Originally Posted by: XX7Q This has most likely been covered before so I apologise in advance but interested in hearing of what steering upgrades are best for early Ford, I have a 66 Mustang rhd with pwr steer which basically steering like a boat, I know their is a lot of after market rack and pinion steering kits some just bolt in have also been told just to upgrade to koni shocks all round and thicker front sway bar, another possible get rid of the power steer?? has anyone done a conversion on the early Mustangs or Falcons etc and can say they got it spot on to the extreme I guest the Rod Tech but I dont think they are a bolt in unit my 66 is a beautiful car its just a shame they dont handle steer that well my 37 Dodge pick up with jag front end is way better.
The Power steering has always been totally crap feel on them, just get rid of the P/S and go manual steering there is nothing wrong with the mustang front end at all, it's much like our Aussie old Falcons.
I had a XB Falcon 351 with 265 tires all round and the manual steering was light and had good feel, if you want P/S you can do a XG Falcon type P/S that gives much better feel of the road than the older type.
I seen that kit that does away with the strut towers Jims5.0L said about, be f ed if I could do that with a Falcon let alone with a Mustang and I don't like that kit setup at all because why would you, there is nothing wrong with the spring towers and all setup for handling, it's the steering box that is the only problem with a crappy P/S and manual steering that is to many turns lock to lock that one could complain about.
You need to keep the wheel bearings nipped up well for high speeds.
Like with anything you need it all in good nick and a wheel alignment setup by one who knows how to make them handle, most wheel alignment people will set your frontend up to handle like a boat, this is one of the most important thing you must do to get it right, if you want it to steer and handle well.
Mustangs raced you know and they handled well on the tracks.
Most people do not understand the value in just what can be done with a wheel alignment setup, most think it's about alignment so your tyres do not scrub out, but the fact is it's the geometry that can be setup to make it turn in like a bird dog and will not scrub tyres and will not understeer at all, mine you could not get it to understeer ever, both XB and XG.
Anyone who says that the front end setup is crap is a total fool.
If there is a good rack and pinion setup that bolts up to the original that could be a good thing to do.