I've been wondering for a while whether or not an electric power steering system could be installed on my 64 Greenbrier. On the road, no problem steering. However, with a bunch of people in the vehicle and negotiating getting into or out of a parking lot, too much grunt work.

Well, I did it. I bought the EPAS Performance unit and customized it for the FC.

How does it work ? FANTASTIC. I didn't know a tight parking lot could be this enjoyable. It took a bit of figuring out but it was worth it. Not cheap either.

I hope to be able to post some pictures on here if the website works now.

64 Greenbrier
64 Spyder (needs restoration)
65 Corsa 140, restored
66 Corsa turbo, restoring now
66 Corsa 140 "RR" code coupe fully restored
67 Pontiac GTO restored
69 Corvette 427 convertible restored
2015 Porsche Panamera S
2015 Corvette Z06
1965 AC Cobra (Factory Five)

In any case, if anyone is interested doing the same for their FC, let me know and I'll send you the details on all the details. It is a bit time consuming, maybe more so for me since I had to figure things out without much of any instructions. I figure for a fresh install, it should take about 15 hours.

Cost is about $1600 give or take, depending on how much upgrading you want to do on your current FC charging system.

64 Greenbrier
64 Spyder (needs restoration)
65 Corsa 140, restored
66 Corsa turbo, restoring now
66 Corsa 140 "RR" code coupe fully restored
67 Pontiac GTO restored
69 Corvette 427 convertible restored
2015 Porsche Panamera S
2015 Corvette Z06
1965 AC Cobra (Factory Five)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/03/2018 05:32PM by MattNall.

Nice job! Thanks for posting.

Craig N. Coeur d'Alene ID.
66 Black Monza 4dr, 4.2L V8 49k
61 Seamist Jade Rampside 140 PG
60 Monza coupe (sold, sniff sniff)
66 Sprint Corsa convt - First car! Re-purchased 43 years later
2+2 gnatsuM 5691

+17 Tons of parts

As FC owners Wither away.... they'll need this! gggg

---

MODERATOR
Sea Mountain, between Charleston Harbor and Coos Bay! SW Oregon Coast
Click HERE for My Website...Click HERE for My TechPages!
..............................110-PG.................................................Webered-Turbo

I looked up EPAS and watched a youtube video on a 1969 Camaro installation. While the install looked to be a bit involved, it also looked straight forward and something any competent individual should be able to accomplish with some basic mechanical understanding, proper tools, and patience.
Next I did a quickie search and found on the Jegs website that one of the application specific kits available was for the 1963-1966 Corvette which many of us know has a column similar to and sometimes interchangeable with out cars.
I imagine the installation wouldn't be all that different from the Corvette.

The Jegs kit number is 563-2002 and sells for about $1,450.00
EPAS Performance Electric Power Steering Conversion Kit 1963-1966 Chevy Corvette
[www.jegs.com]
Here is the Youtube link [www.youtube.com]

1962 95 F.C. Van
1965 Monza Coupe
Westminster, Maryland

MID ENG enthusiast &
prior Kelmark owner.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/03/2018 05:53PM by Caraholic4life.

Thanks Phil. The arthritis in my shoulders was my driving force.

Carholic4life, you’re quite right about the Corvette steering column being very similar. When I talked to Geoff Mason at EPAS Performance, we worked up the kit based on that similarity. The FC mast is 1.5” OD and the Corvette is 1.75” OD but otherwise the same. One of the hurdles was making sure the couplings set screws cleared the inside of the mast tube. To do it, I had to countersink the set screw mounting holes into the double D shaft.

As to Jegs, since this will require some mods to the two couplings, using the 63 Corvette kit won’t work. I recommend going directly to EPAS in Sarasota, Florida to get the correct specific parts needed. They’re great people and very accommodating.

Some considerations are running a #4 gauge power cable to the front to supply the 60 amp motor (maximum draw), using a 60 Amp circuit breaker, and going to a 65 amp alternator.

64 Greenbrier
64 Spyder (needs restoration)
65 Corsa 140, restored
66 Corsa turbo, restoring now
66 Corsa 140 "RR" code coupe fully restored
67 Pontiac GTO restored
69 Corvette 427 convertible restored
2015 Porsche Panamera S
2015 Corvette Z06
1965 AC Cobra (Factory Five)

I didn't know, like others I presume, how electric P/S works but your photos made it easy to understand . Looks like it could be installed on most older cars .

I just looked at the EPAS web site. You stated that you used their 60 Amp unit.

Their web page shows a 40 Amp unit for a C2 63-66 corvette as well as the C3. Both the C2 and C3 if equipped with optional PS would have had a ram type power assist. For the C1 Vette, which never had PS offered, EPAS uses a 60 Amp unit.

EPAS has a 35 Amp unit for EM and LM Corvair.

I am curious about the need for a 60 Amp in your FC.

The EPAS units have been on my radar for a while!

They have a large variety of 'kits' put together for a large assortment of cars. Of course the Corvair (EM, LM, FC) are NOT listed.

The Amp rating on the different motors indicates the MAXIMUM CURRENT the motor will draw when 'assisting' the Turn. The more torque needed to turn the steering column, the more current it will draw.

