They are in QLD somewhere and HAD a website. They are making power racks for early Holdens and I was wondering if anybody had contact details for them.
Rods Racks
Started by
_CHOPPER_
, Apr 24 2007 01:24 PM
21 replies to this topic
#2
dattoman
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Posted 24 April 2007 - 01:36 PM
Need a power Torana rack do you Chop ?
#3
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Posted 24 April 2007 - 01:48 PM
You got one ready to bolt in? Without the need of a welder?
#4
LXCHEV
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Lotsa Posts!
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Posted 24 April 2007 - 01:49 PM
Rods Racks used to sponsor the EH car club of Vic. I heard recently (very recently) he has shut up shop and is no longer making his gear! (This came via Deb-EHGIRL as she's on the EH committee)... PM her if you wanna chat more, I have no more info myself.
Sounds like a shame though.... would have been good to buy one of his racks for her EH one day.
Sounds like a shame though.... would have been good to buy one of his racks for her EH one day.
#5
dattoman
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Posted 24 April 2007 - 03:14 PM
Its in the worksYou got one ready to bolt in? Without the need of a welder?
Discussions are being had
Tape measures have been used
Waiting on quotes from the supplier
Put you down for 50 ?
#6
Orange SS
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Posted 24 April 2007 - 05:05 PM
My Brother had a V8 (350 chev) conversion done by him. It was the Silver EH on this site a little wile ago with the extractors going to the front of the car and under the engine mounts.
I was unaware that he has shut up shop/garage, but will try and get the contact details for you once my brother is back from North Qld working.
This is the link to the Queensland EH webpage, someone there may know a little more.
EH Website QLD
I was unaware that he has shut up shop/garage, but will try and get the contact details for you once my brother is back from North Qld working.
This is the link to the Queensland EH webpage, someone there may know a little more.
EH Website QLD
#7
_CraigA_
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Posted 24 April 2007 - 05:39 PM
This is a Rods Racks rack and pinion fitted to a HR front end from a V8 FE we built.
Also used his block hugging extractors - great work, so very sad if he's not doing this stuff anymore.
Also used his block hugging extractors - great work, so very sad if he's not doing this stuff anymore.
#8
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Posted 24 April 2007 - 11:13 PM
Quite simply, my left shoulder is f*cked, thanks to somebody not giving way 18 months ago. I have my good days and my bad days. It's when I'm having a bad day I really need power steering.Its in the worksYou got one ready to bolt in? Without the need of a welder?
Discussions are being had
Tape measures have been used
Waiting on quotes from the supplier
Put you down for $50 ?
Rods racks are still trading. I spoke to the bloke on the phone today. He could do a conversion that doesn't require welding, but hasn't started it yet.
Toranamatt's WRX conversion is sounding expensive and appears to need more x-member mods than I'm happy to do or get done.
My specialist has made it very clear he doesn't want me driving cars without power steering, but hasn't made it a "doctors order" yet. So power steering in the street UC WILL be mandatory in the near future.
I am only interested in results. So if you could give me an indication of price ( within a few hundred dollars ), what parts I will need to chase and an idea of when it might be ready.
The last thing I want to do is to hound you, Matt and Rod about this, as I am clearly only going to buy one power steering conversion. I'm not after an auction. I'm after answers that are as accurate as possible so I know who I'm likely to send my money to. Your figure of $50 sounds good.
#9
rodomo
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Posted 24 April 2007 - 11:49 PM
Skinny tyres and high pressures 
#10
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Posted 24 April 2007 - 11:57 PM
Rob. I just happen to have a pair of 155R13LT Yokohamas, fitted and balanced on 13x5.5" Torana rims with 40 PSI in them already to bolt on. They have a load rating of 85, so they will be legal for the UC. I'm a few jumps ahead of you.
#11
rodomo
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Posted 25 April 2007 - 12:12 AM
Is Grasshopper your love child?I'm a few jumps ahead of you.
#12
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Posted 25 April 2007 - 12:20 AM
That has been disgust in another thread.
