Steering upgrade

[Highway 89]

Hi all, I'm currently recommissioning my 10 yr old but new RT3, while changing out old hydraulic etc steering hoses I found more drama with the e36 power rack, the fluid seals had given out so I replaced the rack with a refurbished e46 rack this also entails new inner tie rods to suit e46. Then while fitting these I realised the tie rods needed shortening by 20 mm or so. I have also retrofitted 2 x borgeson unijoints and a collapsible flaming river steering shaft. This all went smoothly enough and feels great on the hoist but now I realise I still don't have enough thread on the left tie rod, I had previously centred the rack so I presume I just didn't shorten the left tie rod as much as the right. I'm considering taking both the tie rods to a engineering shop to extend the threads upwards closer to the rack to give more play for alignment adjustments. Has anyone any ides on this? I also had a 54 spline stub drive removed from the old rack and had a solid round bar welded to that which fascillitates joins the top universal to the column,any ideas appreciated, Rob.

[Highway 89]

Great outcome today, I just had a closer look at the tierods and alignment today and all seems to have adjusted up ok , I think where I went wrong was eyeballing and adjusting while on the hoist, anyway after several goes and up and downs on the lift and success, very happy with the whole steering upgrade although I still haven't actually driven her with the old e36 and basic shaft and units or the new gear. Actually I haven't driven the car at all, infact I've never driven a cobra, needless to say I'm chafin at the bit.

[MBE]

From the picture that you have posted I will be amazed if your car steers with a smooth feel at the steering wheel. It looks like too much angle at the u-joint. I had to use a double u-joint and reduce the angle of the shafts.
Now, two years later, I am installing Flaming River's electric power assist.
It steers too hard.
Good Luck with your project.

[Highway 89]

Thanks for your reply and I agree, in retrospect I should have ordered the double unijoint for the top section, hoist is one thing and driving down the road is another. I will no doubt be reviewing this again at some stage.