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Some of the steering arms have only one hole, some have two, and some have one plugged. online.
Both holes are tapered, You can buy the 7* taper reamer online. About .640" at one end, and .540" at the other, .750" away.
The two main holes are almost exactly 1" apart.
I am sure you could just drill it out on a drill press or lathe. And then taper the hole.
I can go measure my originals if you need exact measurements.
My car was a factory non PS car and I installed the tie rods back in to the fast holes when I re did the front suspension. It didn't make it that much harder to drive at slow speeds but it was more fun to drive at regular speeds. Now that I have done the Borgeson conversion it turns right NOW.
I'm truly curious about this…
Can you enlighten me on the Borgeson conversion?
Specs / parts research both show Borgeson and Saginaw at 16:1 (stock ratio for non-P/S).
I’ve got a Saginaw box and was considering a rebuild. But if there’s a clear advantage to the Borgeson, I’d put that on the “considerations list”.
Thanks for the input on tie rod location - I had a feeling it wasn’t as extreme as I suspected. You make a strong case for 2-hole, and I can experiment with the feel.
Some of the steering arms have only one hole, some have two, and some have one plugged. online.
Both holes are tapered, You can buy the 7* taper reamer online. About .640" at one end, and .540" at the other, .750" away.
The two main holes are almost exactly 1" apart.
I am sure you could just drill it out on a drill press or lathe. And then taper the hole.
I can go measure my originals if you need exact measurements.
leigh1322, thank you again!
I'm looking at 3948877-8 knuckles, and can’t find part numbers for “1969 2-hole”, but if they’re close enough, why not…?
[A.I.M. has the spindle-knuckle combo listed; J174, 3953407-8, but no break-down of spindle# and/or knuckle# … and I’ll get to #’s on my Kentucky Fried front end once it’s out.]
Any rec on a good brand of 7° taper?
[BTW, for those of us on iPhone, long-hold the ‘0’ (Zero) on the number pad -> gives you the degree ‘°’ sign, same with capital ‘A’ if you ever need to use ‘Æ’ …among others]
Specs / parts research both show Borgeson and Saginaw at 16:1 (stock ratio for non-P/S).
I’ve got a Saginaw box and was considering a rebuild. But if there’s a clear advantage to the Borgeson, I’d put that on the “considerations list”.
Thanks for the input on tie rod location - I had a feeling it wasn’t as extreme as I suspected. You make a strong case for 2-hole, and I can experiment with the feel.
Borgeson set up is a direct power steering versus the power assisted steering as when compared to a C3 and a lot Ford cars of 60's vintage. IMO, a less complicated set up as the power steering is the gear box itself rather than a ram assisted set up.
Borgeson set up is a direct power steering versus the power assisted steering as when compared to a C3 and a lot Ford cars of 60's vintage. IMO, a less complicated set up as the power steering is the gear box itself rather than a ram assisted set up.
Aha! Now I can see what the conversion means from digging into my searches.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I'd still need:
P/S brackets
Reservoir / Pump & Pulley
Add’l 3rd track pulley for the Crank (?)
Belt
and some of the kits come with hoses, pump, brackets (?), etc… for install
And then there’s the rag-joint / coupler + ‘collapsing the column’ portion of the install [if I read that correctly, here on the forum - sorry, no link at the moment].
So it’s a bit more than I initially thought …or is it?
I'm not opposed to keeping the manual-steer for now, so the Borgeson sounds like a nice upgrade plan in the future.
If (IF) I did decide to go that route…
Has anyone done that upgrade WITH a hydroboost system, too?
We're getting into strange (but curious) territory here…
And I’m only asking about the hydroboost* bc I’ve seen the vacuum booster conversions and “cut n drill the firewall” is not in my plans.
*Hydratech makes kits for non-power/brakes that install in the stock location; I’ve already talked to them, and am considering that …in the future.
