Hi Guys, Here is a reply I just received this morning from Flaming River Ind. concerning a rack-n-pinion system for our G-Bodies.... Dear Kerry, This Dept. is not always 'privy" as to what new products are in development, however, with the additions of rack&pinion kits for Corvettes', Novas', Camaros', and Tri-5 Chevy's, we are always developing new products, and a rack kit for these cars may very well be in the future plans of the company. We will however, bring up your request to the owner of Flaming River. -- Best Regards Tech Dept Flaming River Ind. 1-800-648-8022 This is a request to all who may be interested...PLEASE drop them an e-mail asking for this system to be developed! Please remind them that the GM G-Body is a HUGE market for them to go after and name ALL the makes this covers inculding our Buick Regal/GN, Oldsmobile Cutlass/442, Pontiac Grand Prix, and Chevrolet Monte Carlo. There are literally millions of these cars thruout the country and possibly the world for that matter! :Brow: Your request can be sent to tech-support@flamingriver.com . If we can "hit" them with a barrage of requests it may definitely influence them and their decision! o No: I for one, am looking to loose the excess weight of the stock steering system as I'm sure MANY of you probably would like to do also. :TU: Thanks very much guys!
Dan....Thanks, I'm working on it!:TU: Adam....weight reduction for me! With a rack-n-pinion system you no longer need that HEAVY steering box , the pitman arm, the idler arm, the center link, the inner tie-rods and all the associated bolts, nuts and washers. With a rack you only have rack with outer ends, it's mount(s) and the hardware. You can VERY easily loose 50+lbs or so. You can even keep the power-assist and come up with a substantial weight reduction up front!:Brow: I haven't actually put it on the scales but a buddy of mine has a Pinto rack and I would SWEAR it weighs less than a Saginaw box alone. Now add in the other components and you can see where that weight is.:eek2: Plus the fact we have a resurculating ball box vs a worm-n-gear system too which is MUCH less "sloppy". Now...Flaming River has just released a completely new designed "Saginaw" steering box that is redesigned with the worm-n-gear and weighs about 6lbs lighter but I'd like to loose more than that...if I can find a source that wants to come forward with one for the G-Body platform.:TU:
Hi Kerry. You got a picture posted anywhere of this beast you've been working on? The Summit catalog shows a Flaming River manual box for the G body that describes it as reducing weight "...up to 45 lbs...". I take it that a rack would save maybe even more than 50lbs????? Whatcha think?
Hi Ramin, Sorry but I do not have any current pic's. My wife and I bought a new house last Oct. and sold our "old" house in April. I had quite a bit of equity built up in it (not to mention I also sold it for about $15,000 more than I gave for it:Brow: ) so that gave me play money.:grin: With that I've currently been trying to get my 30' X 30' X 10' shop done. I bought a Bend Pak two post lift to go in there but it's currently under a tarp and straped down on my car trailer. I've completely removed what sparse wiring there was and completely re-wired for 200amp service. The garage was just a bare shell inside with only 4 small 4ft lights and a few outlets. I've completely braced all the joists in prep for an attic floor after putting in an aluminum ceiling drop-ladder. You could literally grab any joist and shake it like a rag doll!ou: I also bought one of the Whirlpool A/C & Heater window units I read about on The Bench.....17,000BTU A/C, 15,000BTU Heat for 1100sq/ft. My shop is 900 so it should work well.:TU: Also have to completely insulate, drywall and paint. I also bought the U-Coat-It floor epoxy coating but that is still yet to do also. Finally put the lift up.....and then....I can get back to my cars. All this is going MUCH slower than I would like due to my lungs, health and such. I only have the energy for about an hour or two a day, and it's not every day I feel like it doing much of anything. And I'm sure my doctor would kill me if he knew, according to him I should only sit inside in the A/C. I do have several friends who help out when they can but with their jobs and such it's still been a slow process.....but it WILL get done!:TU: In the meantime I've been collecting parts..for the Regal anyway...and it's trunk is absolutely full right now!:TU: As far as the Flaming River manual box and the rack....I was trying to stay on the conservative side as far as weight loss for a rack!:Brow: If the rack set-up sounds good to you PLEASE drop Flaming River an e-mail and remind them of how HUGE the GM G-Body market is!:TU: I'm currently 6 months into being on the lung-transplant list and have been told I could be on there for as long as two years. This keeps me REAL close to home so unfortunately no long distance travel for me...even to a Buick event.:ball: But I do hope to meet many of you sometime in the near future and have a chance to run with the best of 'em!:3gears:
