I am looking at purchasing a 75 to use for autocross. The car doesn't have power steering. I have some questions about swapping to power. Are there different ratio boxes for power to make the steering quicker? There are 2 sets of holes where the tie rod ends bolt onto the spindles, is one for manual and the other for power? Is this a simple straight forward swap or does all of the linkage have to be changed also? I would like to get the steering response close to my "85" that I use now for racing. Is this possible? Are these parts easy to come by for this swap? Thanks!

 

G'day,
Well, you've come to the right place but the only trouble is, you might get swamped by all the answers you get.

Firstly, there have been several posts on here recently about power steering and there is no shortage of information on several systems, but as I can see it, there are four basic types.

ONE: the standard Corvette system developed in about 1960. It was great then but suited bias ply tyres available at the time and had about zero caster. Probably not what you need.

TWO: aftermarket integral power steering boxes such as Jeep boxes that have been modified to suit the Corvette chassis and, of course, do away with the power ram and all its associated hoses that hang down there.

THREE: aftermarket rack and pinion conversions either manual or power assisted are available from a few vendors, most of whom advertise in the various Corvette magazines.

FOUR: A newcomer on the market is one built by built by Concept One Pulleys in Cumming Georgia and features a new Delphi housing and gears, but with a custom built longer Pitman arm and housing to fit the Corvette. It appears to be a bolt-in and of course has integral power assist. It would bolt up to your manual centre link (relay rod) but you would have to fit a pump and fabricate two hoses. It is available with ratios of 14:1 for street driving or 12.7:1 for racing. They can be contacted at rmmusa@aol.com .

For serious racing though, your zero caster angle will work against you, as will the bump steer that appears to have been built into the car at the factory but don't despair, help is available. There are a number of vendors that offer custom upper (and lower) A-arms that will give you a caster angle of about six degrees, which is what you need with today's radial street tyres. For racing, you will need to contact someone who knows more than I do about racing.

Norvalwilhelm from Canada is very knowledgable in this area and may chime in to help you. I believe that he has several papers om this topic in the Forum archives.

Good luck and,

Regards from Down Under

aussiejohn

 

The two sets of holes are for quick & slow steering. Not sure what year this guy has, but he has the opposite "problem" http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1420840

 

Thanks aussiejohn;

Does anyone sell the jeep box as a kit or would I need to put it together myself

 

Was about to ask this same question in a new thread but using the search pulled this up.