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- Apr 13, 2012
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- Granite Bay CA
I just got back from an almost 900 mile road trip and just like every other time I've spent a few days in the car, I come away thinking of how I can make the car better.
Mechanically, the car performed fine. No breakdowns and it was reasonably comfortable.
Road noise is the biggest complaint and I'm chewing on a few ideas on how to reduce that.
The steering system could use some improvement.
I have a Firm Feel Stage 3 power steering unit rebuilt in 2003 along with Fast Ratio Idler and Pitman arms. It is about 2 3/4 turns lock to lock. Like all of these Mopar steering boxes, there is that dreaded on center slop from the 11:00 to 1:00 position. The higher effort of the Stage 3 rebuild and the F/R arms makes the slop even more noticeable. Once I'm past the slop, the steering feels fine. The steering in Jigsaw feels different. It is an original unit, never rebuilt but also has the Fast Ratio arms. Whatever slop that is there just blends in with the easy effort to turn the wheel.
I am considering a change to the Bergman kit with the Borgeson steering unit. Everyone that I have read from claims that it steers like a new car and the on center slop is gone. That would really be nice.
Another change that I have in mind is a tilt steering column.
I have 2 columns from mid 70s Chrysler Cordoba models. These are built by Saginaw and very similar to GM steering columns. Years ago I modified one to fit in my 74 Duster:
Unlike most newer cars, the old style tilt wheel columns had a great range of movement with several settings to choose from. New cars with air bags have a limited range.
The wiring is one small hurdle. The key would need to be matched to the door locks. I'd need to find a locksmith that could reset the tumblers in the door locks to match the column.
Mechanically, the car performed fine. No breakdowns and it was reasonably comfortable.
Road noise is the biggest complaint and I'm chewing on a few ideas on how to reduce that.
The steering system could use some improvement.
I have a Firm Feel Stage 3 power steering unit rebuilt in 2003 along with Fast Ratio Idler and Pitman arms. It is about 2 3/4 turns lock to lock. Like all of these Mopar steering boxes, there is that dreaded on center slop from the 11:00 to 1:00 position. The higher effort of the Stage 3 rebuild and the F/R arms makes the slop even more noticeable. Once I'm past the slop, the steering feels fine. The steering in Jigsaw feels different. It is an original unit, never rebuilt but also has the Fast Ratio arms. Whatever slop that is there just blends in with the easy effort to turn the wheel.
I am considering a change to the Bergman kit with the Borgeson steering unit. Everyone that I have read from claims that it steers like a new car and the on center slop is gone. That would really be nice.
Another change that I have in mind is a tilt steering column.
I have 2 columns from mid 70s Chrysler Cordoba models. These are built by Saginaw and very similar to GM steering columns. Years ago I modified one to fit in my 74 Duster:
Unlike most newer cars, the old style tilt wheel columns had a great range of movement with several settings to choose from. New cars with air bags have a limited range.
The wiring is one small hurdle. The key would need to be matched to the door locks. I'd need to find a locksmith that could reset the tumblers in the door locks to match the column.