40-year-old steering box
Fresh, modern steering
Most original boxes are crying out for a rebuild, and many of the parts needed to do it properly are no longer available. Replace it once, properly.
Designed & manufactured by Hemi Performance
Rack & Pinion Steering for your Valiant.
Retire that tired 40-year-old steering box. Our complete, bolt-in rack & pinion conversion gives your Chrysler precise, confident steering — and it’s the original kit, refined over more than a thousand installs.
- Direct bolt-in
- No cutting or welding
- No engine out
- Original K-frame
1,000+
kits sold to
Chrysler owners
Chrysler owners
1,000+conversion kits sold
3–5 hrstypical manual kit fit time
0cutting, welding or engine removal
200,000+ kmrack life we’ve seen
Why rack & pinion?
Your steering box has done its time.
A factory steering box and its linkage were never designed to last half a century. Here’s what changes when you convert.
Cracked chassis rails
Takes the strain off your chassis
The factory box hangs off the right-hand chassis rail — the reason so many Valiants crack there. Our cradle spreads the load and braces both rails together.
Manual steering too heavy
Lighter at parking speeds
Even our manual rack & pinion is lighter to turn than a manual steering box — and the power assist kits make it effortless.
Power steering too floaty
Real feel at highway speed
Unlike the factory power steering box, our racks aren’t excessively light at speed — so you get genuine road feel and confidence on the highway.
Worn steering linkage
Fewer parts to wear out
Say goodbye to the pitman arm, idler arm, drag link and four tie rod ends. Rack & pinion eliminates them all — and their maintenance costs.
Hunting for parts
Everything in one box
No sourcing extra parts and no need to “seek the advice of a professional engineer”. Each kit includes everything needed to complete the conversion.
Three kits, one standard
Choose the right conversion for your car
Whether you want the classic manual rack or the ease of power assistance, each kit bolts in on the same proven cradle and ships complete.
Manual rack
Manual Rack & Pinion Conversion Kit
Replaces your steering box with a lighter manual rack
- ModelsVE–CM (AP5, AP6 & VC special order – call)
- EnginesHemi 6, Slant 6, Small & Big Block V8
- Fit time3–5 hours
- ModificationsDrill 1–2 holes only
AU$1,999+ core deposit
Configure & buy
Power assist · from manual box
Power Assist Kit (from manual steering box)
Upgrade a manual steering box car to power assist
- ModelsVE–CM
- EnginesHemi 6, Small & Big Block V8
- IncludesPower steering pump, pump bracket & hoses
- Fit time5–8 hours
AU$3,490+ core deposit
Configure & buy
Power assist · from power box
Power Assist Kit (from power steering box)
Swap a factory power steering box for a power rack
- ModelsVE–CM
- EnginesHemi 6, Small & Big Block V8
- IncludesPower rack, cradle, shaft, coupling & hoses
- Fit time5–8 hours
AU$2,799+ core deposit
Configure & buy
Every kit is configured to your car on our webstore — select your model, engine, column shift and any chassis repair sleeves fitted.
Prices shown in AUD. A AU$95 core deposit applies to the steering shaft. See our webstore for current pricing and availability.
Cradle-mount engineering
Built to brace your car, not stress it.
Rather than hanging a rack off a modified K-frame, our heavy-duty cradle bolts up to the brackets already on your chassis — the old steering box and idler arm mounts — for a rigid, factory-quality fit.
- 40×40×3Box-tube cradleHeavy-wall steel tube spans between the chassis rails.
- 6 + 12mmReinforcing platesA 6mm plate plus a 12mm plate on the steering box side, where it matters most.
- L + RChassis braceThe cradle ties the left and right chassis rails together, adding strength.
- EasyServiceable for lifeUses a Holden Commodore steering rack and tie rod ends, so parts are easy to source.
