Borgeson 800 series power steering boxes

[TOG1937]

Anyone installed one of the Borgeson 800 series steering boxes to solve the on-center wandering and numb feeling of the OEM boxes?
What were the results?
Was it worth the time and cost?
Any install hints or suggestions?
Thank you!
The Old Guy
1973 Fire Am 455 HO Richmond Gear 5-speed

 

[melsg5]

Did you try adjusting your oem box. Engine off, steering wheel straight, if input shaft above coupling has flat surface near top edge it should be pointing up, loosen locknut, tighten center screw till it stops, do not force it, tighten nut.

 

[TOG1937]

Yes, tried that previously. Also added more positive caster in the alignment and that did help but not to the level desired.

 

[TOG1937]

Well... went ahead with the Borgeson 800 Series power steering box and coupling (rag joint) upgrade and the Borgeson 800 unit is now installed in the Fire Am. The new P/S hoses have arrived and now waiting on the new power steering pump and lower steering column ball bearing upgrade (replaces the OEM plastic bushing), they both should arrive tomorrow, Friday. Once that is all in then another new intermediate steering shaft will be installed to complete the upgrade. The coupling in the new-last-year intermediate steering shaft developed excessive play and was making a clunking noise. It may have failed prematurely (or may have just been defective) due to the shaft making very slight and intermittent contact with the rear part of the upper control arm due to the increased number of spacers required to get more positive caster. The pitman arm will be connected last to permit easy turning of the steering to facilitate installation and alignment of the box, coupling, intermediate shaft and the steering column.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all !!

______________________________

 

[TOG1937]

Update: The ball bearing upgrade kit received to replace the plastic bushing at the lower end of the steering column was defective. The bearing retainer ID was much too large Vs the OD of the bearing. The bearing just slopped around inside the supplied retainer, so loose that the bearing would just spin freely in the retainer rather than the bearing work as it should. After some research I found this is not an uncommon problem with these kits:

Anyone else seen this issue or have more info on this?
A replacement kit has been ordered and as a back-up plan also ordered one from Ames Performance. Would really like to get this put back together and road-tested before the snow flies here in the Lakes Region of NH, really hoping the Borgeson steering box addresses the on-center feel issue.
Will report back,
The Old Guy

 

[TOG1937]

Update: The Ames Performance lower steering column bearing kit arrived today and.... same problem! The bearing slops around in the bushing with seriously excessive play. Tried installing it on the steering column shaft just to see if fitting the collar and clip would make any difference, alas, but no. Excessive play in the shaft due to the bearing so loose in the retainer and the whole bearing just spins in the bushing when the wheel is turned. Rats! Sent a video the Ames tech support and waiting to hear back what they have to say.
More waiting...

 

[TOG1937]

Shipped the defective Ames Performance lower steering column bearing kit back for a refund. Ames paid for the return shipping - Thank you Ames! Found another supplier for this bearing, Wolff Engineering. They manufacture a VERY HIGH quality MADE IN USA upgrade that uses a cartridge bearing. Their kit uses 4x set screws to positively locate the bearing on the steering shaft and totally eliminates all play between the bearing ID and the shaft that exhibits in the OEM setup and other kits. The quality of the Wolff Engineering kit, the packaging and the included instructions is very high, about what you might expect when purchasing a fine Swiss watch. Very detailed instructions, both needed hex wrenches and lock-tite are all included. Very, very impressed with the Wolff Engineering product. Upon installation of the Wolff kit and a brand new Jeg's P/N 555-90891 lower steering shaft I found the upper joint in the brand new Jeg's shaft caused a nasty clunk due to excessive play in the joint, same as the year old and only ~1,000 miles shaft it was to replace. So, back goes the Jeg's shaft and ordered an Ames Performance shaft P/N FA478HEA. The Ames shafts are re-manufactured OEM shafts and, hopefully, will not exhibit the same excessive play and clunk noise flaws as the Jeg's and the previous shaft. Waiting on delivery now. Will post a report and a video of the Wolff Engineering bearing kit up on the Fire Am Registry youtube page in a bit.
The Fire Am Registry youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXxzUbLroPS9uRZCU4nJViA
The Old Guy