|
Should have made power steering aluminum
#1510730
10/01/13 02:41 PM
10/01/13 02:41 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,432
NorCal
RylisPro
OP
top fuel
|
OP
top fuel
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,432
NorCal
|
I got a Firm Feel stage 2 power steering yesterday and damn its heavy 37lbs! Does power steering need to have cast iron to hold in the fluid pressure? If not, then someone should make an aluminum unit On another note, how many of you run the fast ratio Pitman arm? Is it worth it? Thanks 
|
|
|
Re: Should have made power steering aluminum
[Re: RylisPro]
#1510731
10/01/13 03:09 PM
10/01/13 03:09 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,442
NW Chicago suburban area
Mopar Mitch
pro stock
|
pro stock
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,442
NW Chicago suburban area
|
With the longer Fast Ratio Pitman arm, make certain you also install the longer Idler arm so to have equalized left/right turning radius. It was a factory oversight to not install the longer Idler arm when the Fast Ratio ps gearbox was optioned (which automatically gave you the longer Fast Ratio Pitman arm).
Mopar Mitch
"Road racers and autocrossers go in deeper and come out harder!"... and rain never stops us from having fun with our cars... in fact, it makes us better drivers!
Check out MOPAR ACTION MAGAZINE, August 2006 issue for feature article and specs on my autocross T/A!
|
|
|
Re: Should have made power steering aluminum
[Re: RylisPro]
#1510734
10/01/13 04:52 PM
10/01/13 04:52 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,302
Nebraska
72Swinger
master
|
master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,302
Nebraska
|
The Borgeson is 16 lbs lighter.
Mopar to the bone!!!
|
|
|
Re: Should have made power steering aluminum
[Re: RylisPro]
#1510735
10/01/13 05:10 PM
10/01/13 05:10 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 31,050
Oregon
AndyF
I Win
|
I Win
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 31,050
Oregon
|
I don't think there is any reason a PS box couldn't be made from aluminum. The factory just did it the cheapest way possible back in the 60' and 70's. FFI doesn't have enough cash to re-tool the entire case so they use factory cores. It would cost $$$ to tool up an aluminum PS box.
I bet a person could build a billet PS box. Probably cost a few grand though. It cost me $3000 to build the first SB billet timing chain cover.
Last edited by AndyF; 10/01/13 05:16 PM.
|
|
|
Re: Should have made power steering aluminum
[Re: AndyF]
#1510736
10/01/13 05:28 PM
10/01/13 05:28 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,696
Bitopia
jcc
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
|
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,696
Bitopia
|
So can anybody weigh the CS housing by itself and we can make an educated guess as to a projected weight savings by having an alum casting, with the first guess assuming no increases in thickness as a starting point?
Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
|
|
|
Re: Should have made power steering aluminum
[Re: jcc]
#1510737
10/01/13 05:38 PM
10/01/13 05:38 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,310
Walnut Creek, CA
blown340
master
|
master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,310
Walnut Creek, CA
|
I've had a FF stage 2 box with the fast ratio idler and pitman arms on my challenger for about 15 years and am very happy with it.
-Jon
70 challenger convertible. 340/5 speed. blown, intercooled, efi, blah blah blah
71 valiant scamp 318/A833OD/AC/PS
00 dakota RC 4.7L 5 spd autoX'r. SRT10/T56 swap in process
73 W200 Power wagon, PTO winch, 4 spd
|
|
|
Re: Should have made power steering aluminum
[Re: 72Swinger]
#1510739
10/01/13 06:37 PM
10/01/13 06:37 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,432
NorCal
RylisPro
OP
top fuel
|
OP
top fuel
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,432
NorCal
|
Quote:
The Borgeson is 16 lbs lighter.
I checked out the Borgeson unit and damn its expensive!
http://www.borgeson.com/xcart/home.php?cat=143
$749 for the power steering unit and $130 for the steering coupler, also they list the unit at 25 lbs.
37 lbs. - 25 lbs. = 12 lbs.
