Comparing Borgeson's power steering box to the mopar OEM box
well... another progress report...
i've installed the mini starter and the Borgeson steering box. here's a bunch of pictures but first some things i've learned so far.
1. the mini starter went on without a hitch but you MUST have the terminal relocation attachment because the starter's terminals are right beside the block with hardly any clearance. you would never be able to attach the battery cables to the original starter terminals without the noted terminal relocation block.
2. the Borgeson box is NOT an easy installation:
A. having a friend to help hold the box while putting in the bolts from underneath would help a lot. you can hold the box up by yourself and install the bolts but you need a good bit of strength to do this.
B. the original mounting holes in the box are too small as this box has NO "wiggle room" on the OEM mopar mounting plates. you have to bore the Borgeston holes out with a drill bit THE NEXT SIZE BIGGER than the holes so as not to weaken the mounting brackets. one size bigger is enough to get the little wiggle room you need to install the mopar "star nut" bolts.
C. the mopar OEM star head bolts are hardened bolts and will strip the threads in the mounting plate VERY easily if they are off angle when you try to screw them in. because the Borgeson box fits EXACTLY in the OEM spot with just a "little" wiggle room after you have drilled out all three mounting holes, it is hard to judge if you have the OEM bolts started straight before trying to run them in with a socket. the mopar mounting bracket is on a slight angle (like maybe 20 degrees?) and it is hard to judge if the bolt is going in directly to the threads. i messed up the threads on two of the mounting nuts and had to re-cut them with a tap. these bolts are 1/2" (American size) with coarse threads (14 threads to 1 inch). i would suggest you have a die and tap set handy or just buy a 1/2" (14 thread/inch) tap and have it handy. after i re-cut the threads i messed up, i went ahead and re-cut the third hole with the tap and cleaning the threads made running the OEM bolt in much easier. don't forget the cutting oil when you do this.
D. i installed the Borgeson universal joint that connects to the steering shaft on the Box before i installed it. however, i do not know yet whether i will have to take this part back off the box as the steering shaft has to be cut and then fitted into this joint. something i don't know yet - Plymouth used two sized length steering shafts on these cars - one for manual steering and one for a car with factory power steering. these shafts are different lengths and i forget which one of the two (the manual or the power steering box) takes the shorter shaft. my car had manual steering so i don't know how much of this shaft will have to be cut off. if the manual steering cars take the longer shaft, i may be able to switch to the shorter OEM power steering shaft and not have to cut as much off.
E. the mopar steering shaft goes into the Borgeson steering connector universal joint and is held in place by two press pins. you have to drill two holes in the shaft (90 degrees offset from each other) and then put the press pins into these holes through the steering shaft. HOWEVER, before you can drill the holes in the steering shaft, the Borgeson box has to be "centered" in the middle of its turning range; the front wheels of the car have to be centered straight forward as best you can; the ENTIRE steering linkage (drag link and Pitman arm) must be attached and the steering wheel placed in a "centered" position. i do not see any way to adjust the steering linkage after you have drilled the holes in the steering shaft for the press pins. the Pitman arm has four inside "dogs" that allow it to only go on one way onto the steering box and the steering wheel has an inner "dog" on the attachment area of the wheel that only allows it to go on in one position on the steering shaft. as such - ALL of this has to be centered exactly where everything is suppose to be when driving the car straight and having the steering wheel in the correct position as to the steering wheel spokes.
one other thing, in the photo here that is the close-up of the Borgeson box that shows the oil dipstick tube - look at the engine motor mount tab beside the attached motor mount. this tab has to have about 3/8" cut off to provide clearance between the motor and the Borgeson box.
i'm looking forward to having power steering on my 69 383 Barracuda and i'm going to put the Borgeson box on the 440 69 M-Code Cuda i have. my 68 340 Barracuda has manual steering and i hate it. it will be on the list for conversion to PS also - but i "might" be able to use the mopar OEM power steering box on the 68.
i know most of FABO folks are accomplished mechanics and race car builders. the Borgeson power steering box conversion is a good product but it is WAY beyond just a beginner mechanic's skill or knowledge. all you serious FABO guys out there will not have a problem if you decide to do this conversion. here are some pictures:
View attachment 1715614953
View attachment 1715614955
View attachment 1715614956
well... another progress report...
i've installed the mini starter and the Borgeson steering box. here's a bunch of pictures but first some things i've learned so far.
