converting 69 to power steering
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,326
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From: home
converting 69 to power steering
As I get older, I'm finding it harder to steer my manual steering 435 car and want to convert it to power steering in the future. The caveat- I do not want to use the stock cylinder style power steering. Is there a power steering steering box that would fit and if so, do I need to change to a different pitman arm?
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,737
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look at the Borgeson box and the many posts on this forum concerning its installation.
https://www.borgeson.com/xcart/home.php?cat=63
https://www.borgeson.com/xcart/home.php?cat=63
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
But since it's presented as a kit i guess its no longer a hack job,
Heck if i had the money i might do it...
I am curious what jim shea the gm corvette steering guru would say about the shortening the shaft,
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
3x2,
When i said if i had the money i might do it, was an inside joke on myself,
When i had my car at a techs shop he did this hack to get the rag joint installed and it is a heck of a stone in my shoe to my OCD,
To my understanding the column can be pulled back out but hammering it in breaks some clip,
When i said if i had the money i might do it, was an inside joke on myself,
When i had my car at a techs shop he did this hack to get the rag joint installed and it is a heck of a stone in my shoe to my OCD,
To my understanding the column can be pulled back out but hammering it in breaks some clip,
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,176
Likes: 633
From: perth western australia
well it doesn't destroy the collapsibility it starts it . I always thought the two shafts were put together during construction and plastic was injected into the overlap thus holding the two pieces together.
Lots of people have done it , I have driven a friends car before and after installation and its actually way nicer to drive with the mod.
I liked it so much I'm doing one for myself now .
Lots of people have done it , I have driven a friends car before and after installation and its actually way nicer to drive with the mod.
I liked it so much I'm doing one for myself now .
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2008
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2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
For those who have done the Borgeson mod, does it eliminate the freeplay that exists in the original setup?
I have read posts that state that there is still some freeplay in the steering with Borgeson, and if that is true, I will stick with my manual setup.
I really enjoy the way the car steers now that I switched back to non-power steering. I love the feel of the road, the feedback on tighter turns, and the precision of a steering system with zero play. With my Gary Ramadei built steering box, its awesome and it truly makes if fun to drive. I live with the parking lot effort to have the other 95% of the driving experience.
I have read posts that state that there is still some freeplay in the steering with Borgeson, and if that is true, I will stick with my manual setup.
I really enjoy the way the car steers now that I switched back to non-power steering. I love the feel of the road, the feedback on tighter turns, and the precision of a steering system with zero play. With my Gary Ramadei built steering box, its awesome and it truly makes if fun to drive. I live with the parking lot effort to have the other 95% of the driving experience.
Last edited by Shovels and Vettes; Jul 24, 2017 at 12:46 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
For those who have done the Borgeson mod, does it eliminate the freeplay that exists in the original setup?
I have read posts that state that there is still some freeplay in the steering with Borgeson, and if that is true, I will stick with my manual setup.
I really enjoy the way the car steers now that I switched back to non-power steering. I love the feel of the road, the feedback on tighter turns, and the precision of a steering system with zero play. With my Gary Ramadei built steering box, its awesome and it truly makes if fun to drive. I live with the parking lot effort to have the other 95% of the driving experience.
I have read posts that state that there is still some freeplay in the steering with Borgeson, and if that is true, I will stick with my manual setup.
I really enjoy the way the car steers now that I switched back to non-power steering. I love the feel of the road, the feedback on tighter turns, and the precision of a steering system with zero play. With my Gary Ramadei built steering box, its awesome and it truly makes if fun to drive. I live with the parking lot effort to have the other 95% of the driving experience.
Truth is my 87 fiero is harder to turn parking than that 66 was, and the 66 had like yours no slop,
On my 69 if the power works i will keep it til it leaks, then do what you did,
Its been sitting might leak from day one,
But i will toss the old power parts in my basement and get the manual stuff from howard,
Didnt you have your stock power parts for sale, hum, might be a option for the op
Last edited by The13Bats; Jul 24, 2017 at 10:28 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 252
IIRC from my install there is more than 3" of collapse in the column and you would be removing about 1" so there is still roughly 2+" of collapse left anyway.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...n-options.html
Whatever amount the shaft is collasped, it is that much less the shaft can collaspe in a collision. That scares me.
Last edited by Dynra Rockets; Jul 25, 2017 at 09:07 AM.
