has anyone heard of doing this on a ls1 car, if so what kind of pump did they use? couldnt you use just a fluid pump? say like a fuel pump or something to that affect. i saw this on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...TODAY.m238.lVI
, im thinking of buying, or i may just make my own up. what do you guys think? please help asap

 

25 views but no one has a clue huh?

 

It appears from the photos that he's using it not only to run the power steering, but also hydro boost brakes. That must be one bad a$$ pump. I'd buy one if I knew they worked well.

No ordinary fuel pump is going to deliver anywhere close to the volume and pressure needed to operate power steering. There must also be some internal valving to enable it to bypass to lower pressures when unloaded, but deliver adequate pressure when needed.

 

I would pass on it.

 

Looks awsome, can't say how reliable it is, or how big of an alternator you're going to need to run that thing. I bet it pulls quite a large amount of amps (40+). No systems in a car that has one of those.

 

why dont you just get a true electric steering rack.. if your going through that much trouble, im sure some OEM vehicle has one you can fab up.

 

yeah, flaming river makes one for our car, but its like 600 bucks.

 

im going to see how it is, an once it on there for a couple of months i well post up an let the f-body nation know how it is. thanks guys for you input

 

i do not have a clue but,

considering the power assist for a typical rack & pinion runs around 1000-1500 psi,
a fuel pump isn't going to do ****.
You want an electric hydraulic pump, maybe something like the trim pump from a mercruiser outdrive (that's a boat if you don't know). google or ebay "mercruiser trim pump".


that would operate no problem in the correct pressure range. How much fluid flow is required I have no idea, might be close considering it raises the drive under zero load pretty quick and there are two trim pistons so the volume might be equivalent to that of a car's rack and pinion. depending on the type of auto application if all you want is "power assist" for low speed turning, and at high speed you need minimal to no assist then it would probably work.
The trick would be getting the pump to turn on when you turn the steering wheel.
I doubt the pump motor would last long if you had it operating whenever the engine was running.
And I think the pump motor draws around 15 amps.

 

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fusea...deoid=10554330

 

Interesting. Do you have a link?

 

hmmm i cant find it now, a buddy of mine was telling me it was a manual rack, but a different gearing in it to make it easy to steer, with no power at all. owell im going to see how this turns out, sounds like a good idea to me, if it dont work the way i want then that 300 down the drain,lol

 

Let us know how it works out. Personally, I am going to go for the manual rack... whenever all my personal BS settles down.

 

That guy is full of crap. A few years ago I ran my LT1 on a chassis dyno with and without the belt and the difference was only about 8 RWHP. When your going straight the P/S pump draws very little power, unlike that mondo electric pump which is going to be drawing a heavy electrical load all the time. I'm guessing the increased load on the alternator will not only shorten it's life but will offset most of the power you gained buy getting rid of the P/S pump.

Also notice he says it's only used for 3 years. It obviously wasn't wasn't that great of an idea or they would still be using it.

Re'

 

Yeah I saw 26RWHP and said .

Also that pump has to be noisey as all hell and on a street driven car make you nuts. But if it's not a street driven car why would you try so hard to preserve the PS. At least you'll have PS in the staging lanes now.

 

hi,

electric steering pumps are commonly used in late model fiat and renault vehicles, they are not any more noisier and function perfectly, they cost about $700. i used one in my drag car last season, and am very happy with it.

volkan

 

That's a really cheap setup. Any updates?

There is a aftermarket electric assist system that is not hydraulic and mounts under the dash. Flaming River looks like it carries it, but they have no price.

I read an article in a Rodder magazine that did an install in a 30's Ford. They say it works real well and has a computer that alters the resistance. It was around $3,000 installed. It goes in between the firewall and the steering column.

http://www.streetperformance.com/par...-steering.html

If the price and the install hasn't turned you away, it's also only for cars that already have a manual steering box and under 3200 lbs.



Our cars are already setup for hydraulic power steering so we need an electric pump setup for them.

 

Q and A from that Ebay seller:

 

Toyota uses them on the newer MR-S, you can probably find it at a local yard for a lot cheaper than 600.

 

The ones on the Ebay page are around $300.

I'll look into the MR-S. I've never heard of them before.