This may have already been covered, if so simply point me in the correct direction. I am trying to decide if it is reasonable to convert from the existing stock steering set up to one of the kits from Steeroids. Will it make THAT much of a difference? What other hidden things will need to be changed? A lot of people say bolt on, and then you end up having to fabricate a bunch of stuff. In the 25 plus years that I have had this car, I have replaced all of the steering components at least once, and some more than that. I know what I'm getting into with the factory stuff. What are some of the things to watch out for if you attempt one of these conversions? Any help at all would be appreciated, thanks.

 

Someone posted about a week ago on a Steeriods & had to do drilling & fabricating. I just did one on a 76 with VBPs rack & pinion kit. The parts are well made, the instructions great & everything fit perfectly. Uses all the original bolt holes. Very easy install. I recommend VBP

 

Ronnie,

Can't comment on the R&P kits, but you owe it to yourself to look up www.borgeson.com and check out their integral power steering boxes for the C3 Corvette. Cost $460 plus a few hundred more for accessories, and about two or three hours work if you're handy.

The box allows you to keep all of your GM designed tie rods, drag link, idler arm, etc., and the box looks like it was fitted at the factory. The two only hoses that you need to connect the pump to the box don't hang under the engine like the stock system or the power R&P systems.

You will have only 2.7 turns lock to lock and will have a much better feel of the road whilst driving. In fact, the car will handle like a current model car, as the Borgeson steering is 21st Century, the stock system design is half a century old.

Regards from Down Under

aussiejohn

 

I have installed 3 Steeroids and 2 Rack attack kits. No major mods had to be done. They fit on very well and came with everything. On a sidepipe car I had to dimple the header tube slightly and on 2 of the cars mine included I had to due some minor clearance of the motor mount horn for ujoint clearance. Each one took maybe 5 minutes with a die grinder.

 

I should have provided more details. 1980, auto, base motor, stock exhaust. From what I've tried to gather, isn't the point of the rack & pinion set up to get rid of the control valve and slave cylinder and steering box etc? Do you still use all of these components if you go with the Borgeson set up?

 

The Borgeson box starts life as one of the Delphi boxes fitted to the 98 & 99 Jeep Cherokee. Borgeson mods and rebuilds the box. the install retains the power steerting pump, the P/S drag-link and the P/S pitman arm. You buy 1) the box, 2) an adaptor that screws on in place of the old control valve, 3) a new rag joint (or U-joint) to fit between the steering shaft and box input, and 4) the TWO power steering hoses. My total cost was right at $700 delivered, for everything.

The Delphi box is a varible ratio with internal boost and a MUCH motr modern control valve (similat to those used for power R&P).

Do some searches on "jeep steering" and "borgeson" for more info.

 

Check out this thread

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...g-install.html

 

Put a Steeroids R&P set up on my 78 L82 Auto (no headers) last year.
Its awsome. Almost "twitchy" steering. Doesn't self center like a new car though,and its a bit heavy but NO vague spots in the steering at all. True bolt on, zero mods to get it on. Make sure you follow the instractions to a "T" and you'll have no problem. About 8hrs to install.

dodosmike

 

Could you explain what you mean when you say that it doesn't return to center. This is just one of the complaints/ issues that I have already with the stock used up system.

 

All the ones I have installed return to center and the steering actually feels very light compared to the stock system. On mine I run a lot of castor also which helps the return to center. I run aftermarket upper and lower control arms which allow me to run about 4.5 degrees caster.

 

It was actually Dodosmike that had said his didn't return to center. My 80 will be using all of the stock a-arms. When you install one of these where do you get your set up specs for wheel alignment and all that stuff? I have heard that you need a lower pressure power steering pump. What is up with that?

 

The specs I use for alignment came from VB but you can use the stock specs for alignment. I have done a few cars and used the stock specs and they work fine.

As for the pump, I have used the stock pump on all theunits I have installed. The stock pumps work fine.

 

Another vote for the Delphi intregal boost "Borgeson" type steering box, cheaper and better engineered than rack/pinion type conversion.

Yes, you get rid of the C3 control valve and booster cylinder plus, your suspension geometry reamins factory. Only rack equipped Vette I ever drove had steering shaft U-joint issues (slight binding feel) and didn't impress me at all (I think it had bump steer issues as well.)

 

Another vote here for the "Jeep" box.

 

Anyone know what differences there are between the VBP kit and the Steeroids kit? They appear similar, but I've been told they are not the same. The Jeep box set up is interesting, however I can't get much info on this. I've read the links provided above but would like to learn more.

 

The VB kits use the stock type tie rod end at the steering knuckel. The Steeroids uses a heim jointed end and a custom end that goes into the steering knuckle. This is supposed to help bump steer some. I have installed both and for normal street driving you cannot tell the difference. The rest of the system is the same.

 

I installed the Steeroid kit on my old '73 and would not recommend it.

I'm sure there are people who have installed it and liked it so no intent to disparage, but my advice would be to make sure your existing system is 100% up to snuff before investing the money to make the swap. And even if it is, I wouldn't spend the money.

A well built factory setup will handle very well - making sure you have good upper and lower bushings, ball joints, tie rods, etc are all potential places for wear. If you've had any leaks in your engine compartment it can deteriorate the rag joint which will also cause sloppy steering.

The steerioids conversion eliminates several of these variables so I have no doubt people have felt a real improvement.

That said, between the conversion and a rebuilt factory setup I prefer the rebuilt factory. The only real problem with the corvette system is that the ram-assisted power steering means there will always be some slight on-center play before the ram assist kicks in. This could be made worse by a steering box that has no lubrication in it, or where the adjustment **** has been turned in and worn our the worm gear.

The steeroids will give you a better linear turning experience over factory but that's about it. But you loose a couple things with Steeriods - first, as was posted above, you will loose some of the on-centering ability. Not sure why - could be the stiffness of the pressure in the system but when you come out of a turn the wheels will not tend to want to re-center. That was my experience as well.

Also - and much less debatable, you will loose quite a bit of turning radius. This is far and away why I recommend people away from the system. I did not measure the differences, but making u-turns, or sharp turns into parking spaces, are a total PITA. That was the most surprising (and disapointing) part of the conversion for me.

 

This is all good info. I really don't want to spend close to $1500 and be in the same boat that I am now. I see several people went with the Borgeson power steering box. What are the pitfalls with this system? Would this be THAT much of an improvement over the stock system?

 

YES!

I was very enthused about swapping out the old worn out box in our '73 until I compared the steering radius specs. To me the stock steering radius is already too big and making it even larger was unacceptable.

 

Yeh, I'm not about to make things worse than they already are. What I really want to do is tighten up the sloppy steering once and for all. I thought that a rack and pinion set up was the way to go. Now I don't know. The Borgeson box looks like it could be the way to go.