mk1 transit v4 1977 powersteering

[caldwelld]

Hi , Has anyone ever fitted powersteering to a mk1 v4 1977. Is it possible?
Don

[Neil]

the easiest way is to fit an electric unit from mk2 mania in bolton

[conrod]

If you can find one, the Mk3 power steering box is a really nice conversion. I detailed how I fitted one to my Mk2 here, and Mk1 will be basically the same, as the steering and suspension is much the same:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=164212&hilit=supervan&start=45

I am just about to fit another one of these Mk3 PS boxes to another one of my Mk2's, although this time it will be powered by a Merc. A Class electro-hydraulic pump, rather than an engine driven pump.

The PS conversion is just awesome, and makes the van a pleasure to drive now! It needed more castor as the steering was too "pointy" (I went from a 1.5° wedge to a 5° wedge) and this improved it a lot once the PS was fitted.

[Neil]

theres just none to be found

[conrod]

I have bought 5 of them in the last 5 years, and I managed to do that from NZ! They are still out there, you just gotta look hard!

[Neil]

so you've got them all then having driven one with power steering and one with the electric column theres no difference in the two, the electric units hidden under the dash so the van still looks original under the bonnet which a lot of people are now looking for

[conrod]

so you've got them all then having driven one with power steering and one with the electric column theres no difference in the two, the electric units hidden under the dash so the van still looks original under the bonnet which a lot of people are now looking for

Hahaa, you might have a point there Neil!

I get that some people would not want the visual difference under the bonnet of the power steering box, with hydraulic lines and pump etc. especially on an original or restored van.

One of the other differences between the two setups is that the Mk3 box is a much quicker ratio than the original non PS box, so the steering takes much less turns of the wheel. I personally like this, but this may not be important to some people.

[Neil]

well I find the v8 mk 1 really heavy to use but the mk 2 seems fine without any help at all

[conrod]

funnily enough, I have a Mk1 V8, and a Mk2 LWB just like you! My Mk1 has always had power steering, so is easy to steer. I always found my Mk2 very heavy, even with high tyre pressures, greased kingpins etc.

One explanation could be the tyres themselves. I have 205/70x14 car type tyres on the LWB Mk2, inflated to around 30 psi. Before fitting the power steering it was very heavy to steer. Afterwards it was easy as expected.

On another one of my Mk2's, an Aussie Sundowner with the (very heavy) 4.1 six, it is manual steer. I have the original 7x14 "Sunraysia" wheels fitted with new old school BF Goodrich T/A's. Good looking tyre, heavy to steer, rubbish grip in wet and dry! I fitted a standard set of steel rims with a new set of Hankook Vantra 195r14 tyres for TV work. These are a good quality commercial 8 ply tyre. Inflated to around 45 or 50 psi, the steering effort almost halved! As an added bonus, these tyres had far better grip in both wet and dry!

[Neil]

have them tyres on the mk 1,, I think the mk 2 lwb is easier to steer as its automatic and both arms are always on the wheel ? maybe

[conrod]

My Mk2 LWB is automatic too. It was a real pig at parking speeds before fitting the PS, definitely both arms and shoulders required! What tyres you got on the Mk2?

[Neil]

just standard fitment , its bogstandard as it still works for a living it was v6 auto from the factory

[Tranny76]

@Conrod, i was wondeing if the powersteering conversion was a succes. And what conversion did you use. I was searching for an electric steering coulum and box from a Toyota Prius(must be the only good from the car anyway ) .Hacve read thet the unit from a Corsa is used a lot...

[caldwelld]

Hi Tranny,
i have fitted the power steering unit from a corsa C unit . it works great and the resistance can be altered to suit your individual requirements. The rally men prefer the corsa B unit as it is smaller in size.
I wiil try and get a photo of it to send to you in the next few days.

[Tranny76]

Thanx, looking forward to see how it’s done.