hey. i was wondering what sort of work is required to convert my 71super to rach and pinion steering and if it is worth it.

Anthony

I only know of one person whohas done this - Steve C (1302 Steve)

Is it worth it - dunno. Compared to a well rebuilt box. Dont think so.
Is it easy - doubt it. Steve had a fair bit of clearancing to do.

Spend the $$$ on suspension.

Hi

Its a lot of work but the diffrence is amazing. Very light & direct

Steve

If i ever do a full ground up rebuild i would go r and p.

how about power steering. anyone gone power steering?

Anthony

don't need it!!!

Why bother you wont notice the difference WOFTAM

WOFTAM??? no wont necessarily notice it. but the cool factor. having your beetle equipped with power steering. its just for modifiers bragging rights perhaps? and bringing new tech into an old beetle. do u think it can be done...if so how??

Anthony

71 - wrong logic

The reason for power steering is beacause without it the existing is heavy due to a cast iron V8 there or front wheel drive etc etc

A beetle with a petrol tank in the front just dont need it.

It would be like putting electric window winder on the fixed back window of a bug :duh

Use your powers for evil - not idle ideas :vader

Hmmm

a moving rear window :thumb

Yeah Ok bragging rights accepted but as Barry says why do it if you dont need it or its an actual advantage

for power steering you would have to run a pump ( engine power drain ) and 2 fluid lines from engine to front of car extra weight and junk not required

VW steering is very light anyway .... so spend your money on some other performance part ,,,,, or paint and body to make it last a few more years

WOFTAM

waste of fuckin time and money !!!!

well remember i plan on doing an engine conversion so if i am to purchase a front cut it would come with the power steering pump .etc so the only work would be running the lines.

and as you can see i was just asking if anyone has done it.


Anthony

yep i agree with those guys. Why bother? power steering isnt new tech, and the front end is light anyway. You might even lose some of the front end feel. Not much bragging rights if it doesnt really improve anything though. I'll bet that its a lot more than just linking up lines though. Money could be better spent somewhere else.

good luck with the conversion though

I think you should do it 71 super, There will be times when doing the conversion where you are unable to do things as you wait for something to be made or a part to arrive..this is when you can dedicate time to this.
Kill two birds with the one stone....r and p and power!

Matt

thats wat i was thinking. and the front cut will already come with the pump. it would just be hooking it up. IF i am to do it i will be sure to do a step by step photo diary of it.

Anthony

Great Anthony

I will be intersted in the pics!

You are going to have to modify the body to get the rack and pinion in there.
I cant think where you will be able to mount the rest of it.
Your time and money - but realise this aint like building a motor where if ya stuff it you just wack a stocker in and no one is the wiser.
You are going to have to get the gas axe out and do some serious mods.

Steve has already said the R&P was a lot of work. Start multiplying for the power steer work.

Anyway - keep us informed.

Anthony

if you really want power steering try electric power steering.
I have loked at this last year, but abandoned it so far as the oval really would require serious work to get the front done for it.

Instead of a pump running from the engine maintaining pressure (ie at idle enough pressure to turn the car and at max revs same pressure requireing an overflow container etc). electric power steering runs a small pump with constant rpessure independant of the engine revs etc.

You stil have a current draw on the cars system, but no requirement to run pressure lines from the rear to the front.
Apparently it is a system that has been about for a while, but is mostly on luxury type vehicles.

http://ca.autos.yahoo.com/030820/11/ugrz.html  (go to the bottom of the page for text)
http://www.delphi.com/media/news/product_info/esteer/ 

Cheers

You should probably do some research to see whats legal and whats not. It would be a shame to do heaps of work and find out that you cant register it.

i cant see why it would be seen as illegal. after all if they can pass a diff motor i dont see why they wouldnt pass something that is upgrading the steering..

Ill look into it


Anthony

Well I can tell you that R/P is going in my buggy and the engineer has said it will be legal so I guess power steer would be legal as well. So long as it is done correctly.