Electric Power Steering

[Bill Bess]

Question, has anyone installed an electric power steering motor in their steering collum, such as an expensive ($4000. to $6000.) Flamming River unit, or a enexpensive Chevy HHR collum unit?

A friend is installing an electric unit in an FFR 33 Ford high boy . It looked very cool and takes up no HP or room under the hood or dash. I failed to ask him what unit he had but the concept is very good for small hot rods.

Any comments on this subject are welcome.


Bill

[RICK LAKE]

Bill Bess Bill if your friend is going to use a Malibu or HHR column he will need a 60 amp fuse and a strong Alt. A min of 120 amps. Gm has had some problem with knocking noises from them. The bearings go bad in the column. At this time there is no repiar for this but to replave the whole column. Rick L.

[Bill Bess]

Thanks Rick,
Based on my investigation it appears that electric power steering could be a great thing down the road when more units are developed and refined to adapt to any kind of car.

Flamming River looks good but way too expensive for me. The only problem I have with manual steering is parking once in a while...no big.
It appears that using a unit from another vehicle will require a lot of change...like the entire steering colum and a lot of power from the battery.
I hope things change and others come up with a good way to do this. Bill

[RICK LAKE]

Bill Bess Bill my ERA didn't come with a power steering assembly. It cost about 1,400.00 for them to install the power rack in my car. The rest I did myself with gm stuff and maken lines with a cooler for the unit. Total was under 1,800.00 and worth every penny. You don't need to replace your steering column. just the rack, get a reman pump, tank for the fluid if running a low mount pump. The P/s cooler is an option. you need 3 lines you can make from bulk. 1/2" supply line to the pump, 3/8 high pressure line to the rack and low pressure line to return to the tank. a 1 quart system is what I am using. I use the cooler because of the car is for racing 98% of the time. 8 years and no problem with system. You just need a double pulley for the crank. This is better that running off the water pump but you could do this too. HP loss between 2-3 on high pressure sharp turns. Rick L.

[Bill Bess]

It looks like std. power steering is the best bet right now....that's most likey what I'll do

Thanks Again, Bill