Comparing Borgeson's power steering box to the mopar OEM box
SOME NEW INFORMATION:
as with most modifications to old mopars, there are different ways that the same thing can be accomplished.
the OEM steering shafts come in two lengths - a shorter one for the cars with OEM power steering and a longer one for the manual steering equipped cars. i have a lot of parts. the 69 383 Cuda that is the subject of this thread had manual steering - the long steering shaft. i looked in my "parts bin" and discovered that i had a complete power steering column assembly. the first picture below is the two shafts lined up. the shorter shaft that you need for installing power steering is exactly 3 1/2" shorter than the manual steering shaft.
the Borgeson PS kit come with a "universal joint" assembly for the steering shaft. their instructions show how you need to cut the steering shaft if you have the manual steering pump. once the shaft is cut to the correct length, you then attach the Borgeson universal joint by drilling two holes (90 degrees opposite each other) through the pilot holes provided in the universal joint through the OEM shaft that you have cut off. HOWEVER - here's the good news!! if you have the shorter OEM power steering shaft or column assembly, you DO NOT have to cut this shaft! i found that if you hammer out the pin at the end of the OEM steering shaft (a short one), you can attach the Borgeson universal joint at the original shaft hole. you have to drill out the Borgeson universal joint to accept the larger OEM press pin (hardened steel) but Borgeson provides pilot holes already drilled on one side of this joint - so all you have to do is drill one of the original holes bigger (the size of the OEM steering shaft press pin) and continue through the other side of the Borgeson universal joint. i found that the OEM press pin is not a standard size drill bit and had to run the bit through several times and "wiggle" it around just enough to enlarge the hole in the Borgeson joint so the OEM press pin would go through the joint. this appears to be a safe procedure as the OEM press pin fits VERY tight in the OEM steering shaft. there does not appear to be any way the OEM press pin could come back out through the Borgeson universal joint. but just to be safe, i am going to install a stainless steel screw-type radiator hose clamp around the Borgeson joint over top of the OEM press pin.
the procedure i've followed is very easy if you have the OEM shorter power steering steering column and shaft. the OEM press pin can be removed from the OEM shaft by laying the shaft on the top of a vise and pounding the pin out of the shaft. you can then simply put the Borgeson universal joint on the OEM shaft up to the original press pin hole after you have drilled the universal joint out to accept the OEM press pin. i will note that the tolerances on these parts are VERY tight! i had to "ream out" the Borgeson universal joint with a stone cutting wheel from a dremel kit and then polish the inside with a small wire wheel brush on a drill. i also put a wire wheel on my drill and polished the end of the OEM mopar steering shaft. after a few cycles of this process, the universal joint slipped onto the OEM shaft. with this procedure, i did not have to cut off an original steering shaft. however, if you only have one steering shaft, doing this install by cutting the shaft and following the Borgeson instructions is also an option.
one last thing. one of the FABO guys told me about the adapter that is pictured that uses the OEM steering shaft parts at one end - the two steel squares that go over the pressed pin with the adapter sliding over top of these parts. this part is designed like the OEM mopar part only it is a little longer. this adapter WILL NOT work on a A body power steering conversion!! when you put the Borgeson box on the OEM mounting plate of the A body K frame, the box is "tilted" or "off center" about 20 degrees to the steering shaft. you can see this offset in one of the below pictures. apparently the B body cars have the steering box lined up "in line" with the steering column shaft with no off-set. i think i paid $225.00 for the noted steering shaft adapter that will not line up with the A body steering column. i have no use now for that adapter so if anyone out there in FABO land needs one, message me and we will work some price out. this adapter comes with the black adapter and all new internal parts, rubber gasket and snap ring.
sometimes when you are fixing or up-dating parts on old mopars you do "luck out" and the procedure i followed made this final assembly much easier. it only took me about an hour to do all the steps i noted above. i have to repaint the second steering column i found as it was out of a green interior car - but i've already painted some of the parts flat black and will be painting the rest of the column flat black tomorrow. if any one has any questions, let me know.. .
