Flaming River offers a variety of Tilt Columns and Non-Tilt Columns available in a wide selection of lengths and sizes. Floor Shift Tilt, Column Shift Tilt and Tilt Key Columns are our most popular. Key columns can be made in either a Floor Shift or Column Shift style. Flaming River columns come in three finishes: Paintable Mill Finish, Black Powdercoat, and Polished Stainless. Output shafts come in 1"-48 splined shaft, 3/4"-36 splined shaft, and 1" DD shaft.
Flaming River offer a number of Column Installation Kits designed specifically for a variety of classic vehicle applications–including Mustangs, Camaros, Chevelles, Novas and more. Each kit can include installation materials like U-Joints, wiring harness with hazards, column mount, horn contact kit, and horn relay.
Flaming River has a wide assortment of Steering Wheel Adapters to fit original or aftermarket steering wheels to our columns. The universal 5 and 6 Bolt Wheel Adapters contain the pattern for both 5 and 6 bolt steering wheels, so getting the perfect fit is even easier. Certain steering wheels, like the WaterFall (shown here), even have their own adapters to mount to a Flaming River column or original stock column. Flaming River also offer 3 Bolt Adapters, 9 Bolt Adapters, and a number of adapters for Corvette and Mopar applications.
One of the most common errors during column wiring happens when someone is replacing their stock OEM steering column. They will remove the factory original column without verifying the wire colors for the turn signals. Many people assume that their car has the original wiring and that someone has not gone in and tinkered with it at some point in its lifetime. Before you do anything else, check that the wiring is still in good condition and make note of the colors of the wires that operate each turn signal—this can save you major headaches!
In fiberglass bodied cars, make sure that the column is grounded properly. An improperly grounded column can cause the horn and turn signals to work erratically, or not at all. You can avoid this hassle by attaching a ground strap from the column to the vehicle chassis.
When using LED style lighting for your turn signal and brake lights, a standard flasher cannot be used. LED style lights do not pull enough current to cause the flasher to open and close the circuit. A special LED flasher must be used for correct turn signal operation.
The canceling cam has two functions: First, it acts as a contact for the horn. Second, it cancels, or turns off, the turn signals as the steering wheel comes back to the straight-ahead position.
When the canceling cam is not clocked or timed correctly in the column, the turn signals will not cancel, or they will cancel too quickly. To properly clock or time the canceling cam, you should look at the top of the column like it's the face of a clock. On the canceling cam itself, there is a stem that sticks up approx 1-1/2”. Imagine this stem as the hour hand on a clock and place it at approximately the 10:30 position. This will ensure that the turn signals will cancel every time.
Flaming River has Rack and Pinions available for many different vehicle applications. Flaming River offer Manual Rack and Pinions, Power Rack and Pinions, and Rack and Pinion Conversion Kits that are available in either Power or Manual for many popular classic vehicle applications.
Flaming River Power Rack and Pinions are ideal for upgrading your classic car or truck, hot rod, street rod, or performance vehicle to the comfort and reliability of a modern power steering system. Flaming River have Power Racks available for vehicles with a Mustang II style front end, as well as Universal Front Steer and Universal Rear Steer Power Rack and Pinions with adjustable mounts and adjustable pinion angle for ease of installation. Flaming River also offer an Extra Long XL Power Rack for wide-framed trucks and vehicles, and a Narrowed Power Rack for vehicles with narrowed track width.
Flaming River standard Power Racks offer more than 6” of travel for full turning radius, and are made with all new parts—including the valve and piston. Plus, Flaming River Power Racks are made in the USA in Berea, OH and are fluid and pressure tested and certified before they leave Flaming River facility.
Depending on the vehicle, Flaming River has a couple of different options for Manual Rack and Pinions. Flaming River Manual 1971-72 Pinto Racks, Mustang II Racks, Omni Rear Steer Racks, 5.0 Mustang, and 2005-2011 Mustang Manual Racks are all ideal choices for manual steering. These manual steering racks are responsive, easy to install, lighter and stronger than the OEM racks and come in a variety of different ratios, pivot points, and pinion lengths.
