1952-59 Ford power steering conversion

im thinking about doing the power steering on my 55 customline i seen a post where you could buy the kit for this but now i cant seem to find it.
can some one point me in the right direction
Thanks/

 

Look at the thread right below yours and check out the pictures too,you'll love the price too ! https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/revisiting-junkyard-tilt-columns.1188077/

 

Is your car manual or factory PS? Do you want to upgrade to an integral steering box or a rack? What engine do you have? If you want an integral unit Borgeson makes a unit including a pump but it needs either a manual steering drag link or an adaptor to connect the pitman arm to the PS drag link. All in you would be at around $1000.00. If you want a rack Unisteer makes a kit and depending on where you get them your looking at over $2000.00. Look around here on the HAMB as I have seen a lot of posts from people that installed racks and then went back to stock because they didn't like them. The Borgeson unit supposedly has header clearance issues. I have been looking at converting my factory PS but haven't decided what way to go yet although I am leaning toward the Borgeson unit as all the rack pumps look too street rod and I don't think the benefits of the rack are worth a $1000.00 increase in cost. Here are some links to look at.
https://www.borgeson.com/xcart/home.php?cat=117
https://www.speedshopstore.com/1955...-pinion-for-small-block-unisteer-8011640.html
https://www.hotrodhardware.com/inde...d=5081/category_id=1201/mode=prod/prd5081.htm

 

I like my Fatman rack setup just fine. Did lose some turning radius but getting used to that.

 

Split the column under the dash and install electric ***ist. They make them for the early Corvettes.

 

I may go rack and pinion on mine. I have bad exhaust manifold clearance as it is.

 

You may consider installing 70s style Ford Granada power steering. If this would be something you would be interested in. I have the instructions, and may have all the core parts. Less the power steering pump which is not a big deal.

 

do you have the power steering unit

 

Yes, I have all the lower power steering core parts. I do not have a power steering pump. Thats easy to come by. I have also sent you a personal message.

 

BORGESON POWER STEERING UPGRADE FOR MY 1954 CUSTOMLINE
Discussion in 'Brands' started by cka7, Dec 25, 2018.

I had a detailed post on the upgrade to my car. Maybe it can help you. I love it... If you can search this you will see what all is involved. Not bad at all.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...for-my-1954-customline.1133990/#post-12914718

 

do you have the instrutions on how to install the power steering
you said you have all the parts except the pump

 

Beer money, I have sent you a personal message.

 

Is the Borgeson box the same size as the stock manual box? I am trying not to buy stuff I can't use in the future. I am swapping a 5.0 in with the "P" heads. I bought the Sanderson shorty headers.

 

The Borgeson Box is bigger and has always created exhaust clearance issues in 52-56 cars. Makes that electric power steering look even more inviting no pumps,hoses or brackets on the engine to deal with.

 

Anyone have a pic of the Borgeson box installed? I searched for the thread mentioned, but I couldn't find it. If I don't have power steering, I have to design an idler pulley to replace the power steering pump. I can do it, but It might be easier to use the Borgeson box.

 

On the y-blocks forever website and the FOMOCO Time magazine of the Crown Victoria Owners they both have step by step of the Borgeson.... Looks like a PITA to me. But my stock PS works great.

 

I still haven't decided if I am even going to add PS. My manual box works ok, but the wife would appreciate it. It looks like a lot of work, no matter how I attack it.

 

Here is a picture of the two side by side. The borgeson box is a lot taller on top. I put a 460 in my car and it is right in the way. I never installed it with the 302 but there has to be tons of room. It bolts right in and may require a bit of shimming. The only hard thing is to attached the steering column to the top. If you are switching to a new column anyways it is really no different.

 

Thanks for the pic. That helps. I am hung up on the column. I like the idea of getting rid of the death spear, but I would like to retain the stock wheel. I contacted Flaming River and they said they don't have an adapter to go from a later styled column to the original wheel. Just the other way. I swear someone on this board has done it. I just can't remember who.

I figure the column shift will be a no go with the PS and a 5.0.

 

Since the 1965-66 Mustangs had the spear and the steering wheel splines are the same I can't see why you couldn't adapt this unit: https://www.performanceonline.com/i...ng-retrofit-floor-shift-tilt-steering-column/ Be sure to read all the text it does have a collapsible feature.

 

Roothawg, have you given EPS any thought? It's well under a $200 upgrade and the simplicity of it is mind boggling! No pump, reservoir or hoses to clog up your engine bay, no fluid to leak all over everything and you can use your original steering box. The EPS motor tucks up under the dash and you don't even notice it.
Granted, I can't give it a real world review 'cause the car isn't roadworthy yet but, from other reports I've read there are no issues with it. I'm just about done with the conversion. Only need to wire up the 'Bruno' controller and mount my Mooneyes steering wheel. When I'm done I'll post a full write-up.

 

Thanks Jeff. I didn't realize they used that spline count for that long.

 

You should do a tech piece for us. I would love to see your write up.
I am not 100% sold on any given system. I really want to send my wheel off to have it pearlized, but I don't wanna drop that cash if I can't use it. I'm guessing it will be floor shift? Not sure how much room I will have under the tunnel for the Lokar style shifter.

I know I sound wishy washy, but I just don't want to make the wrong decision and regret it.

 

Well I can't wait for that writeup. Seems how my PS won't fit I have been looking at the EPAS. There is units where you don't even need a box now. I am curious as to what you did to seal the top of the original steering box now.

 

This kind of takes me back to the days when we all got excited over the Jeep power steering conversion. there were a couple guys who actually did it and a bunch of us who started the conversion. I even made copies of the brackets and sold them to a few fella's on here. But in the end most of us had nothing but trouble, and gave up. I know I did. I would love to see a write up, and a car that is actually running and driving with the EPAS. it seems like a great conversion. In the meantime, I completely rebuilt my stock box and entire front end. So we'll see how it drives when I finally get it on the road.

 

I put an EPAS in my ‘53 a number of years ago and have never looked back. Yes it was a little work but the results are great. I used a Unisteer 360 watt unit. It was expensive but the performance continues to be excellent after three years. With the many cars that use EPAS today, there are also alot of units available that will work and not cost a fortune.

 

over here in oz the 67/70 falcons/fairlanes had the power ram that hooked up to the drag link....was a very simple and effective method of power steering also it was very similar to the original set up i have on my 56 victoria.
don't really have to change much...just add ram,this could attach to the drag link via a suitable clamp....
i plan on upgrading the ram on mine when it is time for a rebuild.

 

A fair amount of guys on some facebook Ford forums used the Saturn Vue unit watch these two videos: And

 

Good stuff guys. I appreciate the info.

 

I'll have to disagree having done the upgrade myself. I picked up considerably more clearance with the Borgenson unit on my 54. Although the Borgenson is larger it is positioned differently in the car. I could fit the Patriot Headers and Hedmans without any mods with the Borgenson, Not so with the stock gearbox. I wish I would have done it first. Would have saved some banged up tubes.