Steering Rack; Cleaning And Detailing - Factory Five Racing Gen 3 Type 65 Coupe Owner's Manual

Steering Rack

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" and ⅝" wrenches, ruler, hack saw, marker.
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Remove the outer tie rods.
Remove the inner tie rods.
Cut 1.75" off the end of the inner tie rods.
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If you are planning on running power steering the next steps are not needed.
Remove the hydraulic lines. Drain all fluid by turning it, lock to lock, upside down over a collection pan.
Dispose of the fluid properly. The rack is greased on the gears at the ends.
The Mustang power rack is converted to a manual rack by removing the hydraulic lines from it and draining the
fluid. You can leave the holes open without concern since the hydraulic cylinder is no longer used, however,
for cosmetic reasons you may want to close them off. You can use a ½" Non-threaded hole plug. Keep in
mind, this must not be airtight! Air must be allowed to move in and out of the holes. If you use a hole-plug,
drill a small air release hole in the center.

Cleaning and Detailing

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Before you start assembling your car, cleaning is the best way to assess what needs to be done to the
donor parts. Based on your close-up inspection you may choose to re-build or replace some of the parts
that you have just removed. Areas to inspect include transmission tail shaft side to side free play, pinion
oil seal on the rear end, valve cover gaskets, distributor cap for excessive build-up deposits, and clutch
wear.
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When using engine degreaser, collect the waste solvents and dispose of properly.
 Steam clean or use a strong detergent such as Gunk engine cleaner.
 If the parts are really dirty, you can take the parts and assemblies to a do-it-yourself car wash. They usually
have an engine degreaser as an option and most places run very high water temperature that helps loosen
debris and grease. If doing this, tape over the engine intake holes, engine wiring connectors, and coolant
openings. Let the parts dry completely before removing the tape.
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Be sure to clean the bay after you clean your stuff.
 A wire wheel on a drill can bring even the most oxidized aluminum up to a nice finish. Be sure to wear
gloves and safety goggles. This can be done on the bell housing, transmission, alternator, valve covers,
steering rack, engine intake, water-pump, and engine accessory brackets.
 Apply clear coat paint on aluminum parts so the parts will not oxidize.
 Wire brush and paint control arms and the rear end. Avoid rubber bushings and quad-shock travel shafts
(shiny areas). When repainting parts, a consistent color scheme works best and looks the nicest.
 Wait until the wiring harness is installed and the car is running before you cover the harness up with a nice
wrapping of electrical tape. If it's dirty, wipe it off gently with a moist (not wet) rag.
 Use common sense when cleaning these parts; don't use a wire wheel on a drill close to any wires or lines.
Keep solvents away from rubber lines/hoses.
 After cleaning the engine, replace the spark plugs. When removing the plugs, look for oil on them or if they
look burned. If you have any doubts, ask a mechanic or a good auto parts store what the condition of the
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