Flaming River Rack and Pinions are made with all new parts and are not rebuilt, so you eliminate old and worn out steering parts. Flaming River Steering Racks give you the benefits of a modern steering system, and they are more durable, lighter, and more responsive than the original recirculated ball steering box. Plus, Rack and Pinions retain the full factory turning radius and offer more travel than an OE steering system.
If you choose to install one of Flaming River Rack & Pinion Cradle Systems, the welded cradle bolts right into the original mounting locations, with no chassis modification, so you can always return to the original steering system in the future. Each kit also includes the option of a brand new tilt steering column, all mounting hardware, wiring connectors, universal joints and shafting, and power steering pump, pulley, and reservoir for Flaming River power kits.
All of Flaming River Rack and Pinion Conversion Systems are American-made and built in-house at Flaming River manufacturing facility in Berea, OH. Each Power System is fluid and pressure tested and certified before it leaves Flaming River facility.
Flaming River Research and Development and Engineering teams are always working to find new ways to optimize the use of Rack and Pinions for different vehicle applications. We currently have a wide selection of Bolt-in Rack and Pinion Conversion Kits for many popular classic vehicle applications and we're continuing to develop and expand our Rack and Pinion applications based on customer requests and vehicle popularity..
Flaming River has Universal Front Steer and Rear Steer Power Rack and Pinions with adjustable mounts and pinion angles that can be installed on many different vehicles with some fabrication required. Flaming River always recommend working with a reputable fabricator, or contacting us prior to fabricating on your own.
Yes, Flaming River has a Power Rack with universal mounting that was developed for Right Hand Drive vehicles, as well as a couple of Rack and Pinion Conversion Kits for Right Hand Drive vehicles. Currently, Flaming River offer a Power and Manual RHD Kit for the 1965-70 Mustang, a Power RHD Kit for the 1963-82 Corvette, and a Power Kit for a RHD Tri-5. We’re also willing to work with you to design something for your vehicle if you can provide us with the necessary dimensions and specs.
Yes, Flaming River has a full line of Rack and Pinion replacement parts for Flaming River Rack and Pinions including inner and outer tie rod ends, bushings, and replacement bellows.
All Flaming River Rack and Pinion Cradle Systems have been designed and tested using a factory original platform vehicle. Any variation or modification from the vehicle’s original chassis, suspension, drivetrain, or drive height may change the steering geometry and require additional modification for installation.
Flaming River has own unique angle headers available that have been designed to work with our Rack and Pinion kits – available for Small Block Chevys, 1962-67 Small Block Novas, and Small Block Fords – they provide the universal joint clearance that you need to install one of Flaming River steering systems.
There are a couple of different parts that you may need to complete the installation of a Flaming River Power Rack and Pinion.
Universal Joints:Flaming River Power Rack and Pinions require a unique-shaped Universal Joint to connect to the Power Rack.
Power Steering Hose Kits: Flaming River Rack and Pinion kits do not come with hoses – Flaming River recommend Stainless Braided Hose Kit (Part # FR1610) to work with our Power Rack and Pinions and our Remote Reservoir Pump.
Power Steering Fluid: Flaming River recommend using a high quality Power Steering Fluid. Flaming River offer own synthetic blend designed to work with our Power Steering Racks and Power Steering Boxes.
Remote Reservoirs: Flaming River offer a full line of Remote Reservoirs for Power Steering Fluid, Coolant Overflow, and Brake Fluid.
Power Steering Pumps:Due to the pressure and flow ratings of Flaming River Power Rack and Pinions, Flaming River highly recommend using Flaming River Stage II Variable Pressure Low-Flow Pumps. These pumps are offered without a Pulley, or with a Serpentine or V-Belt Pulley.
A new or existing Power Steering System must be purged and bled for proper installation and operation.
When installing the outer tie rod ends on to the inner tie rod ends, it is very important that there is a minimum thread engagement of 2.5 times the diameter of the outer end. For example, if your outer end has a ½” thread diameter, you would need a minimum thread engagement between the inner and outer ends of 1 ¼”.
Any less than the recommended minimum thread engagement in a vehicle is unsafe and vehicle operation should be avoided.