Power Steering TVR Chimera
Power Steering TVR Chimera
Author
Discussion

Gerymor

Original Poster:

13 posts

187 months

Sunday 13th March 2011
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Has anyone out there got experience of retro fitting power steer to a '96 Chimera 500? Will it work? Is it good? Where can I have it fitted, how much? Many thanks

slideways

4,101 posts

251 months

Sunday 13th March 2011
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NOOOOOOOOOO dont do it!

They seem to be nothing but grief, If you must I'd look at the electric retro conversion so you don't have all those leaky rack problems

Harrytsg

1,264 posts

192 months

Sunday 13th March 2011
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dog man

552 posts

232 months

Sunday 13th March 2011
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Can't see why not IMO.

What will it need...Steering rack, resovior, hoses, pump.

I'd think it's not too drastic a job

haircutmike

22,511 posts

234 months

Monday 14th March 2011
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dog man said:
Can't see why not IMO.

What will it need...Steering rack, resovior, hoses, pump.

I'd think it's not too drastic a job
Been there seen it and done it!

Far, far better then manual, my only problem is I had a dodgy rack but now sorted!!!

At least you can try this one first.

pm me for details.

Barkychoc

7,848 posts

234 months

Tuesday 15th March 2011
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I used the saxo / 106 electric pump on my conversion - you only then need 2 hoses between rack & pump - less sources of potential leaks. Works well.

haircutmike

22,511 posts

234 months

Tuesday 15th March 2011
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Barkychoc said:
I used the saxo / 106 electric pump on my conversion - you only then need 2 hoses between rack & pump - less sources of potential leaks. Works well.
Sounds lake an alternative plan!

Coincidentely, we changed that same pump on my sons g/friends clio on Sunday and only £40 for the pump from the scrappies!

Will save a couple of bhp from the engine as well.

Any pics Barky and tips fitting?

Barkychoc

7,848 posts

234 months

Tuesday 15th March 2011
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Have a look at this

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I used a 100 amp relay with a power feed to the relay off the back of the alternator with a 60 amp fuse. I haven't really resolved where I'm feeding the relay coil from, its just on an ignition feed at the moment but I am considering changing it to run off the fuel pump circuit so it doesn't constantly run with the ignition on / engine not running. It takes a fair old current.

Got early start tomorrow so off to bed, but happy to answer more questions or drop me a PM if you want.

Forgot to say I actually did mine on a V8S but used a chimaera rack.

Zumbruk

7,848 posts

290 months

Wednesday 16th March 2011
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Harrytsg said:
800 quid!!!!!

chimalsu

279 posts

268 months

Wednesday 16th March 2011
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best thing i ever did,i fell lucky and bought all the kit off of someone scrapping a car for £80 including the rack.if you do go down this route remember to get the bottom half of the steering shaft because it is a different length to the non power one.

Harrytsg

1,264 posts

192 months

Wednesday 16th March 2011
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Zumbruk said:
800 quid!!!!!
You can always offer them your manual one for £750

Gerymor

Original Poster:

13 posts

187 months

Wednesday 16th March 2011
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Thanks for all the input - really helpfull. That kit on ebay is local to me so I've asked why he's selling - didn't it make the car better?? Bit worried..thinking electric pump onto existing system could be the way.

haircutmike

22,511 posts

234 months

Wednesday 16th March 2011
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Gerymor said:
Thanks for all the input - really helpfull. That kit on ebay is local to me so I've asked why he's selling - didn't it make the car better?? Bit worried..thinking electric pump onto existing system could be the way.
Can't put electric pump on manual rack!

Can put electric column on manual rack.

Gerymor

Original Poster:

13 posts

187 months

Saturday 19th March 2011
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Have now seen all electric system as fitted to rally escorts etc, looks neat and works well on those. Has anyone fitted this type to a Chimera?? Best place to fit... near wheel or near rack? Also, did you use existing column or new?

nuttyfruitbat

109 posts

211 months

Saturday 19th March 2011
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stevesprint

1,121 posts

209 months

Thursday 26th January 2012
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Hi NuttyFruitBat
I love your EPAS installation so much I'm in the middle of copying it, I hope you don't mind but think of it as a complement.

I also hope you don't mind me asking what is the distance from the original steering column mounts to the body of the EPAS and also how on the earth did you manage to weld the splined sleeve in a perfect straight line. If you are interested I would consider paying you to weld my splined sleeve or at the minimum spot weld it so I could finish off the weld.

Thank you in anticipation
Steve Sprint

Andy chimaera

1,463 posts

189 months

Thursday 26th January 2012
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slideways said:
NOOOOOOOOOO dont do it!

They seem to be nothing but grief, If you must I'd look at the electric retro conversion so you don't have all those leaky rack problems
i converted mine, well dulford done it, no problems at all, had the rack reconditioned and some of the tattier looking hoses so in effect its a new system, its great, much sharper thasn the manual rack, if you can get the bits do it! i got a good deal on a whole system from a bloke who believe it or not wanted to convert to a manual rack, so he had mine and i gave him 600 quid for the lot

Andy chimaera

1,463 posts

189 months

Thursday 26th January 2012
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just checked out that link from harrytsg, sounds like exactly the same deal as me, hang on a mo, i think its the same bloke lol, whats going on there then? any way, i was happy with the deal and it works fine

Chris71

21,549 posts

272 months

Thursday 26th January 2012
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Do all these conversions use a secondhand PAS rack (rather than try to 'assist' the manual one)?

One of the biggest problems with an unassisted Chimaera rack in my opinion is the fact it's quite a slow (i.e. low ratio) rack. From memory, the factory-PAS rack is a bit quicker, which would be handy. For me, a power assisted system with the same ratio as the unassisted rack would be a bit of a missed opportunity.

Andy chimaera

1,463 posts

189 months

Thursday 26th January 2012
quotequote all
Chris71 said:
Do all these conversions use a secondhand PAS rack (rather than try to 'assist' the manual one)?

One of the biggest problems with an unassisted Chimaera rack in my opinion is the fact it's quite a slow (i.e. low ratio) rack. From memory, the factory-PAS rack is a bit quicker, which would be handy. For me, a power assisted system with the same ratio as the unassisted rack would be a bit of a missed opportunity.
the non power rack is not as sharp as a power rack but its still quicker than more normal cars. is the non power rack 2.5 turns to lock and the power 2 turns?