Power steering 280i ???

[averhamdave]

I am growing to really like my old Tasmin 280i but there are a couple of things I may need to change.

Question for now is, is it practical to change to power steering, say using Mk2 (or even Mk3) Granada parts, ie pump, piping and rack? I know the last of 280 Wedges had this as an option.

I like the car as is but my wife is just unable to park the thing as it is and it's important to us that she be able to drive the car also. (And if I can't get it right she is going to insist on an MX5, so help!)

The other an less important thing concerns the Bosch K-Jetronic. My pal has run it up on his rollers and curses the fuel injection system, insisting that I fit a DGas Carb etc. I know the originality of the car would be spoilt, but it could always go back on at a later date, but at least the mixture/engine efficiency would be easier to optimise (as per the race Tasmins, one of which he sets up).

Who can help or has experience of the modifications?

[SEvans]

The question of power steering has come up a few times before, may be worth doing a search. I think the general consensus is that the chassis are different between P/S and none P/S on the earlier Tasmins (not sure about the later cars) and there are some chassis tubes in the way on the none P/S cars.
It's something I may have to consider myself as I've just found out I've got a problem with my neck and the heavy steering isn't helping. I guess it must be possible to do this conversion I just don't know how yet.

[jchase]

On the Injection system... You need to get a fuel pressure test rig on it, there is really no other way to set it up. The thing that caught me out was using flexible 5mm bore fuel pipe - this causes enough back pressure to confuse the metering head. 6mm return hose fixed this. A colleage in the know mentioned something about the pressure being proportional to the fifh power of the tube diameter, so this little change can make a huge difference, that you would not spot without a pressure meter. (the Capri 2.8 uses 5mm , but it is smooth bore). Oh, and the cold-start warm-up regulators often go , again something that needs to be tested with a pressure tester.

-Jim

[tvr280i]

I have one of the last (if not the last 280i) It has power stearing on it. If you need any pics or measurmens. mail me and ill see what I can do.

[SEvans]

tvr280i said:

I have one of the last (if not the last 280i) It has power stearing on it. If you need any pics or measurmens. mail me and ill see what I can do.

Thanks for the offer but I think that the later cars had the 350 chassis which I suspect is different from the early Tasmin chassis. Please correct me if I'm wrong someone.

[shpub]

The chassis is indeed the main problem as there is no room for the PAS rack to fit as one of the cross bracing struts fouls it. In the PAS cars this strut is modified to provide enough room and is curved.

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[nads]

My first 280 was a real pain to park and had very heavy steering but my new one (same age) is much better. I suspect that it has a different rack. (Either a different number of turns to go from lock to lock or perhaps just in much better condition.) I don't really know what the reason is but it might be worth looking at the rack just in case.
Steering wheel size can also make a difference to the amount of force you need to use but I am not sure there is much space to play with in a Tasmin.