1980 tasmin steering rack identification

[sjs888]

Hi,
What is the rack from on a 1980 tasmin?

[RCK974X]

Pretty sure they are all Cortina mk 4/5, up to about 1984 (ish?) even power steer ones are 2.3 Cortina...

[Wedg1e]

Mk 3/4 Cortina.

[sjs888]

ok, thanks, are they all the same across the differing engine sizes/specs? and anyone know where i would get one, did a quick google search but didn't turn much up

[mrzigazaga]

Hi mate..The cortina power/Manual racks are a few and far between but are obtainable...You could always have yours refurbed..Ziga
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=m...

[Wedg1e]

sjs888 said:

ok, thanks, are they all the same across the differing engine sizes/specs? and anyone know where i would get one, did a quick google search but didn't turn much up

TVR started by using the Cortina manual rack which persisted till late in production. The PAS rack was initially the Cortina 2.3V6 unit modified by/for TVR, then they used a couple of different (modified) PAS racks... but a bog-standard Cortina manual rack will be OK for a S1 Tas.
The only thing to be aware of is that the track rods will probably be from a Granada rather than the original Cortina items so don't bin your old rack until you've checked the overall length against a replacement: the Tasmin has a wider track than a Cortina so TVR had to have the longer tie-rods of the Granada rack fitted. If you pull the rubber boots off the rack you should see if the tie-rod locking rings have been either re-drilled and pinned, or welded up, when the tie-rods were swapped.

If you fancy retro-fitting the Cortina PAS rack, well first you have to find one (last one on Ebay went for something silly like £250), then you need a SD1 pump to power it, plus whatever pulleys need swapping to suit, plus some bracketry to mount the pump, then you have to work out which bits of chassis to cut and re-weld to clear the steering column... aaand you probably have to shorten the column mid-section as well, just for a laugh

[mrzigazaga]

I have two PAS pumps..One is a capri & bracket that fits on the N/S of the engine and a montego PAS pump & bracket that sits on the O/S of the engine..I dont have a belt tensioner as i had to use it but a capri MK3 2.8i will do finely..I will have to check with a first refusal for one or other first but they are going spare..Or you could always fit an EPS pump as i have had done..I cant comment on it yet though as i pick her up tomorrow...It did initially feel the same whilst it was on and the car was stationary though...Cheers...Ziga

[RCK974X]

I still wonder if it was actually a Granny rack (MkII, the square one), as the main rack part looks identical to Cortina as far as I can tell, but with longer track rods.

Edited by RCK974X on Tuesday 4th June 03:06

[Wedg1e]

RCK974X said:

I still wonder if it was actually a Granny rack (MkII, the square one), as the main rack part looks identical to Cortina as far as I can tell, but with longer track rods.

Not impossible, and to be fair I don't know where the info came from that it was a modified Cortina rack - Steve Heath is a possibility - but certainly my car's rack has had the track rods off at some point as the securing pins had been drilled out and instead of being replaced properly, the lock rings and securing cups had been welded up... OK, so it could have been to Bodgit and Connem for a 'refurb' in the years before I bought it but it does bear out the info that something may have been changed - and there's no mention of repair/refurb in the VERY comprehensive service history that the two previous owners kept, dating back to the early years of the car's life.

[Danny Hoffman]

I changed my 280i FHC (JamesMK's car now) rack for a standard Cortina one without having to change the track rods. As far as I could tell it was identical, i.e. length of track rods, ratio, etc etc

[RCK974X]

OK, that's good to know.

My Granny idea was from info that rods were longer...and I guess it's still possible later wedges may differ somehow ?

[sjs888]

thanks for the info chaps, as always a wealth of experience.

[newton350i]

I recently had a powered steering conversion carried out to my series 2 350i when it was restored. I have listed the items required for the conversion together with the modifications required.

List of parts:

A) 2.3 Cortina Mark 5 powered steering rack from Livingstone autoparts Ltd - part number TS 619 price £192.22in VAT. Telephone number 01506402399 see web site.
B) SD1 Powered steering pump - V8 PAS ERC6969.
C) SD1 PAS Pump Pully ERC4679.
D) Pump mounting bracket ERC5858.
E) SD1 PAS Pump Mounting Bracket ERC 5857 (this bracket has to be modified to clear engine ancillaries).

The steering rack fitted to the existing mounting positions with no modifications to the steering rods however, the chassis had to be notched to clear the larger rack housing.
Part number listed in items B to E are Rimmers part numbers.
The steering column had to be shortened also a new UJ between the rack and steering column had to be sourced from TVR Power.
During the conversion I replaced the bulk head bush with a selflube bearing.

Before you start your conversion check that your chassis is suitable for the conversion; that the front diagonal bracing is curved and not straight.
I hope that the above helps.
If you require any further information or copies of photos taken at various stages of the conversion, I can post them on this forum.

[sjs888]

I am not intending to convert mine to pas, i have enough jobs to do to it already.

[Keil]

Hello everybody, I own a Tasmin V6 LHD from 1982 with non PAS steering. The steering rack is worn and shows a lot of play. But its not the track rods is the steering rack itself. The question is: where to get a refurbed or a new one? Regards Matt

[hansdaal]

Hello,

There is a NEW OEM Ford one on E-Bay
ebay number : 296032398681

GRts Hans.

[Keil]

Thank you Hans. So you think a Cortina rack is OK?

[SEvans]

Keil said:

Thank you Hans. So you think a Cortina rack is OK?

The non-power steering rack is just a standard Cortina MK3/4/5 rack.... no modifications.
Not sure about the track rod ends... I can't remember but I think these are MK2 Granada, as the hub is Granada.

Regards
Steve