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I'm contemplating upgrading to power steering on my '69 350/300. Borgeson looks like the best plug-and-play package with the best reviews here on the forum.
I'm doing partially for myself - and only for stopped/slow turning maneuvers, but mostly for my wife, who hasn't driven the car in the 4 years we've had it, mainly because she is gun-shy about the steering efforts.
I see that C.C. sells the kit for a little under $1K (plus they're offering a 10% off and free shipping this month).
The kit looks like it's got everything needed, except a belt to run the pump.
What has been folks experience so far with the install?
Does the pump mount on driver side or passenger?
How is the belt routed? I have a crank pulley with 2 grooves, one for the alternator and one is available.
Would I use the available groove? Or will I need a new crank pulley?
How did you determine the proper belt length?
Also - There is an extra-cost reinforcement bracket available for another ~$79. Is that advisable? Necessary?
Thanks - Itching for spring and the chance to start to tinker again!
If that's the kit in the picture, the pump mounts in the factory location: down low on the left side. Also looks like there's a pulley included. Check around for price, Corvette houses like CC are great for Corvette specific items but their markup on "hot rod" stuff like the Borgeson box are crazy.
I think you'll need a pitman arm too if you are going from manual steering to power. I don't see a pump pulley in that kit. Your existing groove on the crank pulley should work. The only trouble spots I had was getting the pitman arm on the output shaft and I had to shim the pump bracket for proper belt alignment on my ZZ4. You'll also have to move your tie rods to the inner hole on the the steering knuckle and get an alignment when you're done. I didn't use the extra bracket. You also need to shorten your steering column, but tapping it up a couple of inches, which causes you to lose part of the collapse feature.
I've read to definitely NOT tap the column back in on itself, as it diminishes/destroys the crash protection afforded by the collapsing column design.
I've seen tips that call for just cutting the end of the column to length with a cut-off wheel instead.
Actually, last one I recall was Ant doing it on Wheeler Dealers, I think in the recent episode where the added P/S to '65 Dodge Coronet 500.
He cut off the column end while it was still in the car.
The only thing they didn't explain, is how he dealt with the removal of the splines from the column end (typical of those shows to skip some key details!).
Does the rag joint clamp to the column with enough grip to not need the splines?
If you use the stock manual steering link with the manual pitman arm, you should be fine. In my 79 (which had power steering), I used the power steering pitman arm with the Borgeson steering link adaptor (not pictured above, since you probably don't need it).
I used the $79- brace. The disadvantage is that widens the only spot on the frame where my wheels rub on hard left turns.
If you don't want to collapse the column, it's not all of the distance for the impact safety, there is still room for collapse, you will have to do what the C2 boys do. Cut the Column and pin the rag joint.
If you do collapse the column, be careful. If you hit it too hard it will go inside the column and be a beggar to get back out.
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Borgeson Steering Upgrade?
