Electric power steering (EPAS)

[t walgamuth]

I have it on my Lotus 7 replica. I believe it is from a small chevy (cobalt?). It has a small dial and knob to adjust the assist. It works fine and has about one turn lock to lock and a lot of movement on the steered wheels. You can get very very sideways and simply turn the wheel and keep driving.

[Corley]

My 52 Hudson Wasp electric ps project

http://s294.photobucket.com/user/stu...20PS%20project

Great to see you guys chiming in on this, it may be awhile before I get to mine. This Hudson install looks a bit more complicated than I anticipate the Avanti will be, due to the shifter along side the column.

Good on you!

[Dan White]

Here are some vids that may help:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKzCaEjvJeM (cheap way)

Controller on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Electric-Pow...RZJvZk&vxp=mtr

Other DIY options non-Saturn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4TYQ_KJSpc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Asom84Ci9VI (expensive way)


of course these are stick shift cars, so if separate shifter rod is used it will be more complicated.

[Jerry Forrester]

Yeah, that second link is mine.

[Corley]

Jerry, Those pictures pretty much show everything a person needs to know. Great job, looks like you did/are doing your Starlight right! One advantage you have on me is that you don't have a bunch of other crap under the dash to deal with. Since I'm basically not changing anything, nor restoring anything inside the Avanti at this time, I've got to work around all the crap under there, and find a spot where it fits, and that I can build mounts to support it. (We must keep in mind that the unit will have rotational forces that must be held in check as it helps rotate the column.) In your case, the column clamp is the only thing I see in your pix to control rotation, I'm sure you must have something else that is hidden. You would not want that unit to climb around the column on you.

[345 DeSoto]

CORLEY - These are what I bought for doing the EPAS on my Sky Hawk... $88... https://www.ebay.com/itm/09-10-11-12...xYJJj7&vxp=mtr and this https://www.ebay.com/itm/09-10-2009-...!US!-1&vxp=mtr

I researched different EPAS systems, and with the controller, the Toyota Corolla is, by far the least complicated to hook up...3 wires only...power, ground, and ignition on...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4TYQ_KJSpc

[Jerry Forrester]

CORLEY - These are what I bought for doing the EPAS on my Sky Hawk... $88... https://www.ebay.com/itm/09-10-11-12...xYJJj7&vxp=mtr and this https://www.ebay.com/itm/09-10-2009-...!US!-1&vxp=mtr

I researched different EPAS systems, and with the controller, the Toyota Corolla is, by far the least complicated to hook up...3 wires only...power, ground, and ignition on...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4TYQ_KJSpc

The Corolla looks like it may be a better set up. Since the control module is divorced from the column, and you can mount it anywhere you want. The Saturn's module is part of the column.

[JoeHall]

For electric steering, it appears somehow the drive motor, which sits beneath the dash, must anchored very solidly. If not anchored, when the steering wheel is turned, the motor would rotate instead of the gearbox input shaft. How/where would a person anchor the motor in a Stude?

[DWBookout]

Interested

For electric steering, it appears somehow the drive motor, which sits beneath the dash, must anchored very solidly. If not anchored, when the steering wheel is turned, the motor would rotate instead of the gearbox input shaft. How/where would a person anchor the motor in a Stude?

I'd give serious consideration to converting to 12 VDC Negative grounds if this were a doable modification.

[sweetolbob]

I'd give serious consideration to converting to 12 VDC Negative grounds if this were a doable modification.

Just curious why you don't think it's doable. Any number of examples from Jerry's here to Ididit units commercially available will work. The Avanti in the Fantomworks episode was converted to EAPS so there a track record of viability. Not to mention about any new vehicle produced in the last few years is equipt with same so I'm wondering what's wrong with the application of this technology?

Bob

[gordr]

I expect one would anchor the unit in some fashion that mimics the way it was anchored in the donor car. If you feel you need more support for the motor, weld up a flat plate to be attached to the firewall.dash supports, so that it lies just above the motor, and attach the motor to it using a large U-bolt. Rubber strips to cushion it.

[Buzzard]

Yesterday I drove a friends' new Ram 1/2 Ton and commented how precise and quick the steering was. It turns out it is also electric! Big surprise it drove so well.
Bill

[sweetolbob]

Yesterday I drove a friends' new Ram 1/2 Ton and commented how precise and quick the steering was. It turns out it is also electric! Big surprise it drove so well.
Bill

As does my 14 Ram, these trucks are no longer your father's half tons. At the weekly old fart get together last monday, one of the group that owns a 17 Silverado said his truck was also most like it had no power steering at startup on a -15 deg day when he had parked outside overnight. It loosened up after he drove it some distance but we cogitated that it might be possible that his electric power steering was setup to not over stress the unit by limiting assist against a stiff resistance.

We then went on to more important stuff like local bridge closings and best meals served under $8, you know - the important stuff to we alte kakers.

Bob

[Corley]

Agree with using the Toyota unit and already bought one. It is a bit smaller overall than the Saturn unit. The biggest problem in installing it in the Avanti is there is not a lot of room above the column under the dash area for the epas unit. I still haven't gotten the energy to do the install, since driving the Avanti without PS is not really difficult, and the latest Model A project has been consuming my time.

[TWChamp]

Agree with using the Toyota unit and already bought one. It is a bit smaller overall than the Saturn unit. The biggest problem in installing it in the Avanti is there is not a lot of room above the column under the dash area for the epas unit. I still haven't gotten the energy to do the install, since driving the Avanti without PS is not really difficult, and the latest Model A project has been consuming my time.

Model A's are also my second love of old cars. Studebakers come first of course. There is a fairly new excellent Model A site called Vintage Ford Forum.