Admit it. If your fun car is a classic Mustang, you love the way it takes you back in time when you drive it. However, when you go back to your daily driver, you wish that your vintage machine had the same precise, easy steering as your commuter. Today it is easier than ever to give your 1965-1970 Mustang that modern steering experience thanks to the clever crew at Flaming River.

This kit along with other upgrades can definitely improve the performance of the handling of your classic Mustang. — Brett Domin, Flaming River

The solution is the company’s 1965-70 Mustang Power Rack & Pinion Cradle Kit, which is available to fit cars with original or Granada spindles, as well as in complete kits that include the company’s tilt steering column. The column can be optioned in polished or paintable versions, and the power steering pump can be omitted if you already have one.

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Flaming River offers a bolt-on solution for modernizing your 1965-1970 Ford Mustang’s steering system with a power-assisted, rack-and-pinion steering system that offers a stronger rack gear, a quick steering ratio, lifetime serviceability, and more. It includes a patented rack and pinion cradle system, U-joints, mounting hardware, and everything needed to install the system. It can be had with or without a power steering pump, and a tilt column is also an optional part of the 1965-70 Mustang Power Rack & Pinion Cradle Kit. (Photo Credit: Flaming River Industries)

What really makes this complete cradle setup nice, is that it installs to the pony car chassis without the need for modification, so you can modernize your Mustang without permanently altering it. That means you can enjoy the light effort and increased precision of power steering knowing your ride can be returned to stock should you ever decide to sell it.

There will be less turns lock-to-lock, which improves the wheel response. — Brett Domin, Flaming River

“The power rack is a benefit for many reasons,” Brett Domin of Flaming River explained. “It replaces a worn box, eliminates leaky valve and cylinder (if you have it), offers a quicker ratio, and delivers more modern steering.”

Certainly this setup is a great way to replace an ailing factory system and gain a much better steering experience in the process. The factory recirculating ball steering box is vague, and does not inspire confidence. Not only does Flaming River’s rack and pinion conversion offer a more precise feel, but it also delivers reduced effort thanks to the power assist – especially in typically high-effort, low-speed situations like parking lots. However, the setup is also designed for better performance than the factory steering box thanks to the advantages of the rack and pinion and its brisk ratio.

“This kit along with other upgrades can definitely improve the performance of the handling of your classic Mustang,” Brett said. “…A stock manual box will require more rotations of the wheel. A quicker-ratio rack allows you to turn the wheel less to travel the same distance.”

Moreover, that improved ratio will hasten your Mustang’s turning precision, which will boost your driving enjoyment on twisty roads. “There will be less turns lock-to-lock, which improves the wheel response,” he added.

If you order the full kit that wheel can be an OEM unit or an aftermarket steering wheel bolted to one of the company’s tilt steering columns. These 304-grade stainless steel columns are available polished to make a statement or in paintable form so you can match your interior. Not only will the tilt wheel allow you to get in and out of the car easier, but it will also allow adjustment for a more ideal steering position for the driver. Moreover, if performance driving is your thing, opting for a smaller, grippier aftermarket wheel, enabled by the proper column selection, will further enhance the steering feel and precision.

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If you choose the complete kit with a tilt column, you can have one that is paintable steel or polished stainless and designed to utilize either a factory Ford steering wheel or an aftermarket wheel.

Of course, should you be a more performance-minded driver, you might have lowered your car to sharpen its handling. If you have or desire to do so, Flaming River offers a bump-steer kit (PN FR1619MU; $189) that will correct the suspension geometry to tame the wild movements that can occur on rough surfaces when that geometry is out of whack. If you didn’t know, the wheels can actually steer themselves without input from the steering wheel when the length or angle of the steering linkage is out of spec.

“The bump-steer kit is only needed if the car’s original geometry or ride height has been altered,” he said.

If that all sounds good to you, the installation proposition isn’t too daunting either. The bolt-in design of the Flaming River 1965-70 Mustang Power Rack & Pinion Cradle Kit makes it is basically a remove and replace scenario, wherein you remove the factory bits and install the improved Flaming River components.

“The kit comes with a colored instruction guide and video online,” Brett added. “A shop or hobbyist can install this kit.”

There you can choose from eight different variations of the 1965-70 Mustang Power Rack & Pinion Cradle Kit, which allow for stock or Granada spindles, stock or aftermarket steering wheels, painted or polished tilt columns, as well as kits that leave out the power steering pump or column. These kits range from $2,240.77 to $2,705.75 depending on the content, and the optional bump-steer kit (PN FR1619MU) will add another $189.99 to the tally if your car is lowered.

We will hit some of the kit highlights here, but the full scoop on the install and options is available over on the company’s website right here.