This is a known problem on third gens. To prevent it from happening, install a “wonderbar” aka steering brace bar. It uses the sway bar bushing mounts and ties the frame rails together, preventing the issue of the frame rail cracking near the steering box.
I have a wonder bar, been racing with it since 2019. But my dumb A** torqued the steering box bolts to 120lb-ft last year. ya 80% yield torque is different than GM specs lol
Why didn't you drill an ⅛ inch hole at the ends of both cracks so that the crack won't continue if for some reason the welded area is not as strong as you think it will be. I've been taught you always drill the end of a crack because it will continue to crack, even after welding.
I'm acually experimenting with steel rods being used as sleeves. I think the overtorqueing caused the crack, so the new sleeves should solve that. I'll see.
You need an entire new k member and even then they don’t make a power steering one as of yet for a 3rd gen unless you modify the k member to fit a 4th gen one. From what I believe. I could be wrong though
@@PNWBLUEBARON you are wrong there are kmembers that facilitate pony rp steering. His current setup ratio is really good for autocross and if it is grabbing this well to be cracking the frame now dont upgrade to pig 4th gen rack and pinion it will not be an improvement. The current setup is better for his 3rdgen than any stock rack and pinion gm made.
a rack needs a whole lot amount of work to work in a 3rd gen race car that turns. you'd have to do some crazy fab work. meanwhile my Turn1 8:1 box is glorious.
This is a known problem on third gens. To prevent it from happening, install a “wonderbar” aka steering brace bar. It uses the sway bar bushing mounts and ties the frame rails together, preventing the issue of the frame rail cracking near the steering box.
I have a wonder bar, been racing with it since 2019.
But my dumb A** torqued the steering box bolts to 120lb-ft last year.
ya 80% yield torque is different than GM specs lol
This is an area on everyone's 3rd gen they should inspect, wonder-bar or not.
Why didn't you drill an ⅛ inch hole at the ends of both cracks so that the crack won't continue if for some reason the welded area is not as strong as you think it will be. I've been taught you always drill the end of a crack because it will continue to crack, even after welding.
that's assuming the weld doesn't penetrate the crack.
I ground the crack pretty thin and TIG has great penetration.
@@3rdGenGuyyeah in this case that metal isn’t very thick there, you can get the penetration
I think you should have sleeved the holes for enforcement. Enlarging holes and and weild in the sleeves I've seen that on tgo
I'm acually experimenting with steel rods being used as sleeves.
I think the overtorqueing caused the crack, so the new sleeves should solve that.
I'll see.
With all the extreme mods you made you ever thought of going with a modern rack and pinion?
You need an entire new k member and even then they don’t make a power steering one as of yet for a 3rd gen unless you modify the k member to fit a 4th gen one. From what I believe. I could be wrong though
@@PNWBLUEBARON you are wrong there are kmembers that facilitate pony rp steering. His current setup ratio is really good for autocross and if it is grabbing this well to be cracking the frame now dont upgrade to pig 4th gen rack and pinion it will not be an improvement. The current setup is better for his 3rdgen than any stock rack and pinion gm made.
a rack needs a whole lot amount of work to work in a 3rd gen race car that turns.
you'd have to do some crazy fab work.
meanwhile my Turn1 8:1 box is glorious.