Rack and Pinion Steering

[dvcobra]

I attended Cobra University at Willow Springs in Oct. and one of the instructors drove my car. John Morton (Professional driver, former Shelby America driver) suggested that I needed a quicker steering ratio because it took too much effort to get around the tight turns. He also drove a Superformance and said that their ratio was just right. From what I have read the Mustang II is 4.15 turns lock to lock, and the original Cobra was more like 3 turns lock to lock. I found a Flaming Rivers quick ratio rack and pinion that is 3.3 turns lock to lock but that fits the 5.0 Mustang. Will the 5.0 Mustang rack fit in my Classic or do you have another suggestion (like; I've gone completely nuts striving for perfection)?
I am also thinking of changing to 17" wheels and upgrading brakes. I am currently running 8"wheels on the front and 10" on the rear. I would like to stick to the wide rear tires if I can. Can you suggest what size tires I can use?

[Jack21]

Used a late Mustang power rack with the standard ratio, high effort valving from AGR. Although undocumented in the assembly manual, the passengers side rack mounting hole in the CR was slotted to accomodate either MII or late Mustang rack. For the street, the standard ratio, 3 turns lock-to-lock is most responsive in a 94" wheelbase car. For the track, AGR also makes a fast ratio, high effort rack. Likely the same as the Ford SVO unit as offered for Mustangs, but with the high effort valving.

To answer your question, the Flaming River manual rack for the 5.0 should use the same mounting dimensions, and should fit.

The late ('79 - up) rack is shorter in height than the MII from the mount centerline to the rack centerline. I installed mine with offset bushings to move the rack centerline up, or closer to the original MII rack centerline. I did this to preclude any bump steer problems, but admit it may not have been necessary.

Used Team III 17" wheels. 8" front (4" bs), 9 1/2" (5" bs) rear for 235/45ZR17 front, 275/40ZR17 rear tires. 11" widths also available in 17" for larger tires. Tire came to tossup between Bridgestone RE730's and Falken 451's. Both rated for wet and dry traction. These things stick rather than spin.

Lotsa room for brake upgrades.