Ok First off let me say hi to everyone here and I hope at some point I may be a source of info for someone or parts...
Ok my question for you Ladies and Gentleman is ... I have a 1978 Pinto Wagon with a 2.8 V6 which is getting a needed displacement upgrade to a 302 V8 and C-4 tranny. BUT...In order to get the car safietied I have to replace the rack soooooo I figured swapm to a mustang II rack...logical right.... get rid of that dirty PS pump all that extra weight ....ect. But What year Mustang II, what are all the specifics in this swap ,... I just need a little insight.

A good parts man will be able to tell you the exact interchange.

The problem is that I am new to Calgary and don't have a good one yet

Mustang II and Pinto use the same rack. A standard rack will fit, but you might have to get the inner tie rod ends (the entire rod) as well, since lengths may be different. Unless they've been replaced at some point you really need them anyway. I recently put a salvage yard rack in a car and the tie rods had a bit of play in them. As far as I can recall the power and manual racks use the same mounts, but the shaft for the manual is longer by 4-6". The collapsible shaft might expand that much, not sure.

Well you are right the te rod ends are totally shot, So what you are reccomending is just buying the 1978 Mustang Rack and the tie rod ends? Straight swap,... right in? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

Jennsen, The 74-78 Mustang II are dimensionally the same as the 74-80 Pinto and Bobcats. However, there are some mounting differences between power and manuak racks but that only is a factor replacing manual with power. If you were loooking at other power racks, there was a ratio change in the later racks and the flared fittings gave way to O ring seal type fittings, again no factor in power to manual swap.

Good hunting.

Trees

Ok I have ordered my Rack for a 1978 Mustang II how bad is this swap? Am I gonna have to get the mig out? Sorry to ask all these questions its the anticipation thats killing me. If I had the part in front of me I could atleast start planning <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

I have changed the Manual rack on my street rod to a power unit, some of the minor differences are some early units used 2 mounting holes and others used 3, the outside mounts are the same and the splines to hook up your steering are a larger on the power rack over the manual. The inner and outer tie rod ends are also different. I bought a rebuilt rack at the parts house for under 200.00 a couple of years ago, I use a lot of salvage yard items, but I did not want any leaks and if I remember correctly it came with the inner tie rod ends.

[quote]Originally posted by EBlack36:
<strong>I have changed the Manual rack on my street rod to a power unit, some of the minor differences are some early units used 2 mounting holes and others used 3, the outside mounts are the same and the splines to hook up your steering are a larger on the power rack over the manual. The inner and outer tie rod ends are also different. I bought a rebuilt rack at the parts house for under 200.00 a couple of years ago, I use a lot of salvage yard items, but I did not want any leaks and if I remember correctly it came with the inner tie rod ends. </strong><hr></blockquote>

I bought the manual rack, tie rods already, the splne shaft you speak of are you talking about where the steering coloum meets the rack?

That is exactly what I mean. Good Luck.

[quote]Originally posted by EBlack36:
<strong>That is exactly what I mean. Good Luck. </strong><hr></blockquote> Good luc?? that doesn't sound promising...

This post should go in the database. Good info here!

OK with the new tie rods the rack bolted right in!!, I have all the part #'s if anyone needs them. Not I just need the piece that connects the steering knuckle to the rack! OFF to the Junk Yard! <img src="graemlins/evil.gif" border="0" alt="[evil]" />

OK its totally in, I had to grab the steering shaft from a older Pinto with a Manual rack (freeklin hard to find!) and its totally in. It's freekin sweet! FENCO Part # RP8353 (1978 Ford mustang II manual Rack) It is WAY chaeper than the Flaming River Rack!

Now ts time to stuff the 302 and C4 n it!!! <img src="graemlins/evil.gif" border="0" alt="[evil]" />

[ April 28, 2003: Message edited by: JENSSEN ]</p>