View attachment 1715619762
SOME NEW INFORMATION:
as with most modifications to old mopars, there are different ways that the same thing can be accomplished.
the OEM steering shafts come in two lengths - a shorter one for the cars with OEM power steering and a longer one for the manual steering equipped cars. i have a lot of parts. the 69 383 Cuda that is the subject of this thread had manual steering - the long steering shaft. i looked in my "parts bin" and discovered that i had a complete power steering column assembly. the first picture below is the two shafts lined up. the shorter shaft that you need for installing power steering is exactly 3 1/2" shorter than the manual steering shaft.
the Borgeson PS kit come with a "universal joint" assembly for the steering shaft. their instructions show how you need to cut the steering shaft if you have the manual steering pump. once the shaft is cut to the correct length, you then attach the Borgeson universal joint by drilling two holes (90 degrees opposite each other) through the pilot holes provided in the universal joint through the OEM shaft that you have cut off. HOWEVER - here's the good news!! if you have the shorter OEM power steering shaft or column assembly, you DO NOT have to cut this shaft! i found that if you hammer out the pin at the end of the OEM steering shaft (a short one), you can attach the Borgeson universal joint at the original shaft hole. you have to drill out the Borgeson universal joint to accept the larger OEM press pin (hardened steel) but Borgeson provides pilot holes already drilled on one side of this joint - so all you have to do is drill one of the original holes bigger (the size of the OEM steering shaft press pin) and continue through the other side of the Borgeson universal joint. i found that the OEM press pin is not a standard size drill bit and had to run the bit through several times and "wiggle" it around just enough to enlarge the hole in the Borgeson joint so the OEM press pin would go through the joint. this appears to be a safe procedure as the OEM press pin fits VERY tight in the OEM steering shaft. there does not appear to be any way the OEM press pin could come back out through the Borgeson universal joint. but just to be safe, i am going to install a stainless steel screw-type radiator hose clamp around the Borgeson joint over top of the OEM press pin.
the procedure i've followed is very easy if you have the OEM shorter power steering steering column and shaft. the OEM press pin can be removed from the OEM shaft by laying the shaft on the top of a vise and pounding the pin out of the shaft. you can then simply put the Borgeson universal joint on the OEM shaft up to the original press pin hole after you have drilled the universal joint out to accept the OEM press pin. i will note that the tolerances on these parts are VERY tight! i had to "ream out" the Borgeson universal joint with a stone cutting wheel from a dremel kit and then polish the inside with a small wire wheel brush on a drill. i also put a wire wheel on my drill and polished the end of the OEM mopar steering shaft. after a few cycles of this process, the universal joint slipped onto the OEM shaft. with this procedure, i did not have to cut off an original steering shaft. however, if you only have one steering shaft, doing this install by cutting the shaft and following the Borgeson instructions is also an option.
one last thing. one of the FABO guys told me about the adapter that is pictured that uses the OEM steering shaft parts at one end - the two steel squares that go over the pressed pin with the adapter sliding over top of these parts. this part is designed like the OEM mopar part only it is a little longer. this adapter WILL NOT work on a A body power steering conversion!! when you put the Borgeson box on the OEM mounting plate of the A body K frame, the box is "tilted" or "off center" about 20 degrees to the steering shaft. you can see this offset in one of the below pictures. apparently the B body cars have the steering box lined up "in line" with the steering column shaft with no off-set. i think i paid $225.00 for the noted steering shaft adapter that will not line up with the A body steering column. i have no use now for that adapter so if anyone out there in FABO land needs one, message me and we will work some price out. this adapter comes with the black adapter and all new internal parts, rubber gasket and snap ring.
sometimes when you are fixing or up-dating parts on old mopars you do "luck out" and the procedure i followed made this final assembly much easier. it only took me about an hour to do all the steps i noted above. i have to repaint the second steering column i found as it was out of a green interior car - but i've already painted some of the parts flat black and will be painting the rest of the column flat black tomorrow. if any one has any questions, let me know.. .
View attachment 1715619762
