will a mustang 2 rack and pinion fit in a 61 ford ranchero?

K

Kenneth S

New member
i have a 61 ranchero with a 5.0 efi engine in it and i was going to put a mustang 2 rack and pinion in it and i got to thinking. i started looking at pictures and it looks like the rack and pinion is mounted in front of the tires which in my understanding would make the wheels turn the opposite of my ranchero. the stock steering components are mounted behind the front tires. i would just modify the parts but my drivers side header is hiting the steering box and the inner ti rod is right up against the oil pan. has anyone done this. i need help.
i know this sounds desperat but could i flip the spindes around and get the same result. i don't make a lot of money and i need it going asap.
 
been along time since i was under a ranchero.you would need to swap the spindles, at the very least, but anything is doable.i think you might wanna do the whole disc and a arm swap if your gonna be doing that much work,if your a welder with tools and a torch and welder, itll take a few days by yourself.good luck.atleast yours went in, had to remove engine swap out headers and oil pan, then had to pull engine again and take passenger side header off, mount it to the exhaust pipe and finesse it on the head when the engine was finally down.it was a 63 originally a 260 with i think a 3 spd not sure, but it ended up being posi with c4 and early 80'2 302 ho with marine cam etc.
 
Your suspension is designed to work a certain way, if you flip the spindles around, you will get all sorts of crazy under/over steer situations..yes.. I know that some cars have the tie rod in the front... the spindle arms have to be bent a certain way so that the tires don't work against each other....
If you can use the mustang spindles though, this will work....

If the steering box is mounted to the outside of the frame, an old hotrodders trick was to use a half inch steel spacer between box and frame to give more clearance.....
 
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