1. the mini starter went on without a hitch but you MUST have the terminal relocation attachment because the starter's terminals are right beside the block with hardly any clearance. you would never be able to attach the battery cables to the original starter terminals without the noted terminal relocation block.
2. the Borgeson box is NOT an easy installation:
A. having a friend to help hold the box while putting in the bolts from underneath would help a lot. you can hold the box up by yourself and install the bolts but you need a good bit of strength to do this.
B. the original mounting holes in the box are too small as this box has NO "wiggle room" on the OEM mopar mounting plates. you have to bore the Borgeston holes out with a drill bit THE NEXT SIZE BIGGER than the holes so as not to weaken the mounting brackets. one size bigger is enough to get the little wiggle room you need to install the mopar "star nut" bolts.
C. the mopar OEM star head bolts are hardened bolts and will strip the threads in the mounting plate VERY easily if they are off angle when you try to screw them in. because the Borgeson box fits EXACTLY in the OEM spot with just a "little" wiggle room after you have drilled out all three mounting holes, it is hard to judge if you have the OEM bolts started straight before trying to run them in with a socket. the mopar mounting bracket is on a slight angle (like maybe 20 degrees?) and it is hard to judge if the bolt is going in directly to the threads. i messed up the threads on two of the mounting nuts and had to re-cut them with a tap. these bolts are 1/2" (American size) with coarse threads (14 threads to 1 inch). i would suggest you have a die and tap set handy or just buy a 1/2" (14 thread/inch) tap and have it handy. after i re-cut the threads i messed up, i went ahead and re-cut the third hole with the tap and cleaning the threads made running the OEM bolt in much easier. don't forget the cutting oil when you do this.
D. i installed the Borgeson universal joint that connects to the steering shaft on the Box before i installed it. however, i do not know yet whether i will have to take this part back off the box as the steering shaft has to be cut and then fitted into this joint. something i don't know yet - Plymouth used two sized length steering shafts on these cars - one for manual steering and one for a car with factory power steering. these shafts are different lengths and i forget which one of the two (the manual or the power steering box) takes the shorter shaft. my car had manual steering so i don't know how much of this shaft will have to be cut off. if the manual steering cars take the longer shaft, i may be able to switch to the shorter OEM power steering shaft and not have to cut as much off.
E. the mopar steering shaft goes into the Borgeson steering connector universal joint and is held in place by two press pins. you have to drill two holes in the shaft (90 degrees offset from each other) and then put the press pins into these holes through the steering shaft. HOWEVER, before you can drill the holes in the steering shaft, the Borgeson box has to be "centered" in the middle of its turning range; the front wheels of the car have to be centered straight forward as best you can; the ENTIRE steering linkage (drag link and Pitman arm) must be attached and the steering wheel placed in a "centered" position. i do not see any way to adjust the steering linkage after you have drilled the holes in the steering shaft for the press pins. the Pitman arm has four inside "dogs" that allow it to only go on one way onto the steering box and the steering wheel has an inner "dog" on the attachment area of the wheel that only allows it to go on in one position on the steering shaft. as such - ALL of this has to be centered exactly where everything is suppose to be when driving the car straight and having the steering wheel in the correct position as to the steering wheel spokes.
one other thing, in the photo here that is the close-up of the Borgeson box that shows the oil dipstick tube - look at the engine motor mount tab beside the attached motor mount. this tab has to have about 3/8" cut off to provide clearance between the motor and the Borgeson box.
i'm looking forward to having power steering on my 69 383 Barracuda and i'm going to put the Borgeson box on the 440 69 M-Code Cuda i have. my 68 340 Barracuda has manual steering and i hate it. it will be on the list for conversion to PS also - but i "might" be able to use the mopar OEM power steering box on the 68.
i know most of FABO folks are accomplished mechanics and race car builders. the Borgeson power steering box conversion is a good product but it is WAY beyond just a beginner mechanic's skill or knowledge. all you serious FABO guys out there will not have a problem if you decide to do this conversion. here are some pictures:
View attachment 1715614953
View attachment 1715614955
View attachment 1715614956
