I am now convinced that I am going to be doing this conversion this fall. I was recommended to get a Ridetech with the mounting bracket. I see there are some other brands and slightly different configurations. Is there much of a difference? Does anyone have a brand they like better? Just doing some homework before I buy one. I have a 76 l48 with a 350. Thanks guys and gals!

 

just take a look at pgtr post he has a pix

 

I looked at his post and didn't see it. Any pointers? Please forgive I am still kinda new.

 

here's one: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1599865922

another one. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...nstall-21.html

my pump was seriously over-boosted. then I swapped out to a smaller orifice valve, and it was underboosted, of course. so I bought another small-orifice valve, measured it, did some calculations, and drill it out a little. still have yet to try it, car still up on jack stands.

 

Best of luck to you. I've been on this forum for about 15 years now. And again and again I read about all the issues people have putting a jeep power steering box, (Yes, that's a borgeson) into a Corvette. My factory power steering has needed attention from time to time I will admit.
But it WORKS bloody awesome! And everything fits. And I CAN get replacement parts. And my car handles great. And I didn't have to collapse my steering column. (That last one is genuinely a worry to me).
But because they have a leak. they have to cut up there car to put this in.
REALLY?

 

I agree and think similar about Wilwood calipers. Most of the time, it seems there is general frustration with a poor quality replacement part which sends some people into a searching mode to find, what they think, is a better solution.

 

Well, I'm one of "those" who have upgraded to Borgeson steering and Wilwood calipers, among other things. It wasn't because the stock stuff wasn't working. In fact it was working well. I went Borgeson for one reason.....the 12:1 steering ratio vs. the 16:1 or so ship's wheel stock ratio. And Wilwood calipers for one reason......to save weight. My Dyna-Lite calipers weigh 4 lbs. each vs. the stock 13 lbs. each boat anchors. So, it's not always about function. Changes are done for a variety of reasons.

 

pgtr post is #32 after yours

 

Do you mean the (separate) Ridetech brace? I wasn't aware of alternatives. There's only one base Borgeson kit, AFAIK.

I have the Ridetech brace in my wife's 79. The Borgeson completely transformed the car (for the better). Other than the steering column, I don't recall making any permanent mods to the car, or any part of it, so I don't know where @4-vettes "cutting up the car" comment comes from.

My power steering pump chose to fail right after the Borgeson install. Be sure to replace that as part of the upgrade, "while you are in there" (TM).

 

I absolutely was talking about the sold separate bracket. A friend of mine said that it was a good idea to get it. Would you recommend it? Since you actually did it your opinion is at the top of my list. I am very excited about doing this conversion but I am also nervous. This will be the biggest surgery I have done to my 76. I have heard some horror stories but it seems worth it.

 

thanks you

 

Definitely get the brace. The Borgeson power box puts extra stress on the frame in a different place than the factory ram. The reinforcement will reduce any chance of stress cracking the frame where the box attaches.

I'm with C3 Stroker. The 12 to 1 ratio on the Borgeson box is a big improvement. And it's a Delphi (GM) product, even if it was used in Jeeps. It's not even aftermarket. It's OEM.

 

I figured I didn't want to wait until the frame cracked to find out I should have added the brace. It was a while I was in there item, and I don't regret adding it. I don't have anything to compare it to, though, as I didn't run without it.

I will say that the stock carriage bolts that hold the stock steering box have round heads, and sit flush with the frame. On tight left turns, my 79's front wheel rubs there. WIth the new bolts that come with the Ridetech brace, not only are they not carriage bolts (or, say, tapered machine screws), the brace is pretty thick, too, so now there are bolt heads for the tire to rub on, and they stick out further. This only happens on very tight turns, at slow speeds, so it's not a problem that can't be mitigated. There is a steering limit adjustment you can do as well.

Overall, I'd recommend the brace.

I needed to remove the steering column from my car to collapse it. YMMV.

 

i was able to collapse the steering column in-car. at first I was using a block of wood to protect the end of the shaft, whacking the wood, but with the tight clearance (big block), couldn't get enough of a swing for kinetic energy. so then I removed the wood block, and exercised extra car to whack it square, and that worked. the whack that got it moving was no wheres near enough of a hit to worry about mushrooming the end, or spline damage. it's a '78. I re-used the upper side of the rag-joint because the Borgeson-supplied unit, the holes had too much slop, I wanted the bolt holes to at least be reasonably normal clearance. consequently had to reclock the steering wheel, not an issue, didn't notice any issue with turn-signal canceller, works fine in everyday driving. I read some guy had an OCD about it, needless worry.

I also considered the brace, but then i worried about tire rub, didn't think that added thickness, with hex-head bolts was something I wanted to add. If I were to do it, i'd at least figure a way to re-use the domed carriage bolts, for something smooth for the tire to rub against, i mean, if you're gonna rub, then make it smooth, at least. there's enough thread stick-out on the carriage bolts to accommodate the added thickness, FWIW. just need to make the round holes square.

 

I agree I have a 66 and a 69 with the borgeson box and a much better set up and as far as the willwood brakes go hands down a improvement over the stock brakes.

 

Thanks for the great advice. I am for sure getting the brace. Am I going to have issues in the future if I want to beef up the exhaust? I think I read something about a guy that had some issues there, can't remember if he maybe had a big block. Just curious.

 

I rebuilt the OEM steering in my 77, no real complaints other than the 16:1 ratio. I put a borgenson box in when I swapped engines, love it. The 12:1 ratio feels a lot better to me.

 

Why not just freshen up the existing steering system?

 

i've freshened up the stock system many times, even with new components. within 6 months of daily driver use, the leaks always return. the slave cylinder, or the control valve. it's a system from the 1950's when minor fluid leaks weren't a priority, but were the norm.

but to each their own.

finally rebuilt my own control valve, meticulously, and that was the only one that didn't leak. but the slave cylinder? ha! good luck with that in daily road use.

 

I just completed the Borgeson swap on my 79' and it was an easy job. I removed the steering column to make it easier to push the steering shaft in. Also took out the alternator just to make it easier to get the box in from the top. Buy the brace, the Borgeson unit is bigger and heavier than the stock box. I reused the stock carriage bolts. I restored this car a couple years ago, so I didn't have any rusted bolts to deal with. Haven't driven it yet.