Seriously, I need to do something about installing power steering in my UC. But that will only be after I convert it to LPG. So it would be good if this were kept on topic. And if I hear nothing fron Neil or Matt by Thursday night, I'll be calling Rod on Friday and go with his setup. I'm not here to muck around, despite what I may have posted from time to time.
Seriously, I need to do something about installing power steering in my UC. But that will only be after I convert it to LPG. So it would be good if this were kept on topic. And if I hear nothing fron Neil or Matt by Thursday night, I'll be calling Rod on Friday and go with his setup. I'm not here to muck around, despite what I may have posted from time to time.
#13
Toranamat69
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Posted 25 April 2007 - 12:22 AM
G'day Chopper,
Just wondering why you reckon the WRX setup will be too Exxy?
Most of the expensive stuff I am playing with at the moment with A9X arms and CRS stubs are to make it work with my engine (way less clearance) and to change the geometry.
If you just want a power version of a Torana front end using the same geometry, the WRX one looks like it will work nicely with the subaru L series tie rods and Magna tie rod ends and UC steering arms and Torana stubs according to my first set of measurements and you would have the choice of 3 rack ratios too.
The rack should be rebuilt too but that will apply which ever rack you use. I have been trying to keep the cost down on it as I go and use easily available off the shelf parts.
The only thing that didn't match the std UC was the turning circle was not as good as I needed to move the rack back another 6mm. 3mm more was easy with a slight grind on the Wrx rack casting, the rest I was going to use a set of those noltec adjustable lower control arm bushes to move the LCA hopefully 3 to 5mm further forward which would do the trick. This is where I left off and started to do the setup for my car. I will have to get another Torana front end to try this out after I finish my car as I have started chopping into my test bunny to do my car.
It will need mods to the cross member which I showed you a pic of a while ago but I think that will be tough to avoid for anyone who tries this as the original Torana manual rack is so damn skinny and tucked right in there and it is actually in the correct place.
The Xmember is also curved from side to side across the front face so it makes the rack hit in the middle when you try to mount it back further.
I have decided it may be better to swap the hydr lines back over so they don't run through the x-member and make the cut out section a few mm wider.
I saw some HR fronts converted to rear mount commodore power racks at the hot rod show last year and I am pretty sure they were by Rods racks and the crossmembers were brutalised compared with what I have had to do so far.
I'll check them out again and get some pics at the hotrod show - it is on again in 2 weekends time.
M@
Just wondering why you reckon the WRX setup will be too Exxy?
Most of the expensive stuff I am playing with at the moment with A9X arms and CRS stubs are to make it work with my engine (way less clearance) and to change the geometry.
If you just want a power version of a Torana front end using the same geometry, the WRX one looks like it will work nicely with the subaru L series tie rods and Magna tie rod ends and UC steering arms and Torana stubs according to my first set of measurements and you would have the choice of 3 rack ratios too.
The rack should be rebuilt too but that will apply which ever rack you use. I have been trying to keep the cost down on it as I go and use easily available off the shelf parts.
The only thing that didn't match the std UC was the turning circle was not as good as I needed to move the rack back another 6mm. 3mm more was easy with a slight grind on the Wrx rack casting, the rest I was going to use a set of those noltec adjustable lower control arm bushes to move the LCA hopefully 3 to 5mm further forward which would do the trick. This is where I left off and started to do the setup for my car. I will have to get another Torana front end to try this out after I finish my car as I have started chopping into my test bunny to do my car.
It will need mods to the cross member which I showed you a pic of a while ago but I think that will be tough to avoid for anyone who tries this as the original Torana manual rack is so damn skinny and tucked right in there and it is actually in the correct place.
The Xmember is also curved from side to side across the front face so it makes the rack hit in the middle when you try to mount it back further.
I have decided it may be better to swap the hydr lines back over so they don't run through the x-member and make the cut out section a few mm wider.
I saw some HR fronts converted to rear mount commodore power racks at the hot rod show last year and I am pretty sure they were by Rods racks and the crossmembers were brutalised compared with what I have had to do so far.
I'll check them out again and get some pics at the hotrod show - it is on again in 2 weekends time.
M@
Edited by Toranamat69, 25 April 2007 - 12:26 AM.
