Clarifying the fog that covers this swap for the S130 not sure about any of the parts for the 1980-'81 cars because all of my parts were off a '79 going into a '79
If you have power recirculating ball like I had you will need these parts
'79 manual rack and pinion engine crossmember (no the '81-'83 power rack and pinion engine crossmember will not work!)
'79 manual rack and pinion unit
'79 manual steering shaft
'79-'81 steering coupler unit (the whole damn thing-4 pieces total plus 4 bolts and 4 nylock nuts with lock washers)
outer tie rod ends (mind the thread direction!)
'79 manual rack and pinion Steering column-yes there is a difference in the U-joint at the firewall-(if you try to use the recirculating ball column the u-joint at the firewall will bind the hell up)

if you have a power rack and pinion you will need all of the above except the manual rack steering column-there should be enough room for adjustments to keep that u-joint from binding.

I would do a write-up on the swap but it would be a considerably large thread, and I have no time, unless of course there is some demand for it
Thanks-so tired from chasing my tail on this swap for the last month or so it seems. but it is finished.
possibly sticky this?

 

Pictures? A build thread would be great. Any info that's not already here will help others in the future

 

Agreed. A list of parts that will work is a start, but an explanation of how it all goes together (words and pics) is needed for a decent how-to write up.

And 'splain to me why the power rack cross member won't work...

Details... details...

 

the mounting points on the power rack crosmember are about 1/8th inch closer together than the manual rack crossmember, and the mounting point shaping is different on the drivers side of the crossmember, along with the brackets that hold the rack in place on the crossmember.
I will add to the thread in the near future, because for now a lot of my car **** is in storage. ie not accessible until we move