manual steering rack into vn

[NOT 38]

hi guys, just wondering if any one has done a manual steering rack conversion into a vn, whats needed and whats involved.
cheers

[Hangman]

Never heard of it being done.

One question, why?

[AirStrike]

Never heard of it being done.

One question, why?

Looking to do it in mine so I have more room for turbo setup.

[Lost_Pete]

I thought I saw a magazine article about the conversion and I believe the NZ Commodore may have had a manual steering "option".

Searching yields;

Converting VQ to VL rack

Manual Steering for VN ??

[Hangman]

Looking to do it in mine so I have more room for turbo setup.

Ahh ok, makes sense.

[Pub247]

Yeah those links are good basicallly whats needed is:

A Vl manual steering rack. We use VL as the mounting points on the k frame for the racks are the same (VB-VK different)

A VL intermediate shaft which is the part that connect the coluum and steering wheel to the rack.

Then its just a matter of removing your rack and shaft. Swapping the top knuckle on your VN shaft onto the VL shaft (swap at the uni joints new ones can be purchased)
Then Re-installing in car and get a wheel alingment.

Note You'll have to remove your powersteering pump and such and V6 owner wil find trouble with this due to the serpentine belt. You could gut the pump and leave it there or replace it with a pulley the same size or smaller and use a shorter belt

[NOT 38]

awesome. i heard that VL was the way to go, now i know the in's and out's. serpintine belt isnt a drama a can get a custom length from gates, it might actually look like a real motor afterr im finished.
cheers guys.

[stuntmanmike]

Easy as to install. The VL manual rack bolts right in where the VN/VP rack mounts and the coupling installation using the VL/VN (or VP) to tie the manual rack to the steering column is straight forward.
Converting VQ to VL rack
I am using the power steering pump on my V6 as a low pressure vacuum pump for the crankcase as an experimental trial and we will see how well this lasts. I did this to retain the pulley geometry and belt spares.
Steering is noticeably heavier. Mind you I'm 110kgs and 6'2" and can steer the wheel no worries. For someone that is less in stature may find that wrestling with the manual conversion when driving too much at low speeds.
My VP is now a dedicated circuit car for hill climb events and that extra horsepower freed from the power assisted rack will help drop my lap times.