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FE Cobras with Power steering ?
Are any of you guys running power steering with your FE. I plan on doing this and some have told me the steering shaft gets in the way. I'm thinking there must be a way to, with different brackets to pull this off. Or maybe its not a issue at all. Pictures would be great if you have any.
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An alternative would be to install an electric power steering system. Some people on the mustang forum are doing it with an electric system off of some type of European car...can't remember the name of it currently.
American powertrain sells units for sixties Mustangs and Corvettes, but they are very expensive. Doesn't really apply here, but if you look at the pictures on their webpage it will give you an idea of what all you need. I'll do my best to find the link to the discussion on the vintage mustang forum. |
Actually, the units are from either a Saturn Vue or Chevrolet Equinox.
Here is the link to the discussion. Anyone want a $100 electric power steering? Here you go! - Vintage Mustang Forums |
Are you really sure you need power steering? The steering on my iron head 428 ERA is really pretty light, even at a standstill. I have to make a 90 degree sharp turn into my garage and it cranks right around with little effort and I'm not a young guy. Compared to my manual steering aluminum head BB Corvette, it's probably on the order of 60% of it's effort.
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What?????
You are joking
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I have driven a real Cobra and many fake ones... and one with power steering... Yea, I'm a fan of Ps.
A little to pricey but.. Electric Power Steering for Vintage and Race Cars | eBay |
Power steering
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I designed a bracket and spacers to position the pump so that a 6 groove belt would align with a crank nose mounted pulley. I have a 65 amp Toyota Alternator mounted on the RH cylinder head like a stock Cobra and the belt picks up the crank pulley and stock water pump pulley. There is a 3rd belt rearward of the balancer that drives the dry sump pump. I used an Appleton rack modified for position and bump steer and a stock GM remote reservoir power steering pump. My steering is a little less that 1 turn lock to lock with 6 degrees of caster so non assisted steering is out of the question. The only thing I don't like is that if I blow an alternator belt I have to remove the power steering belt to fix it. It blows belts if it hits the rev limiter above 8000 so not a huge problem. The Appleton rack works with standard Cobra steering shaft except for the last u joint down which was redesigned to mate with the Appleton unit. My rack is right next to the radiator so I don't think an electric rack would package but am not sure. |
Al,
Fast Freddie's Fabrications has an electric power steering kit also. A bit pricey but has some advantages over the belt drive units. |
Before you go to power steering......
Check your bump steer then read this..... Talk@CobraRegistry.com Then figure out what you need to do..... Morris |
We installed an electric booster on one car whose owner had some physical limitations. It was similar to the one described above. Boost was manually controlled by a switch under the dash. They were happy with it. Unfortunately, I haven't found a reasonably-priced system that was automatically speed controlled, like is integrated into some current production cars.
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I've often thought about having power steering on my ERA. I use the large 16" steering wheel and would enjoy a light power assist. I also run vintage New England modifieds with PS and there are some small race pumps available (Speedway catalog) that may work on the FE. If I try it I'll report on it.
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On an ERA, the pump is not the biggest problem. We use a shortened Mustang gear (made by Flaming River) which, as far as I know, doesn't have a power option. The only real, practical solution is an in-line booster. We just need someone to come up with a speed-controlled boost like on a production car. Now they are all (as far as I know) manually controlled.
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Doesn't the Flaming River rack interchange with the Mustang II unit?
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I've read and heard great things about EZ Power Steering.
They've fitted their systems to all manner of classic cars. Paul |
I'm running a GM type II PS pump on my FE using brackets from Unisteer. The brackets are simple, strong and keep the pump close to the engine which was very important in my BDR. My setup looks almost just like this:
http://www.unisteer.com/components/c...70-400x400.jpg The application for the pump and reservoir are a multitude of mid 90s Chevy products like Cavaliers etc. That diagonal cut that you see in the right side of the reservoir functions perfectly to clear my steering shaft. Really, it looks like it was made for it. I bought my pump from a local parts store then used Unisteer's brackets and pulley. In retrospect I should've just gotten the whole thing from them, the cost would have been a wash. Big Block Ford-390, 427, 428/Clip-on Reservoir Pump Kit - Unisteer Performance Then I had a local hydraulic hose place make the hoses to connect the GM pump, hung on the Ford FE to the BMW PS rack. Simple, right? :LOL: |
That is a nice setup. I like it. It appears the bracket is on the pump, right?
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As far as brackets and pumps go (they do not list for BB Ford in their catalog, but I have used their products on FE motors in the past), check out Jones Racing products:
Jones Racing Products, Inc. Bill S. |
The EZ Power Steering is electric and uses your existing steer column, shafts and rack. No need for pumps, or reservoirs.
Paul |
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