Project Datstang

[Bory]

The rack is a bit long, it will be a tad off set to the right, the drivers side tie rod will work, but the left side will have to be cut a bit, then the threads chased down farther. Ford tie rods are a bit fatter, so had to open up the spindle a bit.

[Bory]

The stock 5.0 steering pump will work fine in there.

Now messing with getting the correct pressure and return lines.

[datsunfreak]

Very cool.  B)

[Ratwagon1600]

This is definitely my favorite build thread on Ratsun.

[Jester]

Ideally, you want the ball joints on the ends of the rack to be on the same line as the lower control arm pivots. In the case with our trucks, the line is from the TC rod to the control arm pivot. And it should be mounted to the rack in a straight line between the two steering knuckle ends. If you don't you will have a shit load of bump steer.

There is no "bolt in" rack that I have been able to find. I will be cutting one in half when I do mine. 

[Bory]

Thanks RW16!

J- the way I made the steering X member, the steering rods are right in line with the lower control arm, so my bump steer will be nill.

[Bory]

 

This is the tubing I machined for the mount to the new rack

[Bory]

 

This is where the tubes will go

[Bory]

While I have the steering apart- I acquired a luv step side bed, not a big fan of the mid 80's chevy fenders, I grabbed some 67-72 fullsize chevy fenders, steps and fleet side inner fenders from the same year fleet side.

[Bory]

M

The luv bed was a bit wider than the stock bed, so I decided to narrow the fleet side inner fenders to 4" from 11"

[Bory]

 

To this

[Bory]

[Bory]

As you can see the luv fenders on the right, I'm fit testing the new fenders, but you can see that the bed itself, is too short for the new fendys,

[Bory]

Here you see the luv bed and fenders with wheel base way off and poopy fenders, not gonna work.

[Bory]

[Bory]

 

So after some extensive mods to the frame and bed, the luv, was now ready to become Datstang

[Bory]

[Bory]

Here you can see a 5" extension pieces to match every bend on the rear of the bed

[Bory]

[Bory]

Rear piece

[Bory]

More bits going in place

[Bory]

[Bory]

The step should fit under the fender, but that was too low, plus it was too long. So I cut its length, and raised up the side of the fender, yo match the bottom body line

[Bory]

 

Here is the bracket I made

[Bory]