Borgeson $749 - Firm Feel power steering $359 = $390
$390 / 12 lbs. = $32.50 per pound!
If I had known about the Borgeson first and how heavy the OEM power steering unit is, I might have gotten it but I am kind of glad to save all that money.
I think it would be better to invest that $390+ I saved in an aluminum small block
|
|
|
Re: Should have made power steering aluminum
[Re: RylisPro]
#1510740
10/01/13 07:05 PM
10/01/13 07:05 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,302
Nebraska
72Swinger
master
|
master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,302
Nebraska
|
I have a pic of mine on the scale reading 21#. You also need to Subtract the cost of the fast ratio arms from you equation since they aren't needed.
Mopar to the bone!!!
|
|
|
Re: Should have made power steering aluminum
[Re: 72Swinger]
#1510741
10/01/13 07:21 PM
10/01/13 07:21 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,432
NorCal
RylisPro
OP
top fuel
|
OP
top fuel
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,432
NorCal
|
Quote:
I have a pic of mine on the scale reading 21#. You also need to Subtract the cost of the fast ratio arms from you equation since they aren't needed.
ok
Firm Feel 37 lbs. - Borgeson 21 lbs. = 16 lbs
Borgeson power steering $749 - Firm Feel power steering $359 = $390
$390 / 16 lbs. = $24.375 per pound
Also, the Borgeson is 14:1 ratio while Firm Feel's fast ratio arm is 12:1
Would that make a big difference?
|
|
|
Re: Should have made power steering aluminum
[Re: Supercuda]
#1510744
10/01/13 09:01 PM
10/01/13 09:01 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 813
Ontario,Canada
brads70
super stock
|
super stock
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 813
Ontario,Canada
|
Quote:
Quote:
I don't think there is any reason a PS box couldn't be made from aluminum. The factory just did it the cheapest way possible back in the 60' and 70's. FFI doesn't have enough cash to re-tool the entire case so they use factory cores. It would cost $$$ to tool up an aluminum PS box.
Then why is the manual box aluminum?
the older stuff (30's and 40's) were iron, muscle car era is aluminum. Is there anyone that makes an aluminum recirc ball power steering box?
Good question? 
|
|
|
Re: Should have made power steering aluminum
[Re: ahy]
#1510745
10/01/13 09:12 PM
10/01/13 09:12 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,432
NorCal
RylisPro
OP
top fuel
|
OP
top fuel
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,432
NorCal
|
Quote:
Related topic... you probably already know that the long arm can interfere with headers. Some fit, many do not. I believe FF has a list of known combos that work and others that don't.
I saw that list on their site
http://www.firmfeel.com/fastrati_e.htm
It says the 1-3/4 TTI's fit on a small block
I have a set of 1-5/8 Doug's D453 headers on my 340
Since the TTI's are a copy of the Doug's I should be good there
|
|
|
Re: Should have made power steering aluminum
[Re: 72Swinger]
#1510747
10/02/13 12:42 AM
10/02/13 12:42 AM
|
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,432
NorCal
RylisPro
OP
top fuel
|
OP
top fuel
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,432
NorCal
|
Quote:
how much did the fast ratio arms set you back?
I haven't gotten the arms yet but they are $195 for the fast ratio Pitman & $90 for the fast ratio idler
|
|
|
Re: Should have made power steering aluminum
[Re: RylisPro]
#1510748
10/02/13 02:59 AM
10/02/13 02:59 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,442
NW Chicago suburban area
Mopar Mitch
pro stock
|
pro stock
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,442
NW Chicago suburban area
|
Ryliss... I have small block, Hooker 1-3/4" comp-series and they fit OK. I think the BB engines with headers are more a selected fit issue with the long arms vs the small block application.
Mopar Mitch
"Road racers and autocrossers go in deeper and come out harder!"... and rain never stops us from having fun with our cars... in fact, it makes us better drivers!
Check out MOPAR ACTION MAGAZINE, August 2006 issue for feature article and specs on my autocross T/A!
|
|
|
|
|
I've got a few bigger blocks of 7075 aluminum kicking around....