I've had to raise the V8 engine in the F27 as I reckon the 50mm sump clearance that the builder gave it was just a tad too low

It now has a much healthier 110mm!

But... isn't there always a but... the larger engine mounts are blocking the path between the upper steering column and the rack. I reckon the easiest solution would be to extend the spline on the rack a few inches as that will 'lift' the path of the lower steering column.



Is there such a thing as a (solid) 'spline-extender'?

Cheers!

[Edited on 6/8/11 by scootz]

escort racks come with either short, what you have, or long pinions.

Is a standard part long enough?

Chance to upgrade ratio as well

Cheers Mark... don't suppose you know how much longer the pinion is?

Capri racks had longer pinions, one Mk3 Capri Steering Rack | eBay About 100mm extra I think.

Cheers Pete... an extra 10cm would probably see me right.

Scootz the same problem cropped up when Geoff Jago was building the jeeps back in the 70s he made up some extesion pieces which fit between the rubber isolator disc on end of column, The extension is effectively an I shaped fabrication with a plate on either end of a tube with mounting holes drilled in. The upper one bolts to bottom of column and the bottom plate bolts to the clamp going to the rack 4 high tensile boltsand the jobs'a guddon. You could try a breakers or make your own, citing this example if any queries.
hth
Mike

Had alook for an extension but couldn't find one, did turn out some interesting bits - the UJ was used to replace the whole rubber disc thing , the standard column end clamps seem to vary in length - I wondered if by mixing and matching parts you could achieve enough clearance, other way would be to slip in a couple of UJs

Thanks for that.

I just wonder though if the MK3 Capri rack might be the easiest solution. It seems to have a mighty long pinion!

Got the Capri rack for £28 delivered!

Thought I'd see if the pinions were a straightforward swap, but nope Capri pinion (one on the right) has a longer geared-section than the Cortina one!

So what to do? Swap the racks, or just sleeve the shorter spline and weld on an extension?