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I built this Sunliner in 1999 and have been up dating it a little at a time. It now has manual steering and as we grow old together, I want to convert it to power steering. I contacted Borgeson and was told that having a manual shift, the clutch linkage would be in the way of using their steering box. I heard that a Toyota 4X4 [ 79-84] power box may work. I need information pertaining to this conversion. Last year I removed the 352 and installed a bored 390+, with aluminum heads and intake, to reduce the weight on the front end. It helped a little, but it remains a struggle when parking in a tight spot at the car shows.
Last edited by Thomast (January 22, 2017 1:56 pm)
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Thomast wrote:
I built this Sunliner in 1999 and have been up dating it a little at a time. It now has manual steering and as we grow old together, I want to convert it to power steering. I contacted Borgeson and was told that having a manual shift, the clutch linkage would be in the way of using their steering box. I heard that a Toyota 4X4 [ 79-84] power box may work. I need information pertaining to this conversion. Last year I removed the 352 and installed a bored 390+, with aluminum heads and intake, to reduce the weight on the front end. It helped a little, but it remains a struggle when parking in a tight spot at the car shows.
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Too bad about the Borgeson unit. I'm going for that in my '68 Cougar. I don't know, but will try digging up some info for you. What about using a PS setup out of the same year and sourcing the parts.Although I am not sure what you could or couldn't get on that car. I am by no means an expert on that. Or a later year like my '65 with a Saginaw or Ford box? Or a setup from a '79 Tbird?
The box in my wife's '79 Tbird is way quicker than my Cougar or my Galaxie for that matter and far less vague feeling. Just trying to give you some options, but am not sure what will and will not work. Give me a day or two and I'll try and data mine as much info as I can so that you might have a few choices.
Last edited by guitar74 (January 22, 2017 5:15 pm)
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I'm running into the same thing, so maybe just maybe, have you thought about modifying the clutch linkage? Have had to do that before to run headers and even though it is another ball of wax, it might not be terrible. That's why I'm suggesting a setup from something like my '65. Similar to the Borgeson in that you don't have a control valve or slave cylinder. You have a pump, two lines and a box with a pitman that connects to the center link. And at least in my '65 there seem to be room for the clutch linkage although mine is a small block auto trans so I am sort of guessing on that one.
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Hey guitar 74:
I will have to look at a 65 box, who knows, it might fit. As to the clutch linkage, it's in a tight spot, with no place to go. I have a OEM set up available that needs a rebuild, but that's not where I want to go.
Thanks
Thomast
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Have you ever considered going with a rack and pinion system? Seeing that you don't want OEM, it maybe another option? A couple of us on this forum went that route and both happy with results.
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Hey Dan 6776:
I have looked at the rack & pinion, infact, John has just put in a Unisteer unit in his 59 Galaxie. He has been working on that for months and has more skill than me. The unit I looked at is from Johnnylaw which I would need help doing. I am looking for some thing more simple to help me park my Galaxie. Thanks for the suggestion.
Thomas
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I have a hydraulic clutch in my '59 Custom 300 and it works well. I have the clutch master up next to the brake master.
I'm looking to go with PS myself, the Unisteer R & P looks like a nice kit.
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Hi BobSS396:
If I go R&P, I like the Johnnylaw conversion, as it includes the disc brake conversion and is 1/2 the price. I will look into a hydraulic clutch kit, along with Fat Man's linkage modification. Either would make it complete.
Thanks
Thomast
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Ok. The rack swap itself was not really that difficult it was working thru a few smaller issues that seemed to be a little more challenging. If you were to check out our posts on the swap, you could see our different approaches. I just tried copying a kit that was previously available.
I'm not trying to be pushy about this swap in any way, but I just want you to know the effort was worth it, the steering is awesome.
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