Power Steering???

[magistro]

I race a 914 with a 3.2ltr Carrera engine (carburated) and 11.5" slicks all 4 corners. I'm interested in power steering for this beast. Any direction you can point me to would be helpful. Thanks.

[jmcleod]

with my limited mechanical ability, i think this would be a nightmare. where to mount the power steering pump, lines to a power steering rack, would a 993 rack (or from whichever model you can find a rack) fit a 914, need any changes in steering column/shaft....

is there some way to change the gearing in the steering rack to make it easier to turn (at the expense of having to turn steering wheel more)?

sorry i couldn't help

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

In a racer (he's running slicks), having to turn the wheel more turns to get the same effect on the front wheels is just about the last thing you want.

Hmm, come to think of it, having extra "stuff" sucking power off of the motor may very well be the last thing you want...

Is this an autocross car or a "big track" car? At the big tracks, the higher speeds should result in your having to turn the steering wheel less and should make it somewhat easier on you. Autocrossers need to turn the wheel more, and after a certain point power isn't that important.

I suggest you start by taking out soome caster in the alignment, which is a whole lot easier than figuring out how to add power steering. Moost race shops will set up thhe car with about 6 degrees of caster; try something around 4 and see how it feels. Taking caster angle out will result in a car whose tendency to center the steering wheel is smaller--though it can also result in more understeer on turn-in.

I don't know of anyone who has done the 914 power steering thing. The cars are typically light enough and run on narrow enough wheels that the steering effort is not excessive. Good luck, and if you get it together nicely, please take pictures and let us know how it went!!

--DD

[John Rogers]

having seen the car in question, power steering would most definately help. I only have 9 inch wide slicks and I would like to have it. I guess a custom installation using hot rod parts is the only way to go and here are several links that list steering racks, pumps, hoses, etc. There is one link with pictures on converting a Land Rover to power steering so it can be done on anything it seems. It would involve taking a steering support and adapting the box to fit on it, then adapting the steering shaft to the box shaft, then adapting the tie rods, then deciding if you want an engine driven or electric pump and mounting it and then routing the hoses. Since this would require welding in the steering mechanism I would only use an aircraft certified welder and probably have the weld magna-fluxed or dye penetrant checked as a minimun. The area where the steering box goes could be modified since there is a fuel cell in the car. Good luck.
http://www.agrperformance.com/agr/
http://www.mullinssteeringgears.com/Catalog.htm
http://www.uoregon.edu/~jrice/cruiser/Saginaw.html
http://www.secureperformanceorder.com/dragracestore/getclasses.cfm?CategoryID=8