit using a spacer, and anyone have a source for the steering column rubber boot in the firewall? Is it same for the V4 cars?
Any other issues I haven't discovered yet?
Tom, aka ElkMtnMan

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[Tom Nelson [e-mail] [vSAAB]]

Thanks Chuck ........ And Chip is correct about the ratio change on later V4 cars. I checked steering specs in 3 different Saab Shop Manuals:
• Bullnose 96 thru 1964 ..... ratio is 14:1 with 2.25 turns lock to lock
• Longnose 2S 1965 - 1967 ..ratio is 14:1 with 2.25 turns lock to lock
• Longnose V4 1967 thru 1968 ... ratio is 14:1 with 2.25 turns lock to lock
• Longnose V4 1969 and later ... ratio is 15.5:1 with 2.7 turns lock to lock

So apparently the gear ratio change is only later V4 cars, with approx 10% difference resulting in slower steering but less effort, allowing the fitment of a smaller steering wheel from 1969 onward?

I would be faced with rebuilding the RedBull rack, at least installing new boots to use it, so I may opt for the later rack as I have at least one good one from Bruce Harbison out of a '69 or '70. If the grandkids don't like the steering feel they can always change it, right?

Tom, aka ElkMtnMan

I was told years ago by chip that a long nose rack was not suitable for a bull nose car. Not only mounting but ratio. At the time i was asking if a long nose rack would fit my 93F. I had two long nose racks at the time from parts cars. I was told do not use the long nose rack in my race car...and i was handed a bull nose rack to have as a spare if i ever needed for my 93F. Yes the steering shaft universals interchange as i have a '65-'68 dash and column in my race car. I liked the concept of having the tachometer in the center where a spedometer belongs. Easier to see at a glance at speed than most others i have seen mounted under dash.
Firewall boot / gromet for the rack? I'll look. Presently I'm uncertain. I keep most stuff like that sealed in coffee cans attempting to stem further deterioration .
Chuck
Sent from my LG Mobile

Subject car is Project RedBull - '61 model 96 with a transplant steering rack from a '70 V4.
It's apparent that Saab made some changes to the rack for Longnose 2S and V4 cars, but it also looks like they retained the capability to retrofit a later rack in a bullnose 96. And that's my plan, but it appears that the bosses for the attach bolts are about 1/4 - 5/16" thicker for the long nose version as well as closer longitudinal spacing. I envision using a spacer to account for the difference, use longer bolts, and use the outboard bosses to mate with the bullnose firewall bolt pattern.
Since the pinion shaft is the same PN for both racks that means the C/L of the rack and therefore the spline will be pushed fwd at least 1/4." Should not make much difference at the tie rod ends, right? But will I have difficulty making the steering column joint?
Anyone do this retrofit using a spacer, and anyone have a source for the steering column rubber boot in the firewall? Is it same for the V4 cars?
Any other issues I haven't discovered yet?
Tom, aka ElkMtnMan

[Dan Morley blue69sonett-/[e-mail] [vSAAB]]

Totally different topic but related. A while back I made a post regarding electric power steering and had a link to a quite expensive bolt on unit for a 95/96. A friend just sent this article to me and this is not "bolt on" but is quite interesting and affordable.

$100 Power Steering? Yes you can. Use Column Electric Power Assist System (EPAS) ! - Ford Muscle Forums : Ford Muscle Cars Tech Forum

 
           
$100 Power Steering? Yes you can. Use Column Electric Po...
Another bright idea! My background is power steering from my days at Ford Motor Company. All manufactures has slowly changed over to electric power
View on www.fordmusclefo... Preview by Yahoo
 
 
 
Dan Morley


________________________________
From: "Tom Nelson tom10-+mvbHnN81+***@public.gmane.org [vSAAB]" <vSAAB-***@public.gmane.org>
To: vSAAB-***@public.gmane.org
Sent: Saturday, July 5, 2014 6:48 AM
Subject: Re: [vSAAB] Steering Rack transplant
. longnose to bullnose [1 Attachment]



Thanks Chuck ........ And Chip is correct about the ratio change on later V4 cars. I checked steering specs in 3 different Saab Shop Manuals:
• Bullnose 96 thru 1964 ..... ratio is 14:1 with 2.25 turns lock to lock
• Longnose 2S 1965 - 1967 ..ratio is 14:1 with 2.25 turns lock to lock
• Longnose V4 1967 thru 1968 ... ratio is 14:1 with 2.25 turns lock to lock
• Longnose V4 1969 and later ... ratio is 15.5:1 with 2.7 turns lock to lock

So apparently the gear ratio change is only later V4 cars, with approx 10% difference resulting in slower steering but less effort, allowing the fitment of a smaller steering wheel from 1969 onward?

I would be faced with rebuilding the RedBull rack, at least installing new boots to use it, so I may opt for the later rack as I have at least one good one from Bruce Harbison out of a '69 or '70. If the grandkids don't like the steering feel they can always change it, right?


