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While my 72 LT1 is going through some serious upgrade, I thought I would go ahead and upgrade the steering system. I've decided to go with the borgeson system.
One thing I would like to verify; I keep reading about collapsing the steering shaft by hitting the end after the coupling is removed. Can someone who installed the same system share their experience with shortening to install the new coupling. Is there a clip that must be remove first? Thank you.
No, there is no clip to deal with that I remember. The shaft should collapse fairy easy. Don't go all King Kong on it. Use a block of wood on the end using light taps with a hammer and it will move. Small steps here as it's easy to collapse but a bitch to pull back out. Also, you might want to check your shaft end bearing while your at it. Now is the time to change it if it's needed. Have fun. I believe you'll enjoy the system. I know I do.
No, there is no clip to deal with that I remember. The shaft should collapse fairy easy. Don't go all King Kong on it. Use a block of wood on the end using light taps with a hammer and it will move. Small steps here as it's easy to collapse but a bitch to pull back out. Also, you might want to check your shaft end bearing while your at it. Now is the time to change it if it's needed. Have fun. I believe you'll enjoy the system. I know I do.
Looking to do this mod too. Where did you buy it from? I noticed that it's bigger? I went to the corvette chevy expo this past weekend ready to buy a steeroids system but after talking to salesman he got me thinking about the borgeson! he really built it up! He sells both systems BTW.I notice he's at close to the 900 plus dollars and Iv'e heard they can be bought for less than that.
Last edited by redcruz1120; Mar 18, 2017 at 05:40 AM.
Looking to do this mod too. Where did you buy it from? I noticed that it's bigger? I went to the corvette chevy expo this past weekend ready to buy a steeroids system but after talking to salesman he got me thinking about the borgeson! he really built it up! He sells both systems BTW.I notice he's at close to the 900 plus dollars and Iv'e heard they can be bought for less than that.
I bought my Borgeson from one of the online speed parts suppliers for less than $700. (Do a Google search for "Borgeson steering box C3 corvette".)
Installation was easy and took an afternoon to complete.
While the box is bigger, I did not have any clearance problems with my Hooker sidemount headers.
I pulled the steering column out of the car to collapse the shaft for easier access. I clamped a set of vice-grips to the shaft to serve as a stop to keep the shaft from collapsing too far.
Measure the distance needed and mark on the steering shaft with a permanent marker. Place some locking pliers around the shaft as a stop, lubricate the shaft with some penetrating oil. Use a piece of wood and hammer to tap up to your measured line. Some of these can be a bitch. Mine was. But I got a bigger hammer.
You will be pleasantly surprised when you get your system up and running. I love this modification.
Collapsing the steering column was no trouble at all.
Also I did not like the rag joint Borgeson supplied, nor did I like their coupling very much. Although I never tried installing it, it just looked like it was going to be sloppy. Was able to use an original style rag joint and half of the original coupling bolted to Borgeson's. Also you should be aware that the horn circuit is closed through either a conductive rag joint or a strap.
Thank you everyone for those great inputs; I like the idea of using a vise grips as a stop to prevent it from collapsing more than I need. With this MOD bigger front sway bar, the additional new rear sway bar, and the full, front and rear coil overs. This 72 LT1 should handle the snake, and the Dragon nicely.
Collapsing the steering column was no trouble at all.
Also I did not like the rag joint Borgeson supplied, nor did I like their coupling very much. Although I never tried installing it, it just looked like it was going to be sloppy. Was able to use an original style rag joint and half of the original coupling bolted to Borgeson's. Also you should be aware that the horn circuit is closed through either a conductive rag joint or a strap.
Just curious; just how much do you have to collapse the shaft? Trying to get some idea. Thank you.
I bought my Borgeson from one of the online speed parts suppliers for less than $700. (Do a Google search for "Borgeson steering box C3 corvette".)
Installation was easy and took an afternoon to complete.
While the box is bigger, I did not have any clearance problems with my Hooker sidemount headers.
I pulled the steering column out of the car to collapse the shaft for easier access. I clamped a set of vice-grips to the shaft to serve as a stop to keep the shaft from collapsing too far.
Thank you Wendell, I''d like to know if the removal of the sidemount header was needed to. I see that you say that there was no clearance issues but If I have to remove the header just for installation purposes I'm going to plan ahead and have a Oxygen Sensor bung welded in place and plug it till aim ready for the FI system.. Thanks again.
Thank you Wendell, I''d like to know if the removal of the sidemount header was needed to. I see that you say that there was no clearance issues but If I have to remove the header just for installation purposes I'm going to plan ahead and have a Oxygen Sensor bung welded in place and plug it till aim ready for the FI system.. Thanks again.
I did not have to remove the header in order to install my Borgeson steering box.
Thank you Wendell, I''d like to know if the removal of the sidemount header was needed to. I see that you say that there was no clearance issues but If I have to remove the header just for installation purposes I'm going to plan ahead and have a Oxygen Sensor bung welded in place and plug it till aim ready for the FI system.. Thanks again.
I'm going to Hi-jack my post for a second. May I ask which EFI you selected? That's another MOD I planned on doing for this LT1.
I did this mod and the Hydroboost at the same time. Glad I did. Great performance from both.
As to the shaft, yes, mark the amount to collapse and then hit it with a small sledge hammer. It took me several light hits to get it there but I did. Not scary at all.
You might want to consider the Hydroboost too. I had some custom hoses made locally. Not to pricey.
Whats with the rag joint issue? I've read in a few other post that some are ordering a U-joint style connector between the column and box because the shoulder bolts were not the correct bolts!...and that's all they say. BTW I just ordered my Borgeson system this morning!!Can't wait
Last edited by redcruz1120; Mar 22, 2017 at 04:22 PM.
Whats with the rag joint issue? I've read in a few other post that some are ordering a U-joint style connector between the column and box because the shoulder bolts were not the correct bolts!...and that's all they say. BTW I just ordered my Borgeson system this morning!!Can't wait
I don't know that the Borgeson rag joint is a true "issue" but it felt a little too sloppy to me and I elected to use the stock rag joint. Also because the steering box input axis moves around a bit under load and flexes the frame, I decided the rag joint provides compliance with the steering column that the u-joint doesn't have. That said I have not heard of any u-joint problems being reported here.
Also RideTech has a reinforcement plate that reduces the frame flex. It bolts to the other side of the frame and reduces the tire clearance a bit.
One more MOD
