INSTALLING ELECTRIC POWER STEERING CELEBRATING 30 YEARS
An Aftermarket Electric Power Steering System Can Add to Your Driving Enjoyment…Especially With a Large, Heavy Vehicle.
Editor’s Note: We’re not saying that any of us don’t have the muscle power that we commanded 30 years ago when this magazine first came on the market, but maybe we’ve grown to value comfort and convenience a bit more over the decades. In that case, an addon power steering system might be just the thing you need to keep you behind the wheel of that car or truck you’ve been enjoying over the years.
Tired of breaking a sweat coaxing your classic equipped with Armstrong manual steering into a parking slot? Sweat no more. The nifty bolt-in power steering system reviewed here can upgrade your ride to 21st century standards of driving ease.
New car makers are ditching hydraulic power steering in favor of more efficient electric assists to save weight, cost, and consumption. Luckily, this technology has trickled down to aftermarket systems ideal for classic car use. EPAS-Performance of Sarasota, Florida, sells the $1450 kit shown here that’s been installed on a 1947 Packard Custom Super Clipper Model 2126 long-wheelbase sedan. American Powertrain (americanpowertrain.com) and Unisteer Performance (unisteer.com) offer similar bolt-in systems.
Parts Involved
The key parts in the EPAS package are a 60-amp electric motor combined with worm-gear drive unit and an electronic control box. The motor and drive unit are supported by the original steering column jacket once it’s been modified. The motor’s drive shaft is connected to the original steering shaft after it’s been sliced in two. All the added components can be stashed out of sight under the dash.
This particular installation was conducted by a restoration shop in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The first step was to detach the stock column from the Packard’s recirculating-ball steering gear so it could be removed from the car for modification. After disassembly on the bench, sections roughly 12-inches in length (see Photo 2) were cut from both the outer column sleeve and the internal steering shaft to facilitate connections and mounting arrangements.
The Shifter’s In the Way
As is often the case, one serious but not insurmountable problem cropped up. The Packard’s column-mounted shifter mechanism had to be moved out of the way of the motor/gear drive’s mounting position. Altering the factory’s parallel arrangement, the restoration mechanic ran the shifter’s shaft at a skew angle through the firewall and toward the steering gear to clear space for the motor/gear drive. A long muffler clamp now attaches the relocated shifter shaft to the bottom of the steering column. Shifter links connecting levers on the shaft to levers running to the transmission also had to be shortened.
Some Electrical Changes Were In Order
This Packard came from the factory with a six-volt positive ground electrical system. That arrangement was upgraded to a 12-volt battery and negative ground for improved starting and charging. The 12-volt EPAS equipment then hooked up without issue. A 12- to 6-volt converter module needed to operate the factory gauges and other equipment shares an underdash mounting bracket with the EPAS control computer.
Because the new assist motor’s shaft now blocks the factory steering shaft’s internal passage, the wire from the steering wheel’s horn button had to be rerouted. Minor turn signal wire re-jiggering was also necessary.
What’s the Time Investment?
While EPAS suggests that the typical installation takes only eight hours for someone handy with basic tools, this Packard’s complications multiplied that time requirement by a factor of three. That neither surprised nor bothered the car’s owner, Kirk Seaman, whose hobby is modifying the vintage cars he collects. He’s learned that few mod jobs are ever as short as they initially seem.
You Can Dial In the Amount of Help You Want
A torque sensor built into the assist motor signals the EPAS control computer when and how much power assist is needed. A potentiometer mounted to the bottom of the dash and wired to the controller allows adjusting the assist according to the driver’s whim. That’s a good idea because it was only during parking that this Packard was originally a handful. The EPAS system doesn’t alter the steering ratio so this car’s 4.7 turns lock to lock remains unchanged.
If You’d Like to Pursue This Further…
The EPAS website epasperformance. com offers excellent photos and descriptions of this hardware plus videos for shoppers to gain an understanding before clicking the “order” button.
In addition, several support services are offered. Ford Mustang owners can exchange their worn-out power steering gears with a manual unit refurbished by EPAS, ready for the electric assist upgrade. In addition, EPAS will handle the modifications necessary for some applications if a customer ships in his complete column. Last, EPAS offers a modern power rack-and-pinion steering gear with the electric assist motor attached at the pinion shaft location.
Show Cars vs. Drivers
One last issue is the deductions most concours judges impose for engineering modifications of this caliber. But for those whose driving ventures beyond the show field, installing modern power steering is an excellent means of sweetening their classic car love affair.
Resource
EPAS Performance
2111 Whitfield Park Ave. Sarasota, FL 34243