Cradle-mount vs K-frame mount
Weigh up the pros and cons yourself
You may have seen conversions that rely on a specially modified K-frame. Here’s how our cradle-mount design compares.
| Claim | Other “K-frame mount” conversions | Our “cradle-mount” conversion |
|---|---|---|
| Quick to fit | No – remove engine and K-frame, then refit everything. |
Yes! Our cradle simply bolts in. |
| No need to remove engine | No – the engine must come out. |
Yes! It bolts in from underneath the car. |
| No need to modify your K-frame | No – requires a specially modified K-frame. |
Yes! Keep your original, unmodified K-frame. |
| No need to modify your sump | No – the sump must be modified to clear the rack. |
Yes! Keep your original sump (manual kit).* |
| Uses existing idler arm & steering box brackets | No – the brackets are left unused. |
Yes! We use them for added rigidity. |
| Steering rack securely mounted | Debatable – the rack hangs off two arms welded to the rear of the K-frame, a load the factory never intended. |
Yes! 40×40×3mm box tube with 6mm and 12mm reinforcing plates. |
| Steering coupling supplied ready-to-fit | No – pay extra for one, then have your shaft modified. |
Yes! Coupling and pre-modified steering shaft included. |
| Adds strength to chassis | No. |
Yes! The cradle braces the left and right chassis rails. |
* Power assist kits: in some applications minor modifications to your sump will be required.
What’s in the box
Complete kits, finished to a high standard
Cradle, rack, tie rod ends, pre-modified steering shaft, coupling and all the hardware — plus pump, bracket and hoses on our power assist kits. Click any image to enlarge.
How it fits
The easiest-to-fit kit on the market
No cutting, modifying or welding — just a couple of drilled holes. And if you ever want to, you can convert back to a steering box just as simply.
Remove the old gear
Unbolt your steering box and remove the pitman arm, idler arm, tie rod ends and drag link.
Slide the cradle up
The complete rack & cradle slides up for a snug fit over your chassis rails, using the existing steering box and idler arm brackets.
Bolt it in
Fit the supplied bolts each side and drill the one or two extra holes required. Power kits: fit the pump and connect the supplied hoses.
Connect the shaft
Swap in the supplied steering shaft, connect the universal joint — and you’re as good as done.
3–5 hoursManual kit
5–8 hoursPower assist kits
From our customers
“Best improvement I have made to the car”
With over a thousand kits on the road, here’s what Valiant owners have said in reviews on our webstore.
Very happy
The car is so much more enjoyable to drive… Certainly no binding when turning steering wheel and definitely no bump steer. Very well made product and would recommend to others.
Great
Best improvement I have made to the car… 10 out of 10.
Rack and pinion
It was easy to fit… rack and pinion set up good and recommend.
Good to know
Fitment & frequently asked questions
Which kit should I buy?
- Manual kit – the original. Replaces your steering box with a manual rack that’s lighter than a manual steering box, without the floaty feel of a factory power box at speed.
- Power assist (from manual steering box) – for cars currently running a manual steering box. Includes the power steering pump, bracket and hoses.
- Power assist (from power steering box) – for cars currently running a factory power steering box.
Not sure? Contact us or call (07) 5599 9627 and we’ll point you in the right direction.
Which models and engines are covered?
The manual kit suits VE, VF, VG, VH/CH, VJ/CJ, VK/CK, CL and CM models with Hemi 6, Slant 6, Small Block V8 or Big Block V8 engines. AP5, AP6 and VC are available as a special order – please call.
Both power assist kits suit VE through CM models with Hemi 6, Small Block V8 or Big Block V8 engines.
When ordering you’ll also select your column shift (none, manual or auto) and whether chassis repair sleeves are fitted, so the kit is matched to your car.
Do I need to cut, weld or remove the engine?
No. Our kit is a direct bolt-in conversion — no cutting, no welding, no engine out and no changing K-frames. You’ll only need to drill one or two holes depending on the model (two on the power assist kits).
I have a Small Block V8 – anything I should know?
All Small Block V8 cars need an oil filter relocation kit, as the factory steel oil lines interfere with the rack head.
VE–CM Small Block V8 with extractors: the right-hand pipe must be modified to clear the rack head. We offer exclusive Pacemaker extractors already modified to suit our conversion:
My car has air conditioning – can I still go power assist?
Yes. When ordering the power assist kit (from manual steering box), select “Aircon fitted – Yes” and we’ll contact you to put together a custom kit for your car.
What about maintenance and spare parts?
We’ve seen our steering racks last in excess of 200,000 km. Should you ever need a replacement rack or tie rod ends, they’re easy to source — we use a Holden Commodore steering rack and tie rod ends.
What is the core deposit?
Each kit is subject to a AU$95 core deposit on the steering shaft, charged at checkout. Full details are available on each product page of our webstore.
Can I go back to a steering box later?
Yes. Because nothing is cut or welded, the kit can be removed and the car converted back to a steering box just as simply as it went in.
Transform the way your Valiant drives.
Join more than a thousand Chrysler owners who’ve made the switch to Hemi Performance rack & pinion steering.