Anybody using one of these power steering conversion kits?

Good info-I thought that shortys would be better. I feel better now that I know I’m not the only one with reduced L turn radius. I’ve got the long tubes and I’m not a fan.

 

Have the Heddman 88400 shorties and had the same interference issue with left turns - exhaust guys were able to modify it easily enough.

 

What mod's were made to them, and how much improvement did you realize?

 

Yes, I had this problem too. Took it to a muffler shop and had them modify the one tube that was a problem. Works fine now.
Lee "THE MAV" Richart

 

From what I remember, the exhaust guys introduced the conflicting tube to "hammer time". Full range of steering was restored.

 

Thanks guys! Hedman 88400s are next years project!

 

So we got back a couple days ago and I wanted to try to finish the car up. Remember the old saying "If you want to make God laugh tell Him your plans?" Got it all together under the hood, and went to button up where the column meets the firewall and now something is catching down there. It looks like I need to modify the toe plate so it doesn't catch the end of the steering shaft. I pulled the toe plate back and rechecked it without it there. It doesn't catch with the plate pulled back but something in there is rubbing very slightly.
Long story short, I'm gonna pull the column back out and recheck/modify down there. Humidity here is off the chart so I'm gonna take a break and hit it tomorrow morning.

 

try to loosen the steering box again, so you can shuffle it around a little.
maybe that already gives you the clearance you need.
also, loosen the column to see if you can find a sweet spot...

that was the main reason I went the extra mile and used the u-joint!

 

Hi everyone, I finished the steering install finally! I had to finesse the column and modify the toe plate some, but it is together and works great! It feels alot like my Toyota Solara as far as feel goes-no more wander, or dead spot. It also got rid of some noises I had in the front end that I could never track down. I'm saving a longer drive for after I get it into the shop and align it. It isn't too bad as far as steering return as I already have about 3/4 degree positive caster dialed into it, but I am planning on shimming the front control arm for more caster since Borgeson says about 3 degrees is recommended. I would also like to get some heat sleeves around the hoses to shield some of the exhaust heat away on a long drive. The swap was a real pain in the a**, but I'm glad I did it now.
A big shout out of thanks to those of you who helped me out with questions I had!!

 

How close are your hoses to the header? Mine pretty much sit right on top of the number one exhaust port

 

I had a longer hose made for pressure side via a hose builder, putting them much higher near top of tower. They used the fitting that came on Borg. hose, grafted 6" to get where I wanted them. I added 6" to the return as it's not pressure and sleeved it w/ heat covering. I have mentioned to Borg. the hoses are to short -- But, don't believe they have much concern.
I Recently ordered a new hose from Borg, cuz I screw-up flange in the hose inlet, had fluid leaking like a faucet b4 I started the car. Service rep suggest getting a hose for 6 cyl. as it's 6" longer and same as Maverick hose -- Not exactly so. It is longer, but, needed some bending adjustment at the box, for that matter the 1st. hose w/ kit needed some bending - not as much.

I also ordered pump pressure fitting, seeing as I wasn't sure if the fitting was damaged as the hose flange had been.
I am totally surprised the steering and return is totally different -- Steering much less resistance/road feel --return much less responsive.
I still have original fitting, going to examine it and if looks good, putting back in and see what happens.
Don't like it -- can't say my experience w/ setup has been w/o issue and short of being pleasurable experience w/ company...

 

I will most likely look into having some longer hoses made up, during the process of install and seeing how things are coming together made me wish I would have went the unisteer route, but you live and you learn

 

If I had to do it again; I would consider Unisteer, but have heard some issues w/ them. I guess all them have some kind of issues. When I decided to go Borg , Uni. was just put their system on market. Wasn't sure I wanted to go the new product.

 

I very carefully bent the return fitting on the back of the pump up a little so the return line wasn't as close, but even so it is probably 2" or so clearance. I am planning on getting some heat sleeves to go around them so they have some extra protection. I am planning on replacing the radiator with a Cold Case unit. When I do that I am going to install a cooler and run a longer line for extra clearance. The pressure line doesn't seem to be as much of an issue, but like mojo said it needed some bending by the box end.

 

Hi- I just got some heat covers from DEI. They are supposed to be good for 500 degrees direct and 2000 indirect. Just drove it on a 50 mile run to my shop to align it. Drove great!
I really don't care for the angles from the pump on either pressure or return. Like I said, I carefully bent up the return nipple on the pump to angle it away from the header, and the pressure line is almost hitting the inner fender. A shorther belt would move it away further, but I think a new hose is the best answer.
Good luck!