Steering conversion from box to rack

**popinoz** · 08-11-2009 18:33

How do you got about converting the chevrolet front clip on me van that utilizes an absolutely knackered manual steering box bolted to the front crossmember to power steering rack.I havent a clue where to start previous owner mentioned going round the scrappy but what do you look for.?Would i measure from track rod end to track rod end and find one that has the steering column thingy on the right side and settle for that.I know you have to have all the angles perfect especially where its monted to the front clip or do i need to pay for a specialist to sort.

Also i need an exhaust making and am fed up with my local guy who has been coming with sections he has bent up trial and error style and its taking weeks.Can you buy the 2.5" bends pre made so i can weld them up.Its very difficult to trailer the van due to its size to a garage to do this on a ramp any suggestions appreciated.

oh yeah im in sunny clacton

**kapri** · 09-11-2009 08:14

Doing arack conversion is fiddly and you need a basic but good grasp of suspension geometryt otherwise it'll drive worse that in does with a shagged box.
Might be simplest and cheapest to either source a good box via E Bay States or have the box rebuilt over here . Try Gilson engineering Newbury as we used them to recom commercial power steering boxes.

You can buy good quality bends etc from Jetex, they have a website somewhere.

**DeuceTudor** · 09-11-2009 11:06

Don't know if it helps but BMW 5&7 series have power steering boxes ,might be possible to source a left hooker box.

**popinoz** · 09-11-2009 21:20

Cheers so far guys! the front clip is off as far as i know a late 60,s camaro with i assume the original transit steering box be it absolutely nakered .

Maybe look at trying for the original steering box off a chev but again not something you would see even in a yank scrapyard.Maybe someone on here have some dimension or pics or the chev steering box and idler.Need to sort this as owned the van for quite a few months and havent made any progress.I seem to make a habit of buying half built projects and then giving up and selling them on im sure im not the only one guilty of that.