iansoutham

When I spoke to him the day he brought it

CozzyKing

iTrader: (2)

Thats not proof, the fact that his mate has told me to get in touch with the guy is tho lol

MarkN

So did this company do the "genuine" motorbility conversions then? Or is it a retro fit. That's what I'm trying to get at.

As I understand it the motorbility cars were converted by a contractor employed by Motorbility as soon as they left the factory. They still had the 1 year Ford warranty intact. I think a lot of them had a raised roof to accomodate a wheelchair, and also extended drivers seat runners to allow it to be slid further back.

I'd like to know what rack these used as I have been told, rightly or wrongly, that it bolts straight on to a normal shell. This would make sense because they'd want to do such conversions as quickly and as cheaply as possible - they wouldn't want to start cutting a brand new car.

I'll try to find a picture of one of these and post it up. One was listed on Ebay last year but it didn't have any engine bay photos.

iansoutham

His mate don't count

CozzyKing

iTrader: (2)

No worries mate I spoke to him earlier today and he says he will keep me in mind if he does decide to sell but a couple (one of which I believe is you) of other people are interested in the kit too so I will keep my fingers crossed and in the meantime I will try to find out what I can to do something else myself.

iansoutham

If I can find out exactly what was used to do the conversion (especially if it does not mean cutting the bulkhead where the column goes through), I may look into getting supplies and making some retro-fit kits. From speaking to Jonesy, I have sussed the extra bars fitted, I can modify/make some PAS hoses and can mount the PAS pump, etc... It is just the column piece I am stuck on (do not like electric pump idea as the Corsa ones in work always give problems and I should know, I work for a Vauxhall main dealer).

CozzyKing

iTrader: (2)

Oh mate I feel for you you poor thing handling those things must make you feel so dirty by the time you go home, hope you aren't too damaged by your daily duty. lol

On a more serious note though I know from what I have read on here and a few other forums there are a lot of people interested in converting there cars so it would be great if we could get something sorted for it.

CozzyKing

iTrader: (2)

They did do the motability conversions a long time ago but stopped doing them as a result of it costing far too much in the long run.
Also quite a lot of the motability cars were standard cars with auto boxes and power steering added to them afterwards and the wheelchair access vehicles were done by a coach builder for motability or so I am led to believe.

iansoutham

Not a problem for me, I work in the bodyshop dept. so get to see Vauxhalls (and many more brands) in their best possible state...... in pieces

CozzyKing

iTrader: (2)

ROFL glad to hear you take pleasure from the vauxhalls state of disrepair mate

SafeChav

Mark that defo looks like a bolt on rack to me, and it looks identical to a standard rack bar obviously the pipe connections. It must be a custom rack made for the Mk3 so it bolts straight on as you say.

JesseT

To me the rack doesn't look like starigth bolt on as it seems to have an adaptor plate in between. Also hte angle of the takeoff for the column seems wrong, a little like the Bluebird column on an RST, and I doubt it won't go through the firewall from the original opening.

NC53

I've got a Mk4 power steering setup which was removed from a motability car. Not sure who did the conversion but it does not look like a ford rack to me - has a conversion bracket on it.

Can post up pics if anyone is interested.

Neil

AstoN_B

iTrader: (1)

I'm interested, im going to convert my mk4 cab since the zetec mondeo engine came with pump and steering needs to be light.

Can i have all details please mate?

rsvmad1

Old thread, I no! but thought ad put this here just in case people are still interested in converting to Power steering.

Its easier than you think.. using a corsa B unit electric, no pipes or reservoir etc etc heres a link a bloke making the kits ready to bolt on..

If you have a little no-how could me made by yourself alot cheaper

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ESCORT-MK4...ht_3426wt_1270

cossiestu

Demon Tweeks (i think) do/did an aftermarket leccy pas kit, I'm sure, although mega bucks, iirc

AstoN_B

iTrader: (1)

That seems like a very easy upgrade but the standard rack is used, the main benefit of power steering for me is a quicker rack, rather than one easier to move.

I like the feel of a standard rack enough to keep it unless theres a much quicker rack that you can use with this setup. Haven't seen any Mk4 quick racks for a long time.

Brilliant for a daily i suppose, my only experience of electric power steering is of a new shape punto, and we all know how that ends

16vzetec

ive got a mk4 escort with power steering.
it was a converion kit using a nissan bluebird rack but it is not straight forward and invloves bulkhead modding and custom steering colum and ive got modified pedals to clear the colum.
my ps pump was easy as i have a 2.0 zetec with a complete mk5 escy pump setup.
mk5 escort racks are too wide and are not feasable.
you can get electric conversions for 500 quid on ebay and its far easier to do, i reccomend that instead of all the grafting
my cossie rims are 7j and 40mm offset, fit a treat

AstoN_B

iTrader: (1)

As i said the main problem with the electronic PAS is that it uses the original rack, which turns forever to get from one lock to another.

I wanted PAS to have a quicker rack, i never found my steering too heavy unless parallel parking, even then it wasn't unbearable. I don't know of any quicker racks without buying an expensive rally one (which aren't too common anyway).

16vzetec

i may sell my setup soon as im thinking of going back to manual rack, im trying to lighten the front end of my car considerably so there are alot of luxuries coming off of it very soon

AstoN_B

iTrader: (1)

Is it a bolt on conversion with a proper rack designed for power steering?

At the moment I'm only planning to make a jig so i can finish building my car and make a rack at a later date when i have more time.

snippet

Guys...any further forward with this? I have a 1987 1.4GL and would like it converted to power steering.
Are there any kits available yet and does anyone know of rough cost?

Cheers

AstoN_B

iTrader: (1)

A company on eBay is selling the conversion kit using I think Corsa power steering column, keeps your original rack, so it doesn't turn quicker it's just easier to turn.

TommysKeeper

iTrader: (2)

Hope these help...

S2 RST fitted with Motability power steering conversion







Cheers, John

AstoN_B

iTrader: (1)

Spoke to that company a while ago, they have no recollection of doing these conversions let alone what bits they used lol.

Johnnysmiththe1

I bet it looks a load of 🐕💩 a mk4 with mk3 series 1 turbo wheel arches like Quasimodo's kid let's hope it got Esmeralda's good looks