Excellent Power Steering upgrade for Chim and Griff
Discussion
While i was at Racing Green at the weekend collecting my Chim (more of that later 
)I was invited to have a look at a box of electrickery that they had fitted to a non PAS Chim. A small unit, about the size of the wiper motor, is fitted to the steering colum, which gives fantastic, variable power steering.
Turning the wheels full lock, whilst the car was stationary, was much much easier than on my own Chim - which has the factory fitted power steering. I was very impressed!
It seems that fitting is relatively straight forward, and i don't think there are changes needed to any of the existing non-pas parts.
For those of you who don't have arms like Popeye, i would definately reccommend popping over to check it out.
For the "dead hard" Griff owners, it will allow you to comb your chest whilst parking with one hand
Disclaimer
I have no connection to this product or Racing Green other than being a happy bunny customer
ETA
Just found the link Clicky
)I was invited to have a look at a box of electrickery that they had fitted to a non PAS Chim. A small unit, about the size of the wiper motor, is fitted to the steering colum, which gives fantastic, variable power steering.Turning the wheels full lock, whilst the car was stationary, was much much easier than on my own Chim - which has the factory fitted power steering. I was very impressed!
It seems that fitting is relatively straight forward, and i don't think there are changes needed to any of the existing non-pas parts.
For those of you who don't have arms like Popeye, i would definately reccommend popping over to check it out.
For the "dead hard" Griff owners, it will allow you to comb your chest whilst parking with one hand
Disclaimer
I have no connection to this product or Racing Green other than being a happy bunny customer
ETA
Just found the link Clicky
Edited by Blues on Tuesday 29th April 09:23
The cost is "large". Spoke with someone on the phone who suggested £1200 for the basic bits (didn't check if that included labour or not). I was asking from the viewpoint of my having a PAS rack that needs refurbing and would it be cost-prohibitive to dump the hydraulic rack, fit a manual rack + electric assist?
I think - at that cost - I'll go down the refurb route.
I think - at that cost - I'll go down the refurb route.
This topic of electronic column assist (rather than electic pump assist) has been covered in a number of threads. However it was discussed as a concept rather than anyone having completed a conversion. So I'm interested in so much as it's actually been tackled.
I've emailed Racing Green for details but am pretty sure the parts are Vauxhall Corsa - column, motor ecu wiring etc, hence the compatability with the Vauxhall Cavalier column binnacle etc in the Griff and Chim.
The threads I've read on this have made mention of the potential to retro fit so I'll be interested to know costs etc and whether it's also available on a supply only basis for DIY fitment.
I've emailed Racing Green for details but am pretty sure the parts are Vauxhall Corsa - column, motor ecu wiring etc, hence the compatability with the Vauxhall Cavalier column binnacle etc in the Griff and Chim.
The threads I've read on this have made mention of the potential to retro fit so I'll be interested to know costs etc and whether it's also available on a supply only basis for DIY fitment.
Edited by McTavish on Tuesday 29th April 13:02
Had a reply to my email query with Racing Green, informed it's not based on Vauxhall components:
Quote
"The system will be £1895.00 plus VAT fitted. The parts are all new and
guaranteed and programmed to suit your car and this price would include
a 4 wheel alignment. The system is speed sensitive and is based on a
high specification Nissan unit with CAN control"
Its not available for DIY fitting at the moment
Too rich for my pockets
Quote
"The system will be £1895.00 plus VAT fitted. The parts are all new and
guaranteed and programmed to suit your car and this price would include
a 4 wheel alignment. The system is speed sensitive and is based on a
high specification Nissan unit with CAN control"
Its not available for DIY fitting at the moment
Too rich for my pockets
McTavish said:
Had a reply to my email query with Racing Green, informed it's not based on Vauxhall components:
Quote
"The system will be £1895.00 plus VAT fitted. The parts are all new and
guaranteed and programmed to suit your car and this price would include
a 4 wheel alignment. The system is speed sensitive and is based on a
high specification Nissan unit with CAN control"
Its not available for DIY fitting at the moment
Too rich for my pockets
Mine too!!! Ouch ouch ouch!!!!!Quote
"The system will be £1895.00 plus VAT fitted. The parts are all new and
guaranteed and programmed to suit your car and this price would include
a 4 wheel alignment. The system is speed sensitive and is based on a
high specification Nissan unit with CAN control"
Its not available for DIY fitting at the moment
Too rich for my pockets
Dave.
I understand the Raceproved are starting to re-manufacture the power steering racks for Grifs and Chims. I don't know how much they are but I would be surprised if they are not cheaper than the kit above.
Joolz at Track Car Solutions might be worth a call, I know he has good contact with Raceproved.
Joolz at Track Car Solutions might be worth a call, I know he has good contact with Raceproved.
ridds said:
CAN control? 
Have the cars suddenly got a CAN enabled ECU then? Whats it going to talk too?
Speed sensitve electric assitance steering. Pop on ebay there's loads of Corsa steering columns for sale. Used a lot on rally cars.
Did find it slightly unlikely that mid 90s TVRs came with a CAN bus. Have the cars suddenly got a CAN enabled ECU then? Whats it going to talk too?
Speed sensitve electric assitance steering. Pop on ebay there's loads of Corsa steering columns for sale. Used a lot on rally cars.
How does the device drive the rack? I find it hard to believe it won't effect the steering feedback.
Personally, it strikes me that you park your car once or twice a trip, but you may take hundreds of bends in that time. If it's a second car driven for fun, then the feedback would have to be very well retained to avoid losing the point.
Hi there guys,ive just been looking at this thread and thought id join just to assure you all that EPAS is the single best thing that you can do to any vehicle although i would say that as thats my business,we make EPAS Systems for all sorts of vehicles and to date have made Escort Mk1/Mk2,Sunbeam,Peugeot 205,Astra,Bmw,Porsche,Sierra,Focus,VW T3 and Darrian left and right hand drive vehicles.
Our prices are very competitive and discounts are available for the fist of each model that we do.We appreciate that not everyone has a couple of grand to get what they would like and price according to timescale and not how much money we think someone that owns an expensive car may have to dispose of.
Our prices are very competitive and discounts are available for the fist of each model that we do.We appreciate that not everyone has a couple of grand to get what they would like and price according to timescale and not how much money we think someone that owns an expensive car may have to dispose of.
I have said this before.
My non PAS chim was driven on track by a race driver and he thought the car was cracking but for the steering which he said was AWFULL.
It was far too heavy to input corrections demonstrating how when the tail went, you couldn't dial in oppo fast enough therefor losing the tail end.
I did convert it and it is a much nicer drive all round.
Given the hassle I have had with PAS racks since, given my time again I would have gone for this conversion.
My non PAS chim was driven on track by a race driver and he thought the car was cracking but for the steering which he said was AWFULL.
It was far too heavy to input corrections demonstrating how when the tail went, you couldn't dial in oppo fast enough therefor losing the tail end.
I did convert it and it is a much nicer drive all round.
Given the hassle I have had with PAS racks since, given my time again I would have gone for this conversion.
haircutmike said:
...you couldn't dial in oppo fast enough therefor losing the tail end..
Don't forget that the PAS cars had a faster rack than the non=PAS cars. Something like 2.2 turns lock tolock vs. 2.8 turns. If you did did a conersion based on original parts you will have benefited from the quicker feel of the rack. With the EPS one will still have the slower rack. As I'm now 12 years older thanwhen I bought my Griff it's of interest though. Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff