Power Steering in a GT (was "Just 1 Q???")

[Wolf35]

can you put a power steering pump on a 1971 Opel GT

[opelnut10]

Originally Posted by Wolf35 can you put a power steering pump on a 1971 Opel GT

In order for power steering to operate you need a power steering rack & pinion and none were made for the Opel GT or Kadette. I don't know if they were available in europe after-market but I have never seen one.

[heimue]

Originally Posted by opelnut10 In order for power steering to operate you need a power steering rack & pinion and none were made for the Opel GT or Kadette. I don't know if they were available in europe after-market but I have never seen one.

No, they were not. Every once in a while a DIY conversion can be looked at at a meeting, but I doubt that you'll find more than a handful conversions on the Opel planet.

Dieter

[yellaopelgt]

A Gt is so small I dont really think it would be nesssecasry for P.S. Not to mention, to try and fit a pump and what nots in there would be quite the challenge! Why do you want it?
Joe

[Wolf35]

it is not for me its for my wifes GT she asked me if there was a way to put one on i said i dont thank so but i will ask you guys

[yellaopelgt]

aaahh I see. She must be having a problem turning the wheel at a standstill...best might want to remind her to only crank the wheel when she's moving!! Problem solved!!

[Wolf35]

Thats true very true they are somewhat a pain to turn when you sitting still

[namba209]

You should try it with fatter tires and a bigger engine.

[trailblazer2727]

Back in the day, our answer to easier turning on a manual box was to fit a larger steering wheel. Are any available for the GT? Rich

[Motor Mouth]

As Heimue said.....not available as an option on the European GT.....apart from the one released in 2007 lol.

I do have a suggestion and that's to use the 'electric PS' set up from the modern Corsa, that's what a lot of the rallying boys are doing.

[kwilford]

Moderator Note: Thread moved to "3B - Steering: Linkage, Column and Gear Box"

You're not having much luck with posting in the correct place! The GT Forum is reserved for questions specifically related to the model (same for Kadett/Manta/Ascona Forums) that wouldn't be better asked in the Technical Forums. Simply, if every question relating to a GT was asked in the GT Forum, members would never find anything. Most threads belong in the appropriate Technical Forum, NOT the GT Forum.

And, a search is ALWAYS better than starting a new thread. This question has come up at least a couple of times, and IIRC, at least one member HAS installed a power steering setup in a GT. Try a search, or look through the relevant Forum (which is why we are concerned about threads being in the correct Forum).

As a favour, here is a very good thread on the subject.
http://www.opelgt.com/forums/3b-stee...eering-gt.html
I think that there [is] are at least a couple of other threads if you go looking.

HTH

[Wolf35]

Originally Posted by kwilford Moderator Note: Thread moved to "3B - Steering: Linkage, Column and Gear Box" You're not having much luck with posting in the correct place! The GT Forum is reserved for questions specifically related to the model (same for Kadett/Manta/Ascona Forums) that wouldn't be better asked in the Technical Forums. Simply, if every question relating to a GT was asked in the GT Forum, members would never find anything. Most threads belong in the appropriate Technical Forum, NOT the GT Forum. And, a search is ALWAYS better than starting a new thread. This question has come up at least a couple of times, and IIRC, at least one members HAS installed a power steering setup in a GT. Try a search, or look through the relevant Forum (which is why we are concerned about threads being in the correct Forum). As a favour, here is a very good thread on the subject. http://www.opelgt.com/forums/3b-stee...eering-gt.html I think that there is at least a couple of other threads if you go looking. HTH

OH i see now ok i think i see what you r talking about sorry about the trouble

[opelnut10]

Originally Posted by trailblazer2727 Back in the day, our answer to easier turning on a manual box was to fit a larger steering wheel. Are any available for the GT? Rich

If you can get your hands on one, a Manta Ralley steering wheel is larger than the GT wheel and will bolt right on, it has the same spline and you can also make the horn work by hooking the wire to the Manta wheel. It make a nice conversion if you can find one in good condition.

[blancojp]

Howdy All!
Power steering in a GT is an easy task which should take you about 1/2 day to do. The trick is finding the components and having a bracket made for the pump. Otherwise all fits in like a glove.

