steering question
Discussion
Jes
I've been told that the power steering rack was either from the Cortina 2.3 V6 model or Rover SD1 but I'm sure someone will be along soon to confirm or deny this. No idea if they'd fit in a Griff but I'm sure some serious measuring would sort that out.
The other option may be to fit electronic power steering onto the column and then you can retain the rack you have. I heard of someone fitting the electronic power steering from a Corsa to their Reliant Scimitar. I can't remember too much about it but they got the parts from a scrapped car and I think they had to have the power steering ecu modified. They replaced the Scimitar column down to the U/J with the Corsa one and had the U/J adapted to mate with the Corsa column.
Just found this link that may be helpfull http://www.v8forum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=412...
By the way thanks again for stopping and helping the time the LT wire on the coil of my Vixen broke.
Nige
I've been told that the power steering rack was either from the Cortina 2.3 V6 model or Rover SD1 but I'm sure someone will be along soon to confirm or deny this. No idea if they'd fit in a Griff but I'm sure some serious measuring would sort that out.
The other option may be to fit electronic power steering onto the column and then you can retain the rack you have. I heard of someone fitting the electronic power steering from a Corsa to their Reliant Scimitar. I can't remember too much about it but they got the parts from a scrapped car and I think they had to have the power steering ecu modified. They replaced the Scimitar column down to the U/J with the Corsa one and had the U/J adapted to mate with the Corsa column.
Just found this link that may be helpfull http://www.v8forum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=412...
By the way thanks again for stopping and helping the time the LT wire on the coil of my Vixen broke.
Nige
Edited by nwarner on Thursday 27th May 11:36
Edited by nwarner on Thursday 27th May 11:38
Jes I have looked into this and am converting a V8S to power steering as luckily I have managed to get hold of a chimaera PAS rack.
I am pretty sure the cortina / wedge rack will be of no use.
I believe there are 3 generations of TVR rack on the griff, very early ones were a modified Rover SD1 rack, then came the one made of a steel tube with the ends screwed on (which I have off a 1995 model I think), then came the cast aluminium type.
I don't know for sure but think there are some similarities between the early griff chassis and and V8S chassis at the front - but thats only heresay from various things I have read.
I have had to make some minor chassis modifications to make it fit - the pinion is too large to fit in place of the manual rack so I had to make an indentation to the main round chassis tube that supports the rack - if you think of it as a big dent in the tube thats how it is - although I did actually grind a piece away and weld in a piece of metal to block the hole to make the adjustment.
You can see the problem marked here in black marker pen.
I then took a grinder to that tube as below
You also have to grind a bit of each mounting bracket away on the chassis - the original manual steering mounts are flat but the PAS rack has a fatter body so the centre of the mounts has to be ground away to allow for this.
I didn't take any pics of this part.
Here's a pic of a chassis for a manual steering car.
and this is the issue
The final problem is the PAS pump on the pre serp - the easiest solution would have been a wedge style pump low down on the nearside like this
However that doesn't work as the exhaust is there.
There as far as I can tell no brackets available for the pre serp TVR engine with power steering and the Rover SD1 front engine cover - I have seen one and it had the landrover front cover which has a different style water pump etc.
However just to throw something else into the mix it can be done - one of the chim owners kindly sent me a few pics of a PAS conversion done on his Dad's chimaera - not entirely clear but I think a landrover bracket has been 'adjusted' to make it fit.
The pulleys are also a nightmare - I have a vast collection of pulleys and brackets now and I can't make any of them fit
I have given up on the engine driven pump and gone the electric pump route - its a pump of a citroen saxo / peugeot 106.
These pumps are actually fitted to Sagaris and other late model cars.
Hope this is of some help.
Chris
I am pretty sure the cortina / wedge rack will be of no use.
I believe there are 3 generations of TVR rack on the griff, very early ones were a modified Rover SD1 rack, then came the one made of a steel tube with the ends screwed on (which I have off a 1995 model I think), then came the cast aluminium type.
I don't know for sure but think there are some similarities between the early griff chassis and and V8S chassis at the front - but thats only heresay from various things I have read.
I have had to make some minor chassis modifications to make it fit - the pinion is too large to fit in place of the manual rack so I had to make an indentation to the main round chassis tube that supports the rack - if you think of it as a big dent in the tube thats how it is - although I did actually grind a piece away and weld in a piece of metal to block the hole to make the adjustment.
You can see the problem marked here in black marker pen.
I then took a grinder to that tube as below
You also have to grind a bit of each mounting bracket away on the chassis - the original manual steering mounts are flat but the PAS rack has a fatter body so the centre of the mounts has to be ground away to allow for this.
I didn't take any pics of this part.
Here's a pic of a chassis for a manual steering car.
and this is the issue
The final problem is the PAS pump on the pre serp - the easiest solution would have been a wedge style pump low down on the nearside like this
However that doesn't work as the exhaust is there.
There as far as I can tell no brackets available for the pre serp TVR engine with power steering and the Rover SD1 front engine cover - I have seen one and it had the landrover front cover which has a different style water pump etc.
However just to throw something else into the mix it can be done - one of the chim owners kindly sent me a few pics of a PAS conversion done on his Dad's chimaera - not entirely clear but I think a landrover bracket has been 'adjusted' to make it fit.
The pulleys are also a nightmare - I have a vast collection of pulleys and brackets now and I can't make any of them fit
I have given up on the engine driven pump and gone the electric pump route - its a pump of a citroen saxo / peugeot 106.
These pumps are actually fitted to Sagaris and other late model cars.
Hope this is of some help.
Chris
Edited by Barkychoc on Thursday 27th May 11:03
Myself and a few other of the TVR racers have fitted Corsa Electric PAS columns.
