I broke my Cobra

[Mark Cooper]

Actually, it wasn't me but I've got to fix it.

I built my V12 Dax about 10 years ago before the SVA regulations came in with all they entail. About two weeks ago, a friend of mine finally persuaded me to add him to the insurance and let him "look after" my cobra for a couple of weeks. You can guess what happened next.

The damage isn't too severe--there's no body or chassis damage that I can detect, but the driver's side wheel is totalled (15" Halibrand) and so is the steering rack. Dax's wheel supplier is Image Wheels now. The old one is defunct. I talked to Allen at Image and he says the design of my wheels is no longer used, but he might be able to make a new rim for me using my old centre. It will be about £200 to do it that way.

From what I can gather, Dax have made a lot of changes to the Tojeiro since my day. Brake master and servo, wheels, steering rack and column and God knows what else. Does anyone know what the new rack comes from and whether it will mount to my chassis (supertube) using the existing mounting points? Will it even couple up to my column which I seem to remember was a triumph Dolomite column--it was the one Dax used pre-SVA and uses Range Rover steering Ujs in the link.

Lastly, I recall mention of a guy who fitted Peugeot 309 GTI power steering rack to his Dax, but he seems to be the only one who has ever tried this. I have been unable to contact him--my info on him is way out of date. Has anyone else tried power steering? 10 years ago I wouldn't have been bothered, but now I think it would be really nice to be able to park the car without having arms like Schwarzenegger.

Measuring up the car myself, I have found that just like the 309GTi rack, a Ford Fiesta Zeetec S power rack will need shortening by 55mm, but other than that is "seems" like it will fit. My current rack takes a lot of turns and muscle for a very poor turning circle (in my opinion) Using the Fiesta rack will reduce the ratio by a lot.

Comments?

Mark E. Cooper

[Steve]

I have a dax rack, taken from my car, which was the same steering rack as you have broke ~I think. I guess dax used the same rack for both ladder & supertube chassis. Is it the one that bolts onto a plate from below??? I think I have the mounting bits & bobs somewhere also. nothing wrong with it, If so it is yours if you care to cross my palm with silver......

The new dax rack mounts completely differently, it wont work without welding the chassis, or making up mouinting brackets.

I replaced it with a power rack from a 309, shortened the rack & rack carrier by 55mm,to maintain the same centres , machined up the track rod arms to take jag track rod ends, and made a mount to hold the rack, and move the ram assembly to maintain correct turns each side lock to lock. with an electric fluid pump from a citroen...it all worked extremely well, and was quite an easy mod to do, once I had worked it all out & found a tame machinist to do the work. much easier to drive, and cos the 309 rack is essentially a manual rack with an external ram, it doesn't lose feeling

let me know if you want to try the rack or if you want detail on the power rack modification

I have sold the car, so can't take any more photos, but its easy enough and I can walk you through it, drop me a mail

[Steve]

oops posted twice

[Mark Cooper]

>
>I have sold the car, so can't take any more photos, but its
>easy enough and I can walk you through it, drop me a mail
>

Hi Steve, I would be very interested in trying the 309 power rack. I have access to a machine shop (I work for Fords in Dagenham) so any mods to the rack should be no problem.

I considered using the Fiesta rack because I can get parts cheaply, but I must admit I feel easier in my mind duplicating a setup that's tried and tested like yours. My engine is a Jaguar V12. I have a couple of spaces on the crank for driving a mechanical pump. Did you choose the electrical pump to save power from the engine or for some other reason.

The busted rack on my car is held onto mounting brackets (a horizontal plate welded to the crossmember with two vertical plates welded to that roughly 6-8 inches apart) with four bolts. These bolts go through two steel clamps that hold the rack against a pair of alluminium blocks machined to suit the diameter of the rack. Is that the type of rack you had? The car was built in 1983-84.

I would be extremely interested in anything you can tell me regarding this modification. Was the turning circle impoved? Did you have to limit the movement of the new rack to prevent rubbing the tyres on the arches? Here is a picture of my engine bay minus the engine. I took loads of pics when I built it. The old rack and cross member are clearly visible.

http://www.ebookheaven.co.uk/cobra/g...s/Steering.jpg

My website is very out of date, but here is the link:

http://www.ebookheaven.co.uk/cobra/main.htm

Thanks for all your help.

Mark