1980 power steering ????
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Salem Virginia
1980 power steering ????
I have a 1980 Corvette that I bought as a project. I'm not familiar with the power steering system on the Vette & it looks like -everything- has been leaking. Does anyone package all the components as a kit at a decent price? Or, if anyone has any suggestions on where to start?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,503
Likes: 33
From: McGrady NC
St. Jude Donor '15-'16
Welcome to our world. It's hard to find a C3 that doesn't have a leak in the steering somewhere after years of limited use or neglect. You probably need hoses, the ram and the steering control valve rebuilt or replaced just as I did on mine when I first got it. Not a hard job and not too expensive. Most supporting vendors have those parts in kits. I like Willcox because he offers discounts to forum members. Check the ads down the side of the webpage here and you'll find what you need. www.willcox.com, I think.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,695
Likes: 2,572
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,453
Likes: 67
From: Midland Ontario
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 61
From: Southern NH
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 20
From: The only Corvettes in Highett Victoria
Check out the Borgeson box.
LWT,
I have fitted a Borgeson #800108 to my '74 coupe and it brings the steering into the 21st century!!! I have a '74 vert as well and the difference between the two is quite noticeable. Give Jeff, Gil or Barbara at Borgeson a ring 860-482-8283 or look them up on www.borgeson.com. Unless you want your car to be NCRS-correct, then you owe it to yourself to upgrade to a far superior steering box.
More than likely the Borgeson box will cost you LESS than to buy all new parts for your existing set up, which would still leave you with 50 year old steering technology. Let's face it, do you still run the tyres that were available in 1980 or do you use more modern ones?
Go Borgeson.
Regards from Down Under.
aussiejohn
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 318
Likes: 3
From: NP Nebraska
LWT,
I have fitted a Borgeson #800108 to my '74 coupe and it brings the steering into the 21st century!!! I have a '74 vert as well and the difference between the two is quite noticeable. Give Jeff, Gil or Barbara at Borgeson a ring 860-482-8283 or look them up on www.borgeson.com. Unless you want your car to be NCRS-correct, then you owe it to yourself to upgrade to a far superior steering box.
More than likely the Borgeson box will cost you LESS than to buy all new parts for your existing set up, which would still leave you with 50 year old steering technology. Let's face it, do you still run the tyres that were available in 1980 or do you use more modern ones?
Go Borgeson.
Regards from Down Under.
aussiejohn
Keep in mind, I haven't driven a car with either setup so I'm not saying it will be superior. It's just another option.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 18
From: St. Louis MO
i did the Jeep box and have never looked back. It does not leak on my friends drive way, and it drives nice. Worth the effort...
there are several threads on this. just search jeep box or borgeson conversion....
there are several threads on this. just search jeep box or borgeson conversion....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 61
From: Southern NH
Just keep in mind the Jeep box and Borgeson are similar but different mods.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
I have a 1980 Corvette that I bought as a project. I'm not familiar with the power steering system on the Vette & it looks like -everything- has been leaking. Does anyone package all the components as a kit at a decent price? Or, if anyone has any suggestions on where to start?
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,968
Likes: 44
From: East TN
I had my steering box blueprinted by Gary. He did an awesome job. 
http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/foru...t=steering+box
http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/foru...t=steering+box
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 18
From: St. Louis MO
money mattered to me as well. I bought the box for 50 bucks at the junk yard. had a guy make the hose for 25 bucks from work... had to pay a hundred for the rag joint. i would say i have about 200 wrapped up in it. The hoses would be expensive if i had not gotten the brother in law deal on them....
nothing is cheap. You can prolly fix what you have by rebuilding the one you have. Check around and see if anyone in your area is a C-3 guy that works on his own car. I am sure he will be able to tell you about this repair. we have all had to deal with it....
tim
nothing is cheap. You can prolly fix what you have by rebuilding the one you have. Check around and see if anyone in your area is a C-3 guy that works on his own car. I am sure he will be able to tell you about this repair. we have all had to deal with it....
tim
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Salem Virginia
I've been sidetracked for awhile so I still haven't pulled the trigger on fixing this. I'm back on it again. My Corvette is built as a street/strip car so I've been looking at doing a new Borgeson manual steering box. I know some of you will cringe but I'm running skinny 4inch wide front wheels. Any thoughts?