You have to set the resistance manually via a control knob, as they was originally controlled by the ECU and would vary on speed.
I just have controlled via a on/off switch, so when on track I don't have it on, but do when moving the car about.
You have to set the resistance manually via a control knob, as they was originally controlled by the ECU and would vary on speed.
I just have controlled via a on/off switch, so when on track I don't have it on, but do when moving the car about.
chaps very helpful. i cant go the electric column route-already looked at that and the job is horrendous - there is not enogh space below the dash in the bulkead etc .
I already worked out that the mechanical pump was difficult on a preserp and have bought a saxo/106 electric pump. the pipes are easy so its really only the rack i need now. i suppose the obvious choice is a ford one because the griff (mines a 94 500) which has ford front hubs-
i think the track width of the later wedges and the griffs are virtually identical -i dont mind some small tweaks to the chassis - this is alot cheaper than silly priced racks
sooooo any idea which ford rack might fit as someone mentioned a granada 2.3 i think?
I already worked out that the mechanical pump was difficult on a preserp and have bought a saxo/106 electric pump. the pipes are easy so its really only the rack i need now. i suppose the obvious choice is a ford one because the griff (mines a 94 500) which has ford front hubs-
i think the track width of the later wedges and the griffs are virtually identical -i dont mind some small tweaks to the chassis - this is alot cheaper than silly priced racks
sooooo any idea which ford rack might fit as someone mentioned a granada 2.3 i think?
As far as I recall, only V6 (2.3) variants of Cortinas were available with power steering anyway, so that's one candidate.
I believe all the Granadas had the option of PAS, so another one to size up, though it's likely to be the biggest of any of the racks...probably too big.
Wouldn't it have been Sierra parts used on post Wedge V8 cars - hence the 4 stud hubs ?
I believe all the Granadas had the option of PAS, so another one to size up, though it's likely to be the biggest of any of the racks...probably too big.
Wouldn't it have been Sierra parts used on post Wedge V8 cars - hence the 4 stud hubs ?
jesfirth said:
guys - you are great - thanks for helping and interloper! does anyone know the dimensions of the cortina rack and track rod ends for a later wedge?
I can measure my griff and compare then buy/modify etc
Jes, I think there were 3 P/S racks used on the Wedge... A Cortina rack, SD1 rack and the Supra rack (not Toyota Supra). The track rod ends will all be the same and from a Cortina MK4/5. I can measure my griff and compare then buy/modify etc
I have a Cortina P/S rack that I bought to fit P/S to my Wedge but the project is on hold at the moment. You are welcome to borrow it or let me know what dimensions you require and I'll take some measurements. Cheers Steve.
Steve,
I have just measured my rack. The bolts that fix the rack to the chassis are 255mm apart and the centre section of the rack ie. gaiter to gaiter is 445mm. the overall width end of rod end to end of rod end is 1160mm. Is the one you have similar to those dims? The actual key is the gaiter to gaiter because the rack has to fit between the chassis rails at that point. I can always change the mounting bolt locations.
thanks
jes
I have just measured my rack. The bolts that fix the rack to the chassis are 255mm apart and the centre section of the rack ie. gaiter to gaiter is 445mm. the overall width end of rod end to end of rod end is 1160mm. Is the one you have similar to those dims? The actual key is the gaiter to gaiter because the rack has to fit between the chassis rails at that point. I can always change the mounting bolt locations.
thanks
jes
Leigh,
Out of interest re Corsa leccy steering, did you use the adjustable column due to tight space in a wedge or did you fit the fixed version?
There was a chap on ePay offering controllers.
Do you still need the Corsa ECU and what did you use for a controller.
These guys out your way offer a system at around £1200 but that does 'not' include the rack, a little rich in my eyes:
http://www.dcelectronics.co.uk/EPAS.aspx
Phil
420 SEAC
Out of interest re Corsa leccy steering, did you use the adjustable column due to tight space in a wedge or did you fit the fixed version?
There was a chap on ePay offering controllers.
Do you still need the Corsa ECU and what did you use for a controller.
These guys out your way offer a system at around £1200 but that does 'not' include the rack, a little rich in my eyes:
http://www.dcelectronics.co.uk/EPAS.aspx
Phil
420 SEAC
Transmitter Man said:
Leigh,
Out of interest re Corsa leccy steering, did you use the adjustable column due to tight space in a wedge or did you fit the fixed version?
There was a chap on ePay offering controllers.
Do you still need the Corsa ECU and what did you use for a controller.
These guys out your way offer a system at around £1200 but that does 'not' include the rack, a little rich in my eyes:
http://www.dcelectronics.co.uk/EPAS.aspx
Phil
420 SEAC
Hi Phil,Out of interest re Corsa leccy steering, did you use the adjustable column due to tight space in a wedge or did you fit the fixed version?
There was a chap on ePay offering controllers.
Do you still need the Corsa ECU and what did you use for a controller.
These guys out your way offer a system at around £1200 but that does 'not' include the rack, a little rich in my eyes:
http://www.dcelectronics.co.uk/EPAS.aspx
Phil
420 SEAC
I used the electric for a few reasons
1. No need to change rack to pas
2. no pump to fit or hoses
3. more control
4. not power drag on the stright when not in use
5. more configurabe.
My columm is adjustable but I did not have the adjustable bracket, so is fixed in place.
it has some adjustability, via the fixing rods and nuts.
you don't need the corsa ecu, just the column controler and 3rd party speed controler.
Parts cost me about £350 max. I think it may have been a bit less.
Did take about 2 days to fit and get working though. also would take longer in a road car, if you wanted to make it totaly invisable.
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