#14
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Posted 25 April 2007 - 12:34 AM
I mentioned the price, as I'm fairly sure I saw the figure of $1000 for a power rack at some stage. I suppose you're going to tell me that was for a rack you're not going to use? I am well out of practice in using a welder, so I'll be trying to minimise the use of one in whatever conversion I get. My left shoulder is so bad, that some days I can't even hold my car keys in my left hand. It's just too painfull. So I really need anything I do to the car to be as simple as possible, even if it means a bit more financial cost. Trying to overdo something physically could lead to permanent damage, possibly including total loss of use of my arm.
#15
Toranamat69
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Posted 25 April 2007 - 12:50 AM
So does Rod's Racks have a Torana P/S setup already available?
If so I would be very keen to check it out and see some pictures.
I don't think I will be finished mine by Thursday
I have 2 water tanks to install and a special project to do for work which will take me another couple of weeks to finish - it is this project that has stalled my front suspension progress for the last 3 weeks.
My WRX Rack set me back $175 from the subi wreckers a couple of years ago - I have seen them go S/H for $50 to $100 on ebay but none recently in Brissy unfortunately.
The whole system will add up to a bit by the time it is finished with pump and Hydraulic lines and connecting up to the steeering column especially if you were to go for an exchange rebuilt rack as you are normally looking at around the $450 to 500 for that alone.
Hopefully I can rebuild my own rack for a fraction of that as I plan to pull it apart anyway and polish the alloy bits and HPC the steel body piece.
If so I would be very keen to check it out and see some pictures.
I don't think I will be finished mine by Thursday
I have 2 water tanks to install and a special project to do for work which will take me another couple of weeks to finish - it is this project that has stalled my front suspension progress for the last 3 weeks.My WRX Rack set me back $175 from the subi wreckers a couple of years ago - I have seen them go S/H for $50 to $100 on ebay but none recently in Brissy unfortunately.
The whole system will add up to a bit by the time it is finished with pump and Hydraulic lines and connecting up to the steeering column especially if you were to go for an exchange rebuilt rack as you are normally looking at around the $450 to 500 for that alone.
Hopefully I can rebuild my own rack for a fraction of that as I plan to pull it apart anyway and polish the alloy bits and HPC the steel body piece.
#16
Toranamat69
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Posted 25 April 2007 - 12:57 AM
The only way I could see a P/S setup without cutting and welding the crosmember being done is with one of those external ram type systems fitted to the standard Torana Rack and pinion.
Happy to be proven wrong though.
M@
Happy to be proven wrong though.
M@
#17
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Posted 25 April 2007 - 01:03 AM
I don't expect anybody to have a finished product by Thursday. What I would like by Thursday, is an indication of approximate total cost, possible month and year it could be ready and how fiddly it would likely to be when it comes to installation. If I don't get that information by Thursday night or if I don't like what I read, then I will be going with the Rods racks conversion. Simply because something needs to be done sooner rather than later. As I said in an earlier post, Rod has not even started the conversion yet, but is keen to do it. After that, I'll be enquiring about a power rack conversion for the WB. Too much slop and too many moving bits for my liking.
[EDIT]
You mean like the HR setup?
[EDIT]
The only way I could see a P/S setup without cutting and welding the crosmember being done is with one of those external ram type systems fitted to the standard Torana Rack and pinion.
You mean like the HR setup?
Edited by CHOPPER, 25 April 2007 - 01:04 AM.
#18
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Posted 26 April 2007 - 10:07 AM
So no further info at this stage?Its in the worksYou got one ready to bolt in? Without the need of a welder?
Discussions are being had
Tape measures have been used
Waiting on quotes from the supplier
Put you down for 50 ?
Any idea on when you might get some more info?
#19
dattoman
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Posted 26 April 2007 - 11:12 AM
Phone calls are being made this morning
Awaiting an update from the "secretary" making the calls. hawhaw (not whorewhore)
Awaiting an update from the "secretary" making the calls. hawhaw (not whorewhore)
#20
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Posted 26 April 2007 - 05:44 PM
No probs, I can put it on hold for a week.
#22
dattoman
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Posted 05 May 2007 - 09:32 PM
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