manual steering racks
 

i am getting a 79 mustang steering rack to put into my 88 5 litre. my question is do i need to change my steering column as well? and what size belt will i need?

I dont think so??

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1988 LX 5.0 3060lbs (full Tank) 14.90@100.2 On a Gtech
Drivetrain: 2.73 Stock Gears (New Gears Are in my house3.55), World Class T-5, Lakewood Bellhousing, Summit Adjustable Cluch Quadrant & Cable, Alumminum Driveshaft, Flaming River Manual Steering Rack
Suspension: MAC Control Arms,Maximum Motorsports Front Grip Package, H&R Sport Spings, Bilstein Shocks
Engine: Steal Mounts, Ram air, K&N, Under Drive Pulles
Exhaust: 1 5/8 Un-Equal Length Mac Headers, X-pipe W\cats, Edelbrock cat\

HA HA!!

Ok You need a longer shaft. The 79 is longer than the 88 but still 15/16" to short for the manual. I haven't tried the column from the 79 but I presume it's longer. What I did was cut the shaft and extend it. However you need to scribe a mark down the shaft when you cut it to line it up(Silly me my S. wheel is out 90 degs.) The total length of the shaft between yolks was 7 3/4".

You might be able to buy the FR steering extension coupler as well.

You will need a clockwise water pump or an Idler pully where the ps was. Do you have AC?
In that case you would prob. need idler.

Belt size depends which route you take.

Hope that helps.

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82 Mercury Capri 302.
Comp. Cams
Tremec 3550
3.73's
12.8@106 N/AKevin's Capri

thanks shovelnose, i do not have a/c... i've seen some guy who had the belt go the other way around the idler pully, but i didn't know whether he had a clockwise water pump, or not... is there any way of doing it without changing the pump?

I had no problems from mine, other than having to buy a rag joint coupling from Ford dealer(about $25-35). I took mine off because the lock to lock is twice that of stock rack. I repositioned the tensioner (had to drill another hole for nub on back)so the pulley was pulling up. The belt was really short(no A.C.), but that was cool. The belt was barely touching the water pump, but it worked. Better than ugly, cluttering idler pulleys.

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90LX, T-5, Vortech V2-SQ, Holley, Twisted Wedge Stage1, X-303