Modernize Your Classic Mopar Steering with a Borgeson Steeering Box

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[@heartlandvieo]

I màde this upgrade to my 1973 Challenger and it was one of the best things I did. No more sloppy steering.

[@dustinmckee1857]

I’m doing about the same setup with my 73 dart 🤙🏻 good video m888 glad I found your channel!!!

[@jamesmancusi6747]

I put one on a 69' Barracuda so I could get a decent pair of headers on a 360. It was an ease to put in, and on my first test-drive, it worked like a dream! Unfortunately, during that test drive the washer that's provided for the high-pressure port failed - BIGLY! After the HAZMAT team left, I wound up replacing it with a copper washer - everything is golden now. There's also no way I would have gotten my TTI's in without this modification.

[@marqgunderson1168]

I'm definitely curious how this Bergman kit upgrade works out. Got a '72 B-body that I'd like to put the kit on. The column shaft is manual. But the inner shaft of the telescoping part has a nylon pin holding it in place for the manual box. It also is drilled farther along the shaft in a different location to place the inner shaft in a position relative to the outer shaft to make it compatible with a power steering box. The nylon pin can be punched or drilled out, the shaft repositioned, and a new nylon pin inserted in the newly aligned holes to make the column a power steering column. Getting to the age now where manual steering is a bit of a drag. Keep the videos coming!

[@user-gm6ti1mf2y]

I installed one on my 69 Cuda, but I'm still getting a little play in my steering wheel. Can you do a video on how to adjust the Borgeson? By the way I love it, and every mopar guy should change it out...

[@toryrau2803]

I subscribed... great info. Thank you. I was looking for Part 2 of this and didn't know if you have posted yet or not. Link?

[@LifeatSpeed]

Thank you for your support! I haven't been able to complete the install yet. I will be in the coming weeks.

[@christown4783]

Did I miss the overview? Looking at installing in my roadrunner and want to see how it handles and works.

[@Carlwalski]

Great video mate. Will this work with Ididit tilt steering columns? My factory power steering unit fits the Ididit column so should be no different. I have a 70 Challenger so I assume I need a 1-1/8”?

[@Carlwalski]

Ps: does it wander at all now? Or can you take your hands off and it will stay straight? (For a short but reasonable amount of time)?

[@LifeatSpeed]

Unfortunately I still haven't finished the install, life has been getting in the way, but I'm hoping soon I'll be able to button it up. You should be able to use it with the ididit steering column, I'm just not certain what adapter you'll need. Bergman makes an adapter to attach the box to the stock steering column. I can't remember which year e bodies had which diameter shafts for the pitman arm. There should be enough of it exposed with the pitman arm installed to measure it with either a tape measure or a pair of calipers.

[@badstimpy]

Wonder if they make them in RHD ?

[@robertbrooks3312]

I installed the kit and it was great at first but has developed some play in the steering. Is there an adjustment on the steering box to take out play?

[@LifeatSpeed]

I'd recommend contacting Borgeson's tech support and see if there is an adjustment and how to adjust it.

[@ggv69340]

I have a 70 dart swinger 340 with manual gear box I want to swap to power steering wich adaptor do I need for the steering shaft thanks

[@LifeatSpeed]

Unfortunately there is no adaptor to go from manual steering to power as the manual steering shaft is longer than the power steering. So your options are to buy a power steering column, buy a power steering shaft to replace the shaft in your column (not sure what other parts are needed for this swap if any) or cut your shaft to the length of the power steering shaft.

[@MrSirjud01]

So I just bought a 74 D100 and dont know a ton of the history, but do know that its lowered on B100 suspension, and has a 360 from a 2002 Durango. The power steering is super sloppy and leaking. Will this Borgeson PS work on the truck just like the Challenger? Also, any suspension suggestions? It will just be a cruiser, may haul some toys like an atv or dirt bike, or hit an occasional autox but nothing super competitive.

[@LifeatSpeed]

I don't know much about the older Dodge trucks, but I doubt they use the same steering boxes the cars use and in that case the Borgeson box won't work. You may want to give the folks at Steer and Gear or Firm Feel a call and see if they can do anything with your steering box. I wish I could be more help.

[@smilsmff]

Manual steering box is hell to make sharp turns at low speeds darn right clumsy , and feels like i amd bending steering wheel in half to do multi point turn around from garage

[@OnederElite]

How tall are your garage ceilings? Wondering for a future 4 post lift.

[@LifeatSpeed]

Mine are 11'4"

[@Scarlet_1971_cuda]

When you do the install of all these components, are you doing them one at a time and then going for a drive to see what kind of improvement/cumulative improvement each item gives or are you going to install them all and then do your assessment? I did some pricing and it looks like doing everything is about $5K depending on which/whose components you pick. Therefore, if I don't have that much saved was wondering which items were the best bang for the buck. I'm sure they all help, but some might help more than others or some combinations may build on each other more than others.

[@LifeatSpeed]

Unfortunately I'm going to do a single driving video after installing everything. Since I don't have access to a skid pad and equipment to measure lateral G's or a race track to compare lap times I won't be able to really quantify the improvement, and since I can only qualify the improvements and some components will result in improvements I can't feel I will only do a final drive. Plus with the weather out here and my limited time available I can only do a final result comparison. I wish I had the resources to do what you ask, but at the moment I don't. Thank you for the question, it will help me shape my upcoming videos so I can go into detail on what each of the components will do and which are the best bang for the buck.

[@Scarlet_1971_cuda]

@@LifeatSpeed Understood. Thank you. I'm not planning any track racing, but I would love to get rid of the steering wheel wander you described in this video and improved emergency maneuverability would be great!!! While I love driving my '71 'Cuda and getting all the waves and thumbs up, that also means they aren't watching the road, sigh... I really wouldn't care about an improvement of .2 G on a skid pad or a half second faster in a slalom course. I want to be able to be able to safely make sharp/quick maneuvers to avoid an accident, road hazards, or people drifting out of lane staring at my 'Cuda. :)

[@LifeatSpeed]

For that I'd say your best bet would be the steering box and upper control arms. And if the price of QA1 upper control arms and a borgeson steering box are too expensive you can get additional caster by installing the Moog offset bushings 7103 in a manner other than directed (I posted a link to a forum post in the control arm video) and you can get better steering response by sending your power steering box to Firm Feel and get faster steering ratio by installing Firm Feels fast ratio pitman and idler arms.

[@johnrosado9245]

Great info! How do I know if I have/ need a small or large sector? What is that exactly?

[@LifeatSpeed]

The sector is the shaft that comes out of the box the pitman arm attaches to. 65-72 had the small sector which is 1 1/8 inch and 73-74 had the large sector of 1 1/4 inch

[@johnrosado9245]

@@LifeatSpeed thank you for the breakdown.

[@LifeatSpeed]

You're welcome!

[@rockymeyers4030]

Bergman is competitively priced compared to jegs and summit on the individual borgeson items. Their coupling is the only way to go, as it will allow for a little bit of movement in and out. The Borgeson u joint won't be as forgiving. This will save abuse to the lower bearing in the steering column and turn signal switch.

[@LifeatSpeed]

Thank you for the feedback. Excellent points!

[@harrywalker5836]

@@LifeatSpeed hi,bought borgen box, im in aus.. the pit arm is too big,or shaft too small. theres only 2 sizes, 1 1/8 - 1/4. where do you measure width from, inside my splines is 29.5mm, which is 1 1/8.. output shaft is smaller. just cost me $860. for junk.. skidauto. cant send back,cost too much..WHY THEY DO THIS. SEND JUNK O/S, SO YOU CANT BLAST THEM. ASSHOLES..

[@NorthwoodsNomad]

I have a 1986 Dodge Power Ram D150 with a 318 . Power steering gear box is shot , leaking like a sieve. The truck is going to be restored and I will replace the 318 with mildly built 383 that was pulled from a 71 challenger . I’d definitely like to upgrade the steering gear box as well . I’m sure they make these for the truck , just curious if everything is going to be compatible with the big block and aligning the pulleys / belts to the power steering pump etc. Any information would help greatly thank you 🙏

[@LifeatSpeed]

I just checked borgeson's website and they do offer a box for your truck. With the box being available there should be options available for power steering pump mounting. Unfortunately I am not extremely well versed in that era of truck to have a great answer for you.

[@NorthwoodsNomad]

@@LifeatSpeed Hey that’s ok , I appreciate your feedback and taking the time to respond. I don’t need a quick ratio , just a a replacement/ upgrade .

[@LifeatSpeed]

@@NorthwoodsNomad if that's the case, there should be a number of options available for a replacement unit or having yours rebuilt and a variety of brackets and pulleys available to get to where you need to be.

[@coolestchannel4413]

Does Less turning mean that the turning radius gets larger or is it the same turning radius?

[@LifeatSpeed]

Turning radius stays the same. What changes is how many times the steering wheel turns.

[@chargerman426]

Was a follow up showing the install ever done?

[@LifeatSpeed]

Sadly not yet. The birth of my daughter and the summer heat has slowed the progress on the install.

[@chargerman426]

​@@LifeatSpeed Thats why you need AC in the shop! I'm getting ready to at a least mock mine up so i can fabricate headers for my 440 Dart. It looks like the only "special" part about the box is when you rebuild the coupler. I think everything about the coupler rebuild might be the same BUT theres no missing tooth so you have to align everything on your own and then use a set screw vs the factor roll pin.

[@LifeatSpeed]

@@chargerman426 that is correct, the alignment is the only "tricky" part about the installation. And while AC would help some, my daughter is taking up most of my time and even with AC, I probably wouldn't have the box installed yet.

[@jseal21]

$1400 for a steering box? Throw a Fox Body Rack and Pinion under it for damn near the same money. I'm 100% Mopar or no car and I get wanting to keep the feel of the classic but when it comes to handling upgrade, upgrade, upgrade, IMHO

[@JimmyLoose]

No. Too much hassle.

[@LifeatSpeed]

This is literally one of the simplest installs and results in a big positive impact on the handling of these cars.