Tom, aka ElkMtnMan





On Jul 5, 2014, at 6:17 AM, Chuck #251 crusaderchuck55-***@public.gmane.org [vSAAB] wrote:

 

Post by Chuck #251 crusaderchuck55-***@public.gmane.org [vSAAB]
I was told years ago by chip that a long nose rack was not suitable for a bull nose car. Not only mounting but ratio. At the time i was asking if a long nose rack would fit my 93F. I had two long nose racks at the time from parts cars. I was told do not use the long nose rack in my race car...and i was handed a bull nose rack to have as a spare if i ever needed for my 93F. Yes the steering shaft universals interchange as i have a '65-'68 dash and column in my race car. I liked the concept of having the tachometer in the center where a spedometer belongs. Easier to see at a glance at speed than most others i have seen mounted under dash.
Firewall boot / gromet for the rack? I'll look. Presently I'm uncertain. I keep most stuff like that sealed in coffee cans attempting to stem further deterioration .
Chuck
Sent from my LG Mobile

Subject car is Project RedBull - '61 model 96 with a transplant steering rack from a '70 V4.
It's apparent that Saab made some changes to the rack for Longnose 2S and V4 cars, but it also looks like they retained the capability to retrofit a later rack in a bullnose 96. And that's my plan, but it appears that the bosses for the attach bolts are about 1/4 - 5/16" thicker for the long nose version as well as closer longitudinal spacing. I envision using a spacer to account for the difference, use longer bolts, and use the outboard bosses to mate with the bullnose firewall bolt pattern.
Since the pinion shaft is the same PN for both racks that means the C/L of the rack and therefore the spline will be pushed fwd at least 1/4." Should not make much difference at the tie rod ends, right? But will I have difficulty making the steering column joint?
Anyone do this retrofit using a spacer, and anyone have a source for the steering column rubber boot in the firewall? Is it same for the V4 cars?
Any other issues I haven't discovered yet?
Tom, aka ElkMtnMan

[Chuck #251 [e-mail] [vSAAB]]

Honestly how bad can the rack be? Go for new boots and use it. That way boots are changed and front alignment is done once. Rright?
Chuck

Sent from my LG Mobile

• Bullnose 96 thru 1964 ..... ratio is 14:1 with 2.25 turns lock to lock
• Longnose 2S 1965 - 1967 ..ratio is 14:1 with 2.25 turns lock to lock
• Longnose V4 1967 thru 1968 ... ratio is 14:1 with 2.25 turns lock to lock
• Longnose V4 1969 and later ... ratio is 15.5:1 with 2.7 turns lock to lock
So apparently the gear ratio change is only later V4 cars, with approx 10% difference resulting in slower steering but less effort, allowing the fitment of a smaller steering wheel from 1969 onward?
I would be faced with rebuilding the RedBull rack, at least installing new boots to use it, so I may opt for the later rack as I have at least one good one from Bruce Harbison out of a '69 or '70. If the grandkids don't like the steering feel they can always change it, right?
Tom, aka ElkMtnMan

I was told years ago by chip that a long nose rack was not suitable for a bull nose car. Not only mounting but ratio. At the time i was asking if a long nose rack would fit my 93F. I had two long nose racks at the time from parts cars. I was told do not use the long nose rack in my race car...and i was handed a bull nose rack to have as a spare if i ever needed for my 93F. Yes the steering shaft universals interchange as i have a '65-'68 dash and column in my race car. I liked the concept of having the tachometer in the center where a spedometer belongs. Easier to see at a glance at speed than most others i have seen mounted under dash.
Firewall boot / gromet for the rack? I'll look. Presently I'm uncertain. I keep most stuff like that sealed in coffee cans attempting to stem further deterioration .
Chuck
Sent from my LG Mobile

Subject car is Project RedBull - '61 model 96 with a transplant steering rack from a '70 V4.
It's apparent that Saab made some changes to the rack for Longnose 2S and V4 cars, but it also looks like they retained the capability to retrofit a later rack in a bullnose 96. And that's my plan, but it appears that the bosses for the attach bolts are about 1/4 - 5/16" thicker for the long nose version as well as closer longitudinal spacing. I envision using a spacer to account for the difference, use longer bolts, and use the outboard bosses to mate with the bullnose firewall bolt pattern.
Since the pinion shaft is the same PN for both racks that means the C/L of the rack and therefore the spline will be pushed fwd at least 1/4." Should not make much difference at the tie rod ends, right? But will I have difficulty making the steering column joint?
Anyone do this retrofit using a spacer, and anyone have a source for the steering column rubber boot in the firewall? Is it same for the V4 cars?
Any other issues I haven't discovered yet?
Tom, aka ElkMtnMan

------------------------------------

------------------------------------


------------------------------------

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