Electric power steering for b-body
- Thread starter Jc cooper
- Start date
Very interested in your conversion been looking at Prius parts ,what year Prius and can’t tell from finished pics what you did to interconnect column
wish4hemi
Well-Known Member
Silver Sport Transmissions has kits A, B, and E-bodies.
https://moparconnectionmagazine.com...t-transmissions-epas-electric-power-steering/
https://moparconnectionmagazine.com...t-transmissions-epas-electric-power-steering/
jamie
Well-Known Member
I have no idea of your skill level but I will tell you that you have to be a fairly good fabricator. I say this because messing with steering is no joke. I machine and true up all the shafts with a lathe. Keep everything arrow straight is very important. You need excellent welding skills etc.
I would like to give you all the steps I go thru but Would rather not be liable if something goes south.
Gotta !
6872n73
Well-Known Member
I also saw the video about a guy putting it into a mustang and it is very intriguing. So I was at the pull aparts and I grabbed the power electric steering from I think an '07 Prius.
I've also got a couple of spare steering columns from 72 and 73 b bodies and then I haven't put much time into wearing how to position it under the dash.
Jam ie what's staring columns are those that you have shown? Tilt would be nice but a rare option. I think I've read the later '70s C bodies might fit but I haven't found one to scavenge.
ChargerST
Well-Known Member
Just think about this for a moment before you decide to go the electric steering route:
BMW Z4 came with EPS but the M version (Z4M) used a traditional hydraulic steering rack - why do you think BMW did this?
BMW Z4 came with EPS but the M version (Z4M) used a traditional hydraulic steering rack - why do you think BMW did this?
Umm!
- Local time
- 9:13 PM
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2012
- Messages
- 34,983
- Reaction score
- 93,613
- Location
- NZ - just short of the South Pole
Correct, and they don't leave a sticky residue if you store them in a bucket.
First thing to do if considering an electric conversion is to measure the torque required to turn the steering wheel from side to side, with a digital torque wrench.
Then, scour the multitudes of electric steering boxes available with a suitable size and ability to mount in your vehicle.
Also, make sure you get one that is easily re-programmed to suit your needs, and not one that requires a complete computer from the donor car - or any high-end Technician to decipher the controls and programming.
Going electric only takes away the need for extra effort to turn the manual steering box, which needs to stay in place to keep the steering geometry intact.
Hydraulic is the best way to go if you can do it. Trust me, I am going through this right now, and it is a nightmare.
- Local time
- 9:13 PM
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2012
- Messages
- 34,983
- Reaction score
- 93,613
- Location
- NZ - just short of the South Pole
I don't know about the one quoted in that picture, but they can run from 40 - 70+ Amps.
Current draw depends upon the quality and size of the motor unit.
ChargerST
Well-Known Member
And several owners retrofit a hydraulic system in their EPS Z4s.. the reason ist the much improved steering feel.
This is on an OEM platform with multiple sensors and computers and BMW still decided to use a hydraulic rack on the top of the line model. Now imagine a retrofit setup that runs the box in fail save mode - can this be any better? I doubt it..
jamie
Well-Known Member
Those are actually mustang columns but I have done a 69 coronet too. 1970 and up columns would be tougher because of the keyed column and column shift would be almost impossible.
jamie
Well-Known Member
Sounds like maybe BMW don't have it figured out so well....
- Local time
- 2:13 AM
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2012
- Messages
- 35,488
- Reaction score
- 124,949
- Location
- Granite Bay CA
Do you really want a boosted 24 to 1 manual steering chuck? It will feel like the steering wheel at an arcade game.
I could see a boosted 16 to 1 box like a Flaming River or PST.
To what gain though? Clearance? After buying the steering box, the electric assist and the modifications...you could have bought a Borgeson unit and have a 14 to 1 box and be done with it.
I could see a boosted 16 to 1 box like a Flaming River or PST.
To what gain though? Clearance? After buying the steering box, the electric assist and the modifications...you could have bought a Borgeson unit and have a 14 to 1 box and be done with it.
6872n73
Well-Known Member
For me I like the feel of a manual gearbox going down the road, but I don't like parking a manual gearbox, thus the invention of power steering. Sometime in the 90s OEMs used a electrical pressure relief valve so that when you got up to speed it essentially lets the power steering have minimal assist. As things envolved cars got more sensors now the pressure relief is pulse modulated to tune it for a driver experience taking consideration of all of the sensors. I'm running EFI so I can drive a relay with this electrical power assist on below say 15 miles an hour and turn it off above above that speed.
I'm just gathering parts for this project like usual it'll probably take forever but I stopped by pull a part so far and I have a spare steering column from a wrecked 72 parts car with the crushed sleeve bent and the shaft.
Anyway here's a mock-up to look at.
Holding up to where it would fit nicely in the crush tube it is going to hit the brake pedal. So it looks like I'm going to need to move it forward to clear the brake pedal which means cutting into the steering bracket.
That's about as far as I've gotten on this project.
I'm just gathering parts for this project like usual it'll probably take forever but I stopped by pull a part so far and I have a spare steering column from a wrecked 72 parts car with the crushed sleeve bent and the shaft.
Anyway here's a mock-up to look at.
Holding up to where it would fit nicely in the crush tube it is going to hit the brake pedal. So it looks like I'm going to need to move it forward to clear the brake pedal which means cutting into the steering bracket.
That's about as far as I've gotten on this project.
64fury74charger
Well-Known Member
Interesting, 
Similar threads
- Locked
