Rack and Pinion steering for XK120

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rafe Saber on January 31, 2012 at 5:34am

Brian I consulted TWYFORD MOORS world XK experts regarding your post. In most instances you will need to outsource a XK 140 inlet manifold to be able to transfer the thermostat from the radiator to the manifold.

Here is what they wrote back on the subject:

"It's an extreamily complicated job which we really wouldn't recomend anyone carries out by themselves. It has taken us many years to develop an effective and safe system to install rack & pinion to an XK120. The job involves a replacement radiator, fitted at a different angle to allow room for the rack and new mountings fabricated for both the rack and the radiator. The alignment of the rack must be just right.
I hope this has been of some help. If your member would like more details please tell him to feel free to phone Ian Mills and he can give your memeber all the details".

I would suggest you follow up and give Ian a call. Phone calls from the US to the UK are 2 cents a minute if you use a service such as Google Voice.

Permalink Reply by Brian Ternamian on January 31, 2012 at 11:09am

Thanks for doing that Rafe. If I can't find any information already documented, I just  might do that. I still can't believe that this is such a rara avis. I have been conversing with someone who has supplied some info and pictures of his conversion, but he used an XK150 rack and I'd like to use an XKE SI rack as I already have several. So, I'm always looking for more, especially newer  solutions, to the situation. Fabricating new radiator mountings isn't such a big deal once the proper radiator is decided upon. So, too would the fabrication of rack supports. Any competent welder should be ably to do both. The real sticking point/s would be what rack to use and the accurate mounting thereof. As long as the tie rod ends stay in a straight line with their mating points on the hub, that shouldn't be a massive problem. I do not see the radiator as posing an problem, though I know XKs were prone to overheating. A modern radiator core or proper thickness and dimensions should be able to take care of that along with an electric fan as is the practice these days. 

I alos know I'll have to change the steering column to accommodate the new rack. That probably means changing out the steering wheel and accoutrements.

Of course, these are just my thoughts and are open to discussion and/or alteration. As far as I can tell, most folks use the XK140 radiator (nothing against it) and rack because that's what was period available when this was first tried taking a cue from Jaguar themselves.

Best regards, Brian 

Permalink Reply by Ron Laurie on March 18, 2012 at 6:33pm

Brian, have you started the conversion project.  I am contemplating converting my 120 to rack-and-pinion but everyone I speak with tries to talk me out of it as too much work.

Ron Laurie

Brian Ternamian said:

Thanks for doing that Rafe. If I can't find any information already documented, I just  might do that. I still can't believe that this is such a rara avis. I have been conversing with someone who has supplied some info and pictures of his conversion, but he used an XK150 rack and I'd like to use an XKE SI rack as I already have several. So, I'm always looking for more, especially newer  solutions, to the situation. Fabricating new radiator mountings isn't such a big deal once the proper radiator is decided upon. So, too would the fabrication of rack supports. Any competent welder should be ably to do both. The real sticking point/s would be what rack to use and the accurate mounting thereof. As long as the tie rod ends stay in a straight line with their mating points on the hub, that shouldn't be a massive problem. I do not see the radiator as posing an problem, though I know XKs were prone to overheating. A modern radiator core or proper thickness and dimensions should be able to take care of that along with an electric fan as is the practice these days. 

I alos know I'll have to change the steering column to accommodate the new rack. That probably means changing out the steering wheel and accoutrements.

Of course, these are just my thoughts and are open to discussion and/or alteration. As far as I can tell, most folks use the XK140 radiator (nothing against it) and rack because that's what was period available when this was first tried taking a cue from Jaguar themselves.

Best regards, Brian 

Permalink Reply by Brian Ternamian on March 18, 2012 at 11:43pm

Hi Ron, no I haven't even gotten close yet. This query was just an attempt to find out all I could about the procedure before I tried it. This "wheel" has been invented before - many enough times - and I thought someone would know the ins and outs of doing it. Of course, like you, all I have so far is some schmaltz like it's too hard or we are led to believe that it is black magic. Balderdash. As for me, I like knowing just what is so hard and in enough thorough detail that I can decide for myself if, in fact, it really is. I guess the folks who have actually gotten it done are keeping it close to their vests as proprietary information.

So the net-net is no I haven't started nor have I even gotten any info that would really give me a position on which to decide. I simply can't believe that in 2012 nobody can give accurate info on how to accomplish this. 

Please, if you find out any cogent info, tell me so we can both know. 

Best regards, Brian

Ron Laurie said:

Brian, have you started the conversion project.  I am contemplating converting my 120 to rack-and-pinion but everyone I speak with tries to talk me out of it as too much work.

Ron Laurie

Brian Ternamian said:

Thanks for doing that Rafe. If I can't find any information already documented, I just  might do that. I still can't believe that this is such a rara avis. I have been conversing with someone who has supplied some info and pictures of his conversion, but he used an XK150 rack and I'd like to use an XKE SI rack as I already have several. So, I'm always looking for more, especially newer  solutions, to the situation. Fabricating new radiator mountings isn't such a big deal once the proper radiator is decided upon. So, too would the fabrication of rack supports. Any competent welder should be ably to do both. The real sticking point/s would be what rack to use and the accurate mounting thereof. As long as the tie rod ends stay in a straight line with their mating points on the hub, that shouldn't be a massive problem. I do not see the radiator as posing an problem, though I know XKs were prone to overheating. A modern radiator core or proper thickness and dimensions should be able to take care of that along with an electric fan as is the practice these days. 

