Alpine V8 rack and pinion

[KyleK]

Hello, I just got my first '65 Alpine with a Ford 302 and a T5 transmission already mounted in the car, but not running at the moment. The car has a rack and pinion setup in it (unknown what/where it came from) and is mounted on the rear of the cross member. I'm looking to re-do it with either the MGB rack or the Mustang II rack. I'm not looking to do the entire cross member swap/customization. I've seen pictures of the MGB rack mounted to the front of the crossmember with some slight bending needed to tie rods and otherwise everything else is stock. My main question is, what year/style MGB rack and pinion would I need? I have tried searching forums and google, but get a few different styles and not sure what one everybody's using?

Thanks! -Kyle

[Moderator]

Welcome to the BritishV8, Kyle.

I don't know which racks other Alpine owners have used, but I can tell you a little about MGB racks. MG used one rack for the chrome-bumper years (1962-1974) and a different rack for rubber-bumper years (1974.5-1980.)  Differences? The mounting bosses are installed at two different angles and the input shafts are slightly different in length. The rubber-bumper rack has the longer shaft.  Inside, the gearing is a little different. The rubber-bumper rack requires more turns, lock to lock.  (I've heard rumors that new aftermarket replacement racks all come with the same/later gear ratio.) If you have to weld mounting pads into your car in either case, it's probably not a big deal which MGB rack you select.

[mgb260]

Kyle, Most conversions use the Midget rack and MGB steering arms. A little modification is necessary and the Midget rack is a little too quick a ratio and harder to steer. I have a picture of the Grassroots Challenge Sunbeam front suspension using the MGB rack and longer Speedway Motors steering arms. It also has Ranger front hub/rotors. The 98 and newer have 11.28' rotors instead of the 10.28" they used.
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[KyleK]

Awesome, thanks you guys! This is the kind of information I was needing... I will start searching now to see if I can find one for sale close by, or ill just eBay it. They seem pretty enexpesive? Thanks again!

-Kyle

[mgb260]

Kyle, the crossmember has to be notched and boxed in with angle. I have a 65 Alpine V8 project also. Right now I'm about 1500 miles away working in Kingman,AZ. When you redo the crossmember I would seam weld wherever the factory stitch or spot welds are. Do searches on the Sunbeam forums for more info.

[KyleK]

mgb260, I was reading a bit about that and never checked to see if mine has any notches made? I know its not reinforced at the moment, and wasn't sure
if I had do that or not? Guess I do, haha. I've luckily done that kind of stuff to a frame before, so this shouldn't be that bad of a task. I'm really hoping to be driving this by next summer. I keep hearing how fun they are!

[Alpine66]

does anyone have pics of the brackets to attach the mg rack on an alpine?

Im installing a chevy V6 in my pine, and there is not a straight level flat surface to be found. Would save me a lot of time, Thanks!

[mgb260]

James, You have to copy the Tiger crossmember mods, check out the link on MGB steering arms also. Here is a pic:
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[BlownMGB-V8]

You might have a look at the rack mounts on the Roadmaster thread and the 340 thread in the MG forum. There I used split collars and the saddles from muffler clamps to make a very tidy, rigid, and adjustable rack mount. Looks to me like it would be easy to adapt to that crossmember.

Jim