How hard to add power steering to early van?

[hdenter]

How hard is it to ad power steering to an early van? My 84 work van has been off the road for a while and I was hoping to replace it with a later model van that has power steering. A tree fell on it a few years back which disabled the sunroof and in the winter months I have to tape that off to keep from having interior flooding. Unfortunately, my wife's car is dying and I have no desire to invest any money in that vehicle. It's a GM with miles to the moon and no resale value. She's given it a few rubs over the years and it just isn't worth putting any money into it. That means she either gets the late model van or she gets my Yukon. Either way, I'm likely going back into my '84. I just can't do manual steering anymore. It kills my left shoulder that I primarily steer with(need the right hand to shift). I have a couple late model parts vans that have power steering and I'm sure I can find a solenoid for the bypass air. What else do I need? Would I have to use all the steering column from the late van? Will the power steering rack and tie rods reach out to manual steering knuckle mounting holes?Anyone else done this recently?

Hans
_________________
'79 triple white convertible bug
'84 sunroof vanagon
'85 weekender

[VicVan]

I've never tried it myself, but I think in your case the best solution is clearly adding electric power steering.
Do a research here on the forum (some members adappting a Ford unit or something, I met a Syncro owneer in Victoria who was very happy with the mod), and also on the greater interwebs, like these:
https://epowersteering.com/purchase/product/vanagon

https://www.slaughterhousecustoms.com/product-page...ersion-kit
_________________
'90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH)

[hdenter]

I'd think about that sort of thing if I was doing something where I needed to get rid of the power steering pump(like a turbo set up or something that needed space back there). However, since I have all the necessary parts from donors, stock is cheapest. Just don't know all the ins and outs of doing this. Does anyone know of a thread on this? The search force is not with me on this.

Hans
_________________
'79 triple white convertible bug
'84 sunroof vanagon
'85 weekender

[?Waldo?]

I don't know if the PS will work with the manual knuckles, but considering you have the PS knuckles, in your position I would swap them out.

[Vanagon Nut]

yeah I'm not finding any obvious "how to" on this. I've certainly considered doing this on my '81. The PS on my '88 is certainly dreamy.

It should be a bolt up affair. How hard? Well, depends. A stripped out or otherwise damaged radius rod can ruin ones' day. Personally I'd see if I could save time, effort, by swapping out each set of LCA, radius rod, knuckle etc as a "unit" (I know it can be removed as such with the older style radius rod).

I think some of the PS "gotchas" could be the PS U joint, leaky rack (and quality of current rebuilds).

How wide are you current tires?

Neil.
_________________
1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
(VW Gas I4)

1988 Westy DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[hdenter]

The thing is, I have the Mercedes/BMW brake set up on my '84. I like it. It won't work with the later spindles. If I swap spindles, I'll have to do a later big brake setup. With the loads I carry and my driving needs, non-vented rotors start warping in a matter of months. They just can't take it. I'd rather not lose my early spindles....

Hans
_________________
'79 triple white convertible bug
'84 sunroof vanagon
'85 weekender

[fxr]

I installed the slaughterhousecustoms.com Electronic Power Assisted Steering a few years ago - and we wished we had done it right at the start when we first bought the van. It transforms the driving experience. I thoroughly recommend it - it installs in a easy afternoon.

https://www.slaughterhousecustoms.com/product-page...ersion-kit
_________________
Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300

[hdenter]

That looks nice, but it's also $700 plus shipping. Like I said, if I couldn't use hydraulic, I'd think about electric. I've got plenty of stock parts, just need guidance from anyone who has done this or knows of a pertinent thread.

Hans
_________________
'79 triple white convertible bug
'84 sunroof vanagon
'85 weekender

[vwjoel]

I've done two power steering conversions. An '84 Doka and an 89 Tristar. It would be the most correct to use the power steering specific spindles but I didn't on the 89 and it works fine. I left the old manual steering wheel too since I can see the gauges better through it.

The power steering rack will bolt up to the same 4 mounting points on the frame. When I got the rack from the parts van I removed it tie rod end to tie rod end so I don't know of the tie rods are different.

The steering driveline to the rack is different. The manual rack has a rubber coupling on its input and the power rack has a universal joint. The other end to the angled gearbox is the same. You'll need to source the power steering specific driveline and universal joint.

The power steering pump should bolt onto any 1.9 or 2.1 block and if you have a standard North American model the engine will have the cast iron crank pulley with the three belt grooves.

To mount the reservoir it is best if you find a bracket from a parts van. In my last install mounted it off to the right just above the pump on a custom bracket. I was inspired to make a bracket after binge watching Project Binky. This may not work for a van but was easy for the rear access of a Doka. I used the reservoir out of a Eurovan because the fittings were angled better. This one doesn't have the internal filter though so is not ideal.

For the pressure lines I opted to have a custom pressure hose made at my local Parker hose dealer instead of source the original hard lines and then fight to get them in the frame. The pressure fitting on the pump is very Vanagon specific with the switch and bends in it. The hose guys at my local shop had a policy of not using used fittings in their hose assemblies. After some convincing they used my fitting and all has been well for the last three years. The return hose was Parker push on low pressure hose back to the reservoir. I wish I had the fitting part numbers for you but you may be able to find them by searching the forum for the power steering rubber hose conversion.

[hdenter]

Cool! This is what I needed to know! Thanks Joel!

Hans
_________________
'79 triple white convertible bug
'84 sunroof vanagon
'85 weekender

[djkeev]

Hans, as you add power steering create a thread on your experiences so others who follow in future years will find answers and help.

Good luck!

I do think you might consider buying hydraulic hoses instead if trying to move those rusty power steering pipes to a different Van.

Dave
_________________
Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos

Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

[hdenter]

To be honest, I really don't want to put that '84 back on the road. I'd much rather have that '90 van for my work. We'll see what happens in the next week or so. If she agrees to trading cars, I'll document the power steering swap when I do it.

Hans
_________________
'79 triple white convertible bug
'84 sunroof vanagon
'85 weekender

[shagginwagon83]

[markswagen]

it's not difficult to add power steering to early vanagons, if you are still aircooled, that poses a problem, but it can be over come, VW put AC onto aircooled vanagons, that bracketery could be modified to run a power steering pump.
if you have an early WBX, then it's all pretty much a bolt on job, the only thing that needs modification, is the pinch welds, on the frame, by the fuel filler neck, VW left a space for the power steering lines on later vans, the early ones, the pinch welded seams were longer, l have added power steering onto my '84 tin top, and when l converted a 1980 westy to subaru power.
l have another 1980 to subaru conversion coming up in the next few weeks, this one also will be getting the power steering upgrade, apart from cutting the pinch welded seam, everything else is a bolt on upgrade, as long as you have all the parts.
_________________
markswagen {mobile mechanic} san diego area all early VW's cared for.

619 201 0310

[Mateo83]

I’d weigh the pros and cons of the slaughterhouse kit vs some dumbbells

[shagginwagon83]

Do you even lift bro?
_________________
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin

[VicVan]

No need to lift if your van doesn't have power steering...
_________________
'90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH)

[9.5isCanadian]

[ndorian]

That kit, and the positive review, are worth thinking about to me. For someone without parts vans and such. Thanks for the link. Plus, the seller/manf. may be a Vonnegut fan.

[Gnarlodious]

If you do add the hydraulic power steering I strongly recommend the Jetta pump, as the Vanagon pump is a little weak especially if you have wider tires.
_________________
Vanagon ’83 diesel AAZ w/Giles injection, 5spd 4.57R&P+TBD and a '78 diesel Rabbit