MGA RHD rack and pinion wanted

[mark86]

Hi all,
I'm looking for a RHD twin cam MGA steering rack and pinion - if anyone has one i can buy, please contact me (my email address is mga55 (at) optusnet.com.au).

Thanks,
Mark

 

[Grantura_MKI]

Have you tried Mr. Alcorn?

 

[mark86]

Thanks for the suggestion D, I've already tried Jim Alcorn and Peter Wood.

 

[Grantura_MKI]

Sorry, that’s the best I can do. Shame that Jim can’t help, as he has many contacts.

 

[drooartz]

I was going to suggest Moss UK, but they show the steering rack on backorder.

 

[Grantura_MKI]

Ah, not an simple fix.
been there a time of too.

 

[mark86]

Ah, not an simple fix.
been there a time of too.

I was going to suggest Moss UK, but they show the steering rack on backorder.

Thanks for the suggestions. Moss doesn't seem to carry much twin cam stuff unless it's common to the pushrod cars.
I will keep looking and asking around, hopefully someone will have one sitting on a shelf waiting for a home...

 

[PAUL161]

What's the difference between a steering rack for a twin-cam than a straight 4? The engine should have no bearing on the steering system. B&G has the RHD rack in stock. PJ

 

[drooartz]

Not sure what the difference is, but Moss UK does list a separate part number for the twincam/deluxe versus the standard A.

 

[mark86]

Not sure what the difference is, but Moss UK does list a separate part number for the twincam/deluxe versus the standard A.

To fit the steering in front of the motor, the mounting position was moved forward 1" which resulted in the need for a 1" longer pinion shaft. This is the challenging component to find. The twin cam rack also has the two lubrication nipples on the bottom of the housing so it can be accessed from underneath, instead of above. As a work around, a pushrod housing these can be cut and welded to relocate to the twin cam positions.

I can't see Moss or anyone else stocking a new twin cam rack, given that only 25% of twin cams were RHD (around 500 of the 2111 total). That means the stock of donor racks is pretty small for conversion of any of the remaining 1600 LHD cars. I can only hope there is one out there somehwere!

 

[PAUL161]

Thanks, Mark for that info. Quite interesting. I can now see why it's so tough to find the proper unit. Looks like a mod might be in the program.

 

[mark86]

Thanks, Mark for that info. Quite interesting. I can now see why it's so tough to find the proper unit. Looks like a mod might be in the program.

Hi Paul, altering the rack housing from a pushrod car is not so hard but the 1" longer pinion does pose a problem. Cutting and welding an extra inch into a pushrod pinion is frowned upon by the authorities here so sourcing the correct part is the real challenge.

 

[DrEntropy]

Is there a possible work-around to the regulations by adding a crush sleeve of some sort to the pinion shaft and passing it off as being a modernisation, an added "safety device"?

It would appear some "out-of-the-box" thinking is going to be the only timely solution.

 

[mark86]

That's an option, thanks Dr E, however, I would like to keep the car as original as possible so I will keep looking until the body is ready to be installed.

 

[DrEntropy]

That's an option, thanks Dr E, however, I would like to keep the car as original as possible so I will keep looking until the body is ready to be installed.

Understood. Is there a chance the LHD pinion shaft is the same length as in a RHD car? We've a LHD T/C of a client's near here, may be able to get a length measurement to compare.

 

[mark86]

The LHD pinion is the same length - I have one in the original rack and pinion, since this was originally a LHD car.
The twin cam pinion is exactly 1" longer than the one in a pushrod.

 

[DrEntropy]

The LHD pinion is the same length - I have one in the original rack and pinion, since this was originally a LHD car.
The twin cam pinion is exactly 1" longer than the one in a pushrod.

My point was that the car here is a LHD Twin Cam. Is the pinion shaft in a LHD Twin Cam chassis the same as in the LHD pushrod car?

 

[mark86]

The pinion length is the same for LHD and RHD cars, it's just the angle of the gear on the end that is different. Pushrod pinions are an inch shorter than twin cam pinions.

 

[DrEntropy]

Rats.

Good luck on the hunt!

 

[mark86]

Thanks, I appreciate everyone's help.