I alos know I'll have to change the steering column to accommodate the new rack. That probably means changing out the steering wheel and accoutrements.

Of course, these are just my thoughts and are open to discussion and/or alteration. As far as I can tell, most folks use the XK140 radiator (nothing against it) and rack because that's what was period available when this was first tried taking a cue from Jaguar themselves.

Best regards, Brian 

Permalink Reply by Ron Laurie on March 19, 2012 at 12:14am

Brian,

Coventry Auto Components in the UK (www.xkparts.com) sells a conversion kit for 1200 GBP.  The kit includes a power rack system with electric pump, and a pair of rack mounting brackets.  In addition, you will need a special (custom?) radiator that is mounted at an angle (to allow room for the rack) and a steering column from a Mark 2.

Regards, Ron

Brian Ternamian said:

Hi Ron, no I haven't even gotten close yet. This query was just an attempt to find out all I could about the procedure before I tried it. This "wheel" has been invented before - many enough times - and I thought someone would know the ins and outs of doing it. Of course, like you, all I have so far is some schmaltz like it's too hard or we are led to believe that it is black magic. Balderdash. As for me, I like knowing just what is so hard and in enough thorough detail that I can decide for myself if, in fact, it really is. I guess the folks who have actually gotten it done are keeping it close to their vests as proprietary information.

So the net-net is no I haven't started nor have I even gotten any info that would really give me a position on which to decide. I simply can't believe that in 2012 nobody can give accurate info on how to accomplish this. 

Please, if you find out any cogent info, tell me so we can both know. 

Best regards, Brian

Ron Laurie said:

Brian, have you started the conversion project.  I am contemplating converting my 120 to rack-and-pinion but everyone I speak with tries to talk me out of it as too much work.

Ron Laurie

Brian Ternamian said:

Thanks for doing that Rafe. If I can't find any information already documented, I just  might do that. I still can't believe that this is such a rara avis. I have been conversing with someone who has supplied some info and pictures of his conversion, but he used an XK150 rack and I'd like to use an XKE SI rack as I already have several. So, I'm always looking for more, especially newer  solutions, to the situation. Fabricating new radiator mountings isn't such a big deal once the proper radiator is decided upon. So, too would the fabrication of rack supports. Any competent welder should be ably to do both. The real sticking point/s would be what rack to use and the accurate mounting thereof. As long as the tie rod ends stay in a straight line with their mating points on the hub, that shouldn't be a massive problem. I do not see the radiator as posing an problem, though I know XKs were prone to overheating. A modern radiator core or proper thickness and dimensions should be able to take care of that along with an electric fan as is the practice these days. 

I alos know I'll have to change the steering column to accommodate the new rack. That probably means changing out the steering wheel and accoutrements.

Of course, these are just my thoughts and are open to discussion and/or alteration. As far as I can tell, most folks use the XK140 radiator (nothing against it) and rack because that's what was period available when this was first tried taking a cue from Jaguar themselves.

Best regards, Brian 

Permalink Reply by Brian Ternamian on March 19, 2012 at 1:04am

Hi Ron, Thanks for the tip. I didn't particularly want a power rack system, but it is intriguing. As I have posted previously to this subject, I have some S1 XKE racks and a steering column and an XK140 radiator already so I am keen to use those rather than spend additional money. I mean this to be a DIY adventure and am fully prepared, logistically and mechanically to attempt it. As I also previously posted, I assume that a modern, shorter, perhaps thicker cored radiator could be used and mounted over the rack thereby negating the slanting 140-type radiator with it attendant problems. All this is speculation, and I do not see why this can't be done. I even imagine I can't possibly be the first to have thought of it. Thanks anyway for the lead.

Like you, I am a bit weary of folks telling me it's too hard or complicated a task. OK, it complicated, now tell me how and exactly how it's been solved before.

Best regards, Brian

Permalink Reply by Ron Laurie on March 19, 2012 at 1:12am

Brian, please report on your progress.

Ron

Brian Ternamian said:

Hi Ron, Thanks for the tip. I didn't particularly want a power rack system, but it is intriguing. As I have posted previously to this subject, I have some S1 XKE racks and a steering column and an XK140 radiator already so I am keen to use those rather than spend additional money. I mean this to be a DIY adventure and am fully prepared, logistically and mechanically to attempt it. As I also previously posted, I assume that a modern, shorter, perhaps thicker cored radiator could be used and mounted over the rack thereby negating the slanting 140-type radiator with it attendant problems. All this is speculation, and I do not see why this can't be done. I even imagine I can't possibly be the first to have thought of it. Thanks anyway for the lead.

Like you, I am a bit weary of folks telling me it's too hard or complicated a task. OK, it complicated, now tell me how and exactly how it's been solved before.

Best regards, Brian

Permalink Reply by Cineman on April 28, 2012 at 8:06am

I posted the picture of the XK 120 with rack and pinion steering.  I only bought the car last week from Fender-Broad and will take delivery in a couple of weeks time.  I am going to Coventry to go through the car with Guy so I can ask any specific questions that would be of interest to members of this forum.  I can also take some photos if this is helpful.  

Regards,

Oliver Stapleton. 

Permalink Reply by Rafe Saber on March 14, 2013 at 10:57pm

Check this out

http://britishsportscars.com/blog/2013/03/shop-talk-installing-a-ne...

Justin Jurgens (who wrote the article) is a member of this XK Workshop Group.