Should I get power steering?

[40k Later]

Have it, wouldn't do without it. It's not the total weight of the car, it's the weight over the front wheels. A big block will obviously take more effort. Underway isn't an issue, trying to park and manuever is. Get to a local car show and ask one of those exceptional individuals without P/S if they'd mind you parking their car!!
Again it's up to you, if your going on the road course circuit, I wouldn't otherwise you'll thank yourself for the P/S.

[t walgamuth]

I have owned two miatas. My cobra is lighter than they were. i autocross. i took off the power steering pump on the miata for a while but in the end decided putting the pump back on was worth the weight.

I plan to autocross the cobra too and am considering ps on it....anybody used the Miata steering setup on a cobra yet?

[Kit Coyle]

I know that going from a 15" steering wheel to a 16" steering wheel would
technically reduce the steering effort by some amount. For those who have
tried both wheel sizes, could you please tell me what the noticeable steering
effort reduction is with the 16" wheel. I realize that the larger diameter wheel
could, in some cases, make ingress/egress more difficult or maybe put the
pinch on the seating position of + sized drivers!

[Tom Wells]

I have this urge to be illegal

https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Even...ER-SNAKE-44723

[lovehamr]

There ya go Tom!!

[t walgamuth]

Originally Posted by Tom Wells

I have this urge to be illegal

https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Even...ER-SNAKE-44723

that is a lovely car! I certainly don't need the superchargers though!')

[eschaider]

You guys do know this thread was 13 years old when you resurrected it, right?


Ed

[t walgamuth]

no ...my need is current in any case.

[eschaider]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

no ...my need is current in any case.

Which is why asking for a response from a 13 year old thread is in poor judgement. It clutters up the site, the older thread and does not address your needs.

Try starting your own thread and asking for help.


Ed

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by Kit Coyle

I know that going from a 15" steering wheel to a 16" steering wheel would
technically reduce the steering effort by some amount. For those who have
tried both wheel sizes, could you please tell me what the noticeable steering
effort reduction is with the 16" wheel. I realize that the larger diameter wheel
could, in some cases, make ingress/egress more difficult or maybe put the
pinch on the seating position of + sized drivers!

(16"÷2) - (15"÷2) = 1/2"
1/2" ÷ (15"÷2) = 6.7% reduction in steering effort.

Perhaps noticeable, but hardly significant.

[t walgamuth]

I researched options. I looked at the electric power steering unit that is in my Lotus seven replica. It is based on a small chevy (cruz?) and has some good features including an adjustment for assist. It has zero feel though and it takes up a space the size of a medium sized muskmellon. I don't have room for it.

My manual rack is a flaming river and is mustang 2 based.

So I have ordered a t-bird based power rack which I believe will bolt in. The body of the rack is aluminum. The rack has 2.5 turns lock to lock. I would like less. A saginaw pump will bolt onto my Chevy block and hoses to match the odd ends can be bought. I'll wait to order them after the large stuff is installed. I also ordered an aluminum ps pump.

Anybody need a manual rack with 2.5 turns lock to lock with 3,000 miles on it? I'll sell it reasonably.

[t walgamuth]

Originally Posted by cycleguy55

(16"÷2) - (15"÷2) = 1/2"
1/2" ÷ (15"÷2) = 6.7% reduction in steering effort.

Perhaps noticeable, but hardly significant.

You'll notice the difference in a one inch smaller or larger steering wheel. A smaller one will make the steering feel more responsive and a bit heavier. A larger one will take less effort but will respond slower.

On my car the wheel is very close to the dash which overhangs the gauges. A larger wheel would not fit.

I have fitted a smaller wheel to go with my power steering and help me out on the autocross course.

[HTM101]

Originally Posted by cycleguy55

(16"÷2) - (15"÷2) = 1/2"
1/2" ÷ (15"÷2) = 6.7% reduction in steering effort.

Perhaps noticeable, but hardly significant.

I agree. I had the 15" steering wheel for about 20 years, and switched to the 16" wheel about 4 years ago. The additional 1/2" increase from center of hub to rim, is negligible during ingress/egress. There's probably a small gain in reduced steering effort.

David

[kyleb]

My Cobra has the miata p/s rack with Electro/Hydraulic pump from a 2000 MR2 Spyder.
It’s self contained and you can hook it into your speed sensor for variable pump output.
Albeit works just fine without speed sensing.
You can mount it anywhere keeping in mind you have to run a pressure and a return line.

[tortuga]

Originally Posted by uncltodd

Bill- I'll bet your left knee isn't F'd all to hell like mine is.

Clutching is sheerest hell.

I have the shoulders and the upper body strength for my wimpy BMW front end, but...

Gettin' old ain't for sissies.

That auto tranny is looking sweet.

Like I tell everybody, "It's my money, go urinate up a wet rope."

UT

Gettin' old ain't for sissies. But it beats the $hit out of dying young...

[Cobra #3170]

Originally Posted by Richard Hudgins

Three Peaks,

Really? Who is running PS?

You only need PS if you have a bunch of castor dialed in because your camber curves are wrong.

Wait, I answered my own question.

Nevermind.

I have power steering because it is faster than the original manual gear. Caster is only 5.5 but with a small wheel and 1 turn lock to lock it is a necessity. When I bought my car I was strong enough to throw the wheel and grab it again when it reached the correct angle. Those days are in the distant past now. I have an Appleton rack and GM pump that work perfectly in my application. I have used it at Laguna Seca, autox and on the street.
It is lightly boosted but essential to our autox competition. If you watch a video of Scott driving my car you will see very quick wheel corrections, sometimes as much as 25 steering degrees in his autox runs.

[Dominik]

Yes, and you have a 1:1 ratio, right? I guess that's the reason, too, for using it in other racing (outside autocross).

In Germany people use the unit from a OPEL Corsa-C (from 2001 to 2008?).
It electric and can (obviously) be switched off. Intermediate shaft is what we call a Double-D fit...

[t walgamuth]

I got my t bird power rack installed and working now. It is fine. It is just a bit over two turns lock to lock. I had a time getting the hoses sorted but that is all solid now.

The only fly in the ointment is it does not return itself after a turn. It does a little but not enough and not quickly enough.

I plan to dial in more caster in an effort to help this and to help striaght line stability.

[cycleguy55]

I just ran across this from Flaming River. I really like the idea of adjustability, especially making it speed sensitive. While there's not much room to install it, it does look like it would fit in many Cobras.



Flaming River is now offering Microsteer universal Electric Power Assisted Steering system. It can be easily fitted to virtually any vehicle, without the need to change steering rack or fit a hydraulic system where manual steering currently exists.

The unique Microsteer Tuning Box allows you to adjust the amount of assistance by using a rotary potentiometer or, if you prefer, you can make the system speed sensitive by connecting a wheel speed signal to the Tuning Box. A mode selection switch on the box allows you to choose your preferred method, manual or wheel speed.

https://www.flamingriver.com/index.p...osteer/FR40200

[FredG]

Maybe. If you have a clunker big block, you might find it helpful. I don't come close to needing it with my 427 stroker.

Fred