You first find a rack unit from an early chevette which I have seen al over Ebay for $80. Try to also purchase the hoses from the chevette unit since you will need them and they are very cheap. The next step is to buy a fat man fabricators pump which is a little pricey but it is small and it fits anywhere. You now mount the rack in the same location using all of the same hardware from the Opel rack since they are the same length, same mounting points and bushings. You can reuse the existing tie rod ends since the rack has the same thread.

One problem is the return hose which you might have to bend the pipe slightly to clear the crossmember. The second problem is that for the early style rack, there are two different types of joints which might require a different universal joint. The universal unit is from Borgerson, the cost is $49 and is made for a 3/4" DD style rod.

Otherwise, everything else attaches the same way. I have done this conversion in the past and it is a good as factory installed units.

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by blancojp Howdy All! Power steering in a GT is an easy task which should take you about 1/2 day to do. The trick is finding the components and having a bracket made for the pump. Otherwise all fits in like a glove. You first find a rack unit from an early chevette which I have seen al over Ebay for $80. Try to also purchase the hoses from the chevette unit since you will need them and they are very cheap.

This is news to me...but good news! Do you know what years had this? I've tinkered with some Chevettes in the past but they were all manual racks. I've been trying to find a suitable-width power rack and pinion for my father's GT for some time now, and was narrowing it down to either E30 series BMW or first gen. Miata. But a Chevette should be damn near perfect in terms of inner tie rod width (to avoid bump steer issues).

Bob

[heimue]

Originally Posted by blancojp You first find a rack unit from an early chevette which I have seen al over Ebay for $80. Try to also purchase the hoses from the chevette unit since you will need them and they are very cheap.

JB, that is great information! Can you please specify the year/model of Chevette, I might be interested to do this conversion on my Manta.

Thanks,
Dieter

[BQS4]

I happened to find this on Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market

1981
Steering Rack/Box
Chevy Chevette 1.6L,4SPD,POWER EXC $50 Cristini's Auto Wrecking, Inc. USA-PA(Brockport) E-mail 800-672-7160 590

[baz]

im sure there was a dutch or german member doing kits a couple of years ago , every thing to do a gt or kadett in one pack

some searching should find it

[BQS4]

Baz;
It was the guy with the real nice red Targa, but, that "kit" was about $3K

[blancojp]

The chevette rack fits nicely with minor mods. I know because my '72 has one installed but I don't remember what the mods amounted to. The rack has to come from a '76 through '78 chevette scooter and most of the suspension bushings used on this car can be used on a GT. Here is a picture of the rack, you will see the similarities off the bat. It even used slightly wider rack bushings and same mounting location.

I also experimented with a mustang II rack which I adapted to a '70 for a customer. The mustang manual rack moved the front wheels with no effort at all while standing still. With this rack, you need to modify the bottom of the radiator support to clear the rack body. Other than that, weld in two new rack mounts, cut the threaded rods on the rack for proper length, get a 3/4" DD shaft and you are ready to go.

[OpelThom]

Originally Posted by BQS4 Baz; It was the guy with the real nice red Targa, but, that "kit" was about $3K

BQS4,
Yes it was my set, bud it not for sale anymore. Maybe I have the solution, over here in Europe there’s shop who has a complete electric conversion to just bolt on and its even automatically speed adjust, look at www.spledidparts.de the cost; around $ 800,-

gr. Thom

[jmbinjax]

That link doesn't appear to be good.

[OpelThom]

Originally Posted by jmbinjax That link doesn't appear to be good.

Sorry, forgot a stripe, here's the good one; www.splendid-parts.de

gr.
Thom

[heimue]

Originally Posted by blancojp The chevette rack fits nicely with minor mods. I know because my '72 has one installed but I don't remember what the mods amounted to. The rack has to come from a '76 through '78 chevette scooter and most of the suspension bushings used on this car can be used on a GT. Here is a picture of the rack, you will see the similarities off the bat. It even used slightly wider rack bushings and same mounting location.

I looked into it a little, and I only found results for rack&pinion for manual steering for the Chevettes and Chevette Scooters. I actually found your picture in the Partsamerica.com catalog, also for a manual steering box.

Dieter

[Phoenix]

Isn't the track width on Mantas/Asconas wider then on GTs? The racks aren't interchangeable, are they?

At any rate, Mantas/Asconas have more room under the hood so you could probubly use just about any PS pump, it would just all be in making up the bracket and making sure that it used a V-belt pulley.