Adding PAS to a Chimaera

[anonymous-user]

In the final stages of purchasing a chim but it'll be my first tvr without powered steering. How difficult is it to source the parts and fit? I'm struggling to find specific kits online so wondered if anyone here had done the job. Tvrs are bitza cars so is it rover pump, some other rack?

I'm reasonably handy and I've fitted PAS before to a bmw so I'm not too concerned over the job if I can get the parts.

[Jordie Barretts sock]

Bespoke TVR rack mate. The only bitsa bit that isn't!

Some have done a rack conversion with Subaru parts I believe.

[Pagey430]

I'm doing such a conversion to my 92 Griffith and part way through so far.

Rack is late Chimaera (part no H0229 but others may fit). Rack was a straight swap, same mounts, same steering rods. The input shaft on the rack is some 30mm longer than my old manual rack so having to source a 30mm shorter steering shaft with 2x 80mm UJ's (9/16" to 3/4" splines in each case), there are many combinations of different shaft lengths and UJ lengths etc.( Motaclan, Racetech, Powers Performance to name a few have various parts available but no one source appears to do them all)

I sourced a rebuilt rack from Ian at Sportmotive, who has done many conversions including Subaru (these are much more involved apparently)

Might be worth speaking with Ian to see how much he can pull together

hope it's of some help!

[anonymous-user]

Thanks for that! Typical that its a bespoke TVR part, I was expecting it to be from something obscure like a Renault Fuego or something.

I'll hunt for that rack part number on Ebay and see what I can find.

I'm half expecting to stick without PAS but I'd like to know that I can upgrade if I don't like the steering feel.

[Belle427]

I’d personally do without it, you will get used to it and it’s much better when up to speed.

[lee02]

I had a Griffith with electric power steering retro fitted it was much better than the system fitted to my current Tuscan. It adapts to the speed of the car so light when parking and none-existent at motorway speeds.
It was in the region of 2k fitted

[wuckfitracing]

If you are handy with the spanners a Subaru Impreza conversion is not difficult.

[Belle427]

wuckfitracing said:

If you are handy with the spanners a Subaru Impreza conversion is not difficult.

Id agree but assembling the parts is a bit of a headache especially the hydraulic fittings.
i also had to trim away some of the rack mount metal for clearance issues which was hard work due to access.
Seems everyones car can be slightly different when doing mods like this.

[anonymous-user]

The Subaru approach does sound like the way (Tony at HHC also recommended it). I'm lucky in that I'm near a lot of good parts suppliers in Team Valley. They matched some hose ends for me when I last did something like this.

[Belle427]

All the info is here.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[anonymous-user]

Brilliant, thanks