C2 small block Borgeson conversion

[anychevy]

Just finished the install of a Borgeson power steering unit, with new Saginaw pump supplied by Pro Steer

Original box with new rag joint (which didn't help much)



Box out, with stock length steering shaft



Borgeson box bolted up, pitman arm attached, steering shaft shortened 2" with Borgeson rag joint.



Hoses attached



Hose to pump routing it's pretty close to the control arm, might just need some more manipulation.
Will play with it some more, but the hoses are not very flexible.



Hoses to the back of the pump.



Belt clearance is very close, but no interference.
Had to shave a little of the lower pump to block bolt and cut a notch in the bracket for clearance.



Another view of the belts.



Pump and pulleys all lined up well, with additional pulley on balancer.



Easy access the fill cap on a C2 small block.

Again, hose routing is not ideal with the supplied hoses, but it works.



This was a pretty straight forward, painless installation, but the instructions are a little vague.
John from Pro Steer is just a phone call away if you need any assistance.
http://www.allvet.com.au/
The only things not supplied was fluid and a belt.
Haven't test driven it yet, maybe tomorrow.

[sabre]

Looks good and great to get away from the rams and valves under the car. Interested in how it drives.
You might consider having solid tubes (with short hose to the pump) if you want a closer fit. I understand hydraulic hose places like Pirtek or EnZed can manufacture them.

[anychevy]

Looks good and great to get away from the rams and valves under the car. Interested in how it drives.
You might consider having solid tubes (with short hose to the pump) if you want a closer fit. I understand hydraulic hose places like Pirtek or EnZed can manufacture them.

It Drives very well, not as precise as a rack, but a huge improvement over the stock C2-C3 set up.
Yes, the hoses aren't great, so I would definitely recommend "made to measure" hoses.
And if you already have P/S, keep your original pump if its still good.

[Jethro]

Top Job Anychev thanks for sharing

[craigh]

It Drives very well, not as precise as a rack, but a huge improvement over the stock C2-C3 set up.
Yes, the hoses aren't great, so I would definitely recommend "made to measure" hoses.
And if you already have P/S, keep your original pump if its still good.

I modified the ps pump can so the return line goes upward.

That way you have  more options. For routing hoses.





Covered on this page...

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-general/3220351-1971-journey-20.html

[anychevy]

I modified the ps pump can so the return line goes upward.

Good idea, that how it should have come,  I'll think I might do the same to tidy it up
Cheers

[bfit]

Here is same box fitted to C3 BB its tight but you can make it fit with clearance
to headers

These are headman header  heads are Dart with raised exhaust ports

 Bfit

[anychevy]

Here is same box fitted to C3 BB its tight but you can make it fit with clearance
to headers
These are headman header  heads are Dart with raised exhaust ports

Yeah, that is tight, check those rag joint bolts, mine were only finger tight.

[bfit]

Yeah, that is tight, check those rag joint bolts, mine were only finger tight.

I am not keen on how the rag joint is bolted together
I am looking at making a shoulder bolt  so it and be torqued up and not squash the rubber
the rubber in the joint is not all the flash either
I think an bit of 10/12mm conveyer  belting would do a better job
Bfit

[bfit]

Anychevy
How many turns of the steering wheel do you have lock to lock
I have two
Bfit

[Jethro]

Anychevy
How many turns of the steering wheel do you have lock to lock
I have two
Bfit

I have two, too Bobby 

[bfit]

I have two, too Bobby 

My manual steering was
Three lock to lock
Bfit

[Jethro]

Oh sozz your talking cars

[anychevy]

How many turns of the steering wheel do you have lock to lock
I have two
Bfit

Around 2-1/2 because I left my tie rods in the outer holes to see how it feels.

The rag joint could be improved, I'm not a fan of the allen keys and lock nuts, but it seems to do the job.

[bfit]

Around 2-1/2 because I left my tie rods in the outer holes to see how it feels.

The rag joint could be improved, I'm not a fan of the allen keys and lock nuts, but it seems to do the job.

I moved mine in to see what that would do
I will swap it back tonight and see where that is in relation to lock to lock

Have you done a wheel alinement as yet
I think it will be difficult to get the caster that is recommended.
one advantage of using the inner there is more clearance between the headers and the pit man arm at full LH lock
Bfit

[anychevy]

Have you done a wheel alinement as yet
I think it will be difficult to get the caster that is recommended.

The best I could achieve was 2.25○ (+) caster and .5○ (-) camber
That's with MOOG offset upper control arm shafts and a lot of shims.

The only way to get more (+) caster, is to "slot" the mounting holes in the shafts and slide them back.
The MOOG shafts have a fair bit of meat either side of the hole, so it's probably o.k.
Not sure if I would be comfortable doing that with the stock shafts though.

[bfit]

I am looking at making a pair
To move back 1/4"
I will let you know how they work out
Bfit

[bfit]

Anychevy
Have  you driven car as yet with new powewr steering
I have mine set up using short mounting point one steering arms
Sterring is very very light  how have you found yours
I still need to do a wheel  alinement.
the wheel  turn tables arrived this week 
I just need the camber / caster gauge  now
Bfit

[anychevy]

Anychevy
Have  you driven car as yet with new powewr steering
I have mine set up using short mounting point one steering arms
Sterring is very very light  how have you found yours
I still need to do a wheel  alinement.
the wheel  turn tables arrived this week 
I just need the camber / caster gauge  now
Bfit

Had a problem with the pump (my fault) now rebuilt and reset to 1200psi
Saginaw pumps can produce 1600psi, maybe that's the problem ?
You can add shims to the Pressure relief valve to lower the pressure if it's (Cadillac) light ?
"Active power steering" at Marrickville fixed mine and did a great job.
Drives real nice now, not too light, tie rods still in the outer holes, but I may change that later.

[bfit]

Had a problem with the pump (my fault) now rebuilt and reset to 1200psi
Saginaw pumps can produce 1600psi, maybe that's the problem ?
You can add shims to the Pressure relief valve to lower the pressure if it's (Cadillac) light ?
"Active power steering" at Marrickville fixed mine and did a great job.
Drives real nice now, not too light, tie rods still in the outer holes, but I may change that later.

I have not checked pressure yet
I will fit a tee in the system and check pressure
My first run after fitting the box I got about. A Km before  dumping all the PS oil
it looked like a fire at first
Lots of smoke
A fitting failed . I put it down to a defective fitting. The swivel nut on a 90deg elbow just came off
Oil and headers not a good mix
Using the inner holes make for very fast sterring
The first LH  90deg turn, reminded me of the first time I drove on radials
Bfit

Ps
Something I noticed
When I sterring to either  lock  and the sterering arm hits the stop I can see the engine life a minor amount
The frame must be flexing could be the sterring box has to much grunt .