My '59 Ford basically steers like a tank at low speeds. The entire front suspension is new, aligned right. Manual steering box is in great condition. I'm facing shoulder surgery and I'd like to have it steering a lot easier so I can drive my car while recovering. I've seen the Borgeson conversions and I'd need to hang a power steering pump off the engine, no big deal. I have the brackets. I see a Unisteer power rack conversion for easily 2x the price. Money is not an object. Has anyone done either conversion? A '57 would be the closest thing to my car. While I'm at it, how big a deal is it to swap the steering column to get a tilt out of it? My column is okay and I figure I have to modify the end it to accept either power swap. Thanks!
I did the power Rack and pinion in my '57. Worlds better than the old manual steering box. Racks are more expensive, although I'd look into sources other than Unisteer. Good company, but when they first came out with the units, they had major fitment problems. That said, fitment may have been resolved. No one on the '57 site has reported using one other than when they first came out and had the problems. I got mine from ST Fabrications, not sure if a '57 unit will fit a '59, and it was just under 1K cost. It was a copy of the Rick Worth system that was selling for 1,500 at the time. Rick has p***ed on, and I'm not sure if ST fabrications (Sparky)is still producing them, but I'll look up his number and p*** it on to you. Sparky is not too good on communications, but the kits are top notch and he can be trusted. That said, Borgenson was not available at the time I made the R & P decision, and I think if I had to do it over, I'd go with Borgenson because I believe you won't have the loss of turning radius. Keep in mind Racks replace components that will have to be/ should be replaced if you're doing a box setup (tie rods, etc), so that should be figured into a cost comparison. Either system will give you the quicker ratio steering.
I've not used the Unisteer rack, but I have read MANY complaints that it severely reduces the turning radius. I bought my '55 with a Saginaw 605 box already installed. I found that the saginaw pumps come with many pressure settings depending on the original applications. You can get shim kits to reduce the pressure if it makes your steering "twitchy".
Thanks, leaning towards the Borgeson conversion over the R&P. Has anyone been able to use an after market tilt column and still use the stock steering wheel?
If money is no object, you might want to think about Unisteer’s Electric Steering which leaves your stock steering gear (you said it was in good shape) in place. http://www.unisteer.com/electric-po...lectric-power-steering-kit-for-2-columns.html Stryker
Or if you are a frugal "DIY Guy" you go to your local Auto Salvage and: https://www.hotrodders.com/forum/35...l-safe-no-ebay-module-needed-pics-454530.html
I believe both IDIDIT and Flaming River make columns with a Ford spline but they charge more for them which irks me. Flaming River also makes one for the original Tbird steering wheel. I have been thinking of doing the smaller Tbird wheel when I get to that point. https://www.larrystbird.com/product/steering-wheel-5657-black-15/
The T-Bird wheel should have the same spline as the '59? I would think so. I'll look at the Flaming River site and email them if I have a question. My wheel is okay, I had fixed it up and painted it. I have a NOS horn ring that is perfect and says POWER STEERING on it. My column is okay and I have a new turn signal kit if I need it, which I can always sell. But if the dealie starts turning into a bag of snakes, I'll just do the Borgeson box and call it done. Thanks everyone.
The Jalopy Journal