Motors that can pull 60 Amps will deliver more torque than ones that can only draw 35 Amps.

My "personal opinion" is that a 40 Amp motor should work fine in a Corvair, but may not have enough torque for an FC!

Again, just "MY" opinion!

Dale

Dale E. Smiley CPBE
Life Member The Society of Broadcast Engineers
RETIRED Broadcast Engineer
CERTIFIED CORVAIR NUT
CORSA/Circle City Corvairs/Corvair Performance Group
Avon, Indiana
WB9SFF
1967 4-Door Monza PG!

Well we now know 60 amp WORKS.... who's next?

---

MODERATOR
Sea Mountain, between Charleston Harbor and Coos Bay! SW Oregon Coast
Click HERE for My Website...Click HERE for My TechPages!
..............................110-PG.................................................Webered-Turbo

MattNall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well we now know 60 amp WORKS.... who's next?

Matt,
Are you steering this discussion to a higher amperage?

1962 95 F.C. Van
1965 Monza Coupe
Westminster, Maryland

MID ENG enthusiast &
prior Kelmark owner.

C2 and C3 Corvettes have 98" wheel base, front engine and are about 800 lbs heavier than the FC.

Well, yes I thought I was getting the 35 amp motor when I talked to Geoff Mason. However, the 60 amp motor was included in my kit. All kits are priced about the same, 35 amp motor isn’t cheaper than the 60 amp unit. I figured the motor will only use what it needs, and it’s better to have more vs less than needed. It works very well, very smooth, and effortless. I haven’t run an ammeter to see what the power draw is. Maybe I should.

64 Greenbrier
64 Spyder (needs restoration)
65 Corsa 140, restored
66 Corsa turbo, restoring now
66 Corsa 140 "RR" code coupe fully restored
67 Pontiac GTO restored
69 Corvette 427 convertible restored
2015 Porsche Panamera S
2015 Corvette Z06
1965 AC Cobra (Factory Five)

Mike look

[www.ebay.com]

---

MODERATOR
Sea Mountain, between Charleston Harbor and Coos Bay! SW Oregon Coast
Click HERE for My Website...Click HERE for My TechPages!
..............................110-PG.................................................Webered-Turbo

What did you want us to look at there? The Solar technology?

Prompted by the above post, here is a link to EPAS specific to the Corvair.
[epasperformance.com]
Below has been cut and pasted from the page: The attached photo has been enlarged to 200% from their site which should explain if it is blurry here.

Corvair Regular price $1,450.00

Included in Kit:

35 amp electric motor unit
Mounting hardware
Prewired control module
Notes:

Average install time of 10 hours
Requires some cutting
Steering wheel not included
Column not included

1962 95 F.C. Van
1965 Monza Coupe
Westminster, Maryland

MID ENG enthusiast &
prior Kelmark owner.

No, Matt was showing the availability of an ammeter to measure the current draw. I have the feeling the draw is quite a bit less than 60 amps but I’m not sure exactly what it is. Keep in mind, when you’re not steering with any effort. It might only be 2 or 3 amps. I ran a #4 gauge wire as well as used a 60 amp circuit breaker to play it safe. It’s possible a 35 amp motor would handle the needs.

With respect to the kit offered from EPAS Performance for Corvair cars, it’s only available for PG equipped cars. The clutch pedal on MT cars reduces the available clearance. This is true of the unit installed inside the car. The fuel tank location pretty well limits outside installation.

64 Greenbrier
64 Spyder (needs restoration)
65 Corsa 140, restored
66 Corsa turbo, restoring now
66 Corsa 140 "RR" code coupe fully restored
67 Pontiac GTO restored
69 Corvette 427 convertible restored
2015 Porsche Panamera S
2015 Corvette Z06
1965 AC Cobra (Factory Five)

Excellent Mike!

I'm not needing this assist now, however in the future this may be right op my ally! What a great option.



Corventure Dave

Caraholic4life Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Prompted by the above post, here is a link to EPAS
> specific to the Corvair.
> [epasperformance.com]
> Below has been cut and pasted from the page: The
> attached photo has been enlarged to 200% from
> their site which should explain if it is blurry
> here.
>
> Corvair Regular price $1,450.00
>
> Included in Kit:
>
> 35 amp electric motor unit
> Mounting hardware
> Prewired control module
> Notes:
>
> Average install time of 10 hours
> Requires some cutting
> Steering wheel not included
> Column not included

I don’t want to correct you but this is not the kit that works on the FC. In fact, most of what is shown isn’t needed or wanted. The U-joint, the collapsing shaft tube and the two-bolt flange bearing don’t apply here. Also shown is the smaller 35 amp motor. Aside from that, yes, it’s 100% correct 😱. I think you were just trying to illustrate a typical kit. If you want the part numbers of what is needed, just ask me.

One more thing, I am NOT marketing or in any way associated with the sale of these components. I simply posted this to show any who may be interested that it can be done and it works quite well. Also, I don’t think anyone can get it done in 10 hours.....more like 25 to 30 hours. I will say the parts from EPAS Performance are new and NOT retrieved from a junk yard like some of the DIY kits.