Preparing e30 steering rack for a future ls1 swap

[z28]

I have a 91 318 that I am slowly prepping for an ls1 swap, so far I have all fresh front suspension except for the rack. Anyways, since I need to upgrade the rack to make room for the swap and I'm tired of the 4 turn lock to lock I decided that I need to upgrade now. I have been doing some research online on how to do the rack swap on cars with airbag columns and it seems pretty straight forward, so I ordered an E46 purple tag rack from rackdoctor and the spacers needed.

Im planning on using a sikky kit to do the swap but the oem rag joint does not clear their headers, is there any steering shaft available out there that are straight bolt on for airbag steering columns? all the ones I find are for the non airbag cars.

[Nick_08]

The problem I had was finding a joint that matched the splines AND diameter of the airbag column. I ended up welding it on....


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[z28]

Yeah, it seems like no one carries a joint that matches the airbag column. It looks like my only options is are to get the joint welded or to force a non matching joint I might have to get a joint welded on there, but I really don't want to.

[Nick_08]

Well flaming river has one that is sooo fing close but I guess 1mm is too much. I tried filing it down but not a good idea. One thing I didn't try was seeing if there's a joint that will adapt the splines under the kick panel just off the steering wheel into a D shaft. Try measuring and go to flamingriver.


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[delamaize]

Get rid of the airbag column, and wheel, then make the E46 shaft. Problem solved.

[z28]

Well flaming river has one that is sooo fing close but I guess 1mm is too much. I tried filing it down but not a good idea. One thing I didn't try was seeing if there's a joint that will adapt the splines under the kick panel just off the steering wheel into a D shaft. Try measuring and go to flamingriver.


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Im thinking of buying a spare steering wheel column bar shaft (just the lower part), cut it short and have a coupler with a 3/4 DD end welded to it, kinda like you did. What is the part number for the joint that you welded on?

Get rid of the airbag column, and wheel, then make the E46 shaft. Problem solved.

This is another option, but how hard is it to do this?

[delamaize]

This is another option, but how hard is it to do this?

I'd start here:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=350200

[z28]

Thanks for the link, Im gonna go over it in detail tomorrow.

[jpod999]

The column swap wasn't hard, just make sure you get a column off of a 86 or 87 so you don't have to fabricate the firewall mount. The worst part is having to take the dash out I talk about this on page 7 some: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...=376089&page=7

I agree with delamaize, just swap out the column and call it a day. It was very easy making the E46 sourced steering linkage.

[z28]

I received my e46 rack today along with the so called e36 tie rod ends, but Im not sure I got e36 tie rod ends. One of the tie rods is thicker and heavier then the other one even though they are both the same length. I think I got e46 tie rod ends, but Im not sure. Is there anyway to figure out if I have e36 or e46 tie rod ends? Here are two pics of the outer tie rods that I received.

The one on the right is thicker and heavier then the one on the left, but they are about the same length. If they are both from an e36 then I prefer having the thiner one to avoid any clearance issues.



Here is another pic of the two tie rods from a different angle. As you can see, the one on the right looks to be more beefy.

The column swap wasn't hard, just make sure you get a column off of a 86 or 87 so you don't have to fabricate the firewall mount. The worst part is having to take the dash out I talk about this on page 7 some: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...=376089&page=7

I agree with delamaize, just swap out the column and call it a day. It was very easy making the E46 sourced steering linkage.

After going over the threads that involve swapping the column I have decided that it would be easier to have a 3/4 DD built into the stock column.

[Q8y_drifter]

If you don't mind going with manual steering I highly recommend a Z4 rack swap. so much simpler, less maintenance, no plumbing, less things to go wrong, etc and it feels real good. I also felt the powered racks are overpowered even when I ran a Z3 rack.

[sgtskid]

If you don't mind going with manual steering I highly recommend a Z4 rack swap. so much simpler, less maintenance, no plumbing, less things to go wrong, etc and it feels real good. I also felt the powered racks are overpowered even when I ran a Z3 rack.

^ Agreed
I haven't driven with mine yet but moving it around in the driveway is easy. If you get the steering linkage with it, you should be able to modify and use it without any fancy parts.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showpost.php?p=4683662&postcount=25

[z28]

If you don't mind going with manual steering I highly recommend a Z4 rack swap. so much simpler, less maintenance, no plumbing, less things to go wrong, etc and it feels real good. I also felt the powered racks are overpowered even when I ran a Z3 rack.

I do not mind but I already have the e46 rack, so I'm just gonna go with it.

^ Agreed
I haven't driven with mine yet but moving it around in the driveway is easy. If you get the steering linkage with it, you should be able to modify and use it without any fancy parts.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...2&postcount=25

Im stuck with the e46 rack now.

[pbmig]

The column swap wasn't hard, just make sure you get a column off of a 86 or 87 so you don't have to fabricate the firewall mount. The worst part is having to take the dash out I talk about this on page 7 some: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...=376089&page=7

I agree with delamaize, just swap out the column and call it a day. It was very easy making the E46 sourced steering linkage.

Was swapping the steering lock hard?

[jon volk]

Why even change it? I'm running an airbag column, stock rack, stock linkage. No issues at all.