Power Steering transplant

Post by **5lab** » 13 Oct 2004 10:04 am

its always really heavy.

Post by **foggyjames** » 13 Oct 2004 05:13 pm

Greasing everything up might help...but its never going to be like shaking hands with Dale Winton. Having said that, the standard 360 PAS setup isn't that light (compared to a 7/900 say), which I think is a good thing, as it helps to retain some 'feel'.

cheers

James

Post by **Essex1** » 13 Oct 2004 05:23 pm

But light enough for a heavily pregnant woman to turn though, right??! I think its ok as it is unless you wanna 'drive spiritedly', but then its not my motor...i've got PAS!!

Post by **Fuse** » 13 Oct 2004 05:25 pm

Well I think the steering is good. Heavy at low speeds though but then you just need to drive faster.

And what comes to suspension I think it takes corners very well for a stock suspension. Should have better anti-roll bars though. Has too much roll when cornering. Notcieable diffrence between GLT's stock suspension and GL's Koni suspesion (which has better anti-roll bars etc...)

Post by **Essex1** » 13 Oct 2004 05:28 pm

Good god, they put turbo's in the blimin things!! Takes me back to the days of my Datsun Cherry......

Post by **foggyjames** » 14 Oct 2004 02:13 am

Not from the factory...but its a popular modification - And an easy one. The engine more or less bolts in, and you go from 115 (for a 360 GLT) to 182 bhp (for the 740/760 turbo engine - B23ET/B230ET). And that's before you start working on it

Yes, naturally the steering is as light as you'd want it to be (although I'm talking about the factory 360 setup now - I have no idea what the Steering Developments kit is like, but I guess its pretty light), its just not as feather-light as many power steering kits are.

Or to put it another way, there is still some feeling in the steering when you're doing 60+ mph, whereas many PAS cars are set-up to be 'one finger' feather-light for parking, but as a result feel 'jittery' at speed. That's certainly how Dad's 940 is, and although its kinda cool for parking, I wouldn't get on with it on the track, or on a cross-country thrash.

cheers

James

Post by **Essex1** » 14 Oct 2004 09:20 am

That sounds interesting, I like a turbo (though admittedly impractical on a 1.4 auto used for shopping and tip runs!)....what about the drive train, brakes, suspension,etc? Can they cope or are there more popular mods available? I know a man who may wish to do something like that...

Post by **foggyjames** » 14 Oct 2004 11:06 am

There is always spare capacity in a drivetrain, but the 360 has a stronger system than a 340. That is the big weak-point though - I'd not expect to be able to push more than about 250bhp through it.

As I'm sure you're aware, the suspension is fairly soft, but (as with the brakes), it depends on why you are thinking of uprating them. I want the turbo engine for better acceleration, not to actually go faster, so I figure I don't need to uprate any of that stuff.

A 360 GLT has stiffer suspension than anything else in the range, but only marginally. You have a major problem in stiffening the rear end, as its leaf-spring. You're talking custom springs, or getting lucky on something else fitting. Of course you can do a rear suspension swap, but frankly suspension design is a VERY complex field, and I'd rather have the slightly roly-poly Volvo 'grandad' setup than my own poorly designed and most likely unsafe-on-the limit system.

Brakes are a bit easier - 400 series vented (and larger) brakes ought to fit straight on, and then you can go custom. The rear drums are huge, especially on a 360, so I don't think you need to look at that too much.

I guess it depends what you want from the car....

cheers

James

Post by **Duvel78** » 14 Oct 2004 08:32 pm

Fuse wrote:Well I think the steering is good. Heavy at low speeds though but then you just need to drive faster.

Exactly my point of view: heavy (sometimes too heavy) for parking manoeuvres (but good for the muscles

) and just PERFECT when driving. The steering lock is brilliant > I forget the fact it's heavy at low speeds.

Post by **5lab** » 14 Oct 2004 08:50 pm

i dont find nessy too heavy at low speeds, and believe it or not, grace is LIGHTER (with that b200e sat there) to steer. guess thats the worn steering rack that the mot guy wanted to replace then..

Post by **Duvel78** » 14 Oct 2004 09:13 pm

I would say it's ok for low speeds, but for parking it could be better, a bit too heavy.

Grace is lighter? There's a problem then cause my 340 DL (with 175 tyres) is lighter than the 360 GLi (also with 175 tyres) It's difficult to say if the 360 GLi is lighter than the 360 GLT I owned (with 185 tyres), maybe a little bit.

The DREAM was the 78' Volvo 343 of Amaury (155 tyres), tested in September, so light at low speeds...