Power Steering: AGR vs Lee, 670 vs 800, 69 BBC Camaro, Review

[GregWeld]

The valve is more "restrictive" than the ding in the header pipe...

[chr2002ca]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

The valve is more "restrictive" than the ding in the header pipe...

You haven't seen the ding! Make that 'dings'. They're almost as bad as the ones in my head, and those have been restrictive all my life.

[Matt@BOS]

Originally Posted by chr2002ca

You haven't seen the ding! Make that 'dings'. They're almost as bad as the ones in my head, and those have been restrictive all my life.

Dude, the dented headers would really bug me, especially because the driver and passenger sides would look noticeably different. Rather than spend the money having an exhaust shop cut and modify several of the primaries, might a suggest a cheaper alternative:

Exhibit A:


As you will see from the picture above, it has already been made to match your driver's side header. If you are interested I am willing to negotiate a reasonable price.

Matt

[GregWeld]

Matt!!

The perfect solution!

[Flash68]

Originally Posted by chr2002ca

I'm running a stock style Saginaw P style pump that I purchased from Summit(#SUM340103). It's a basic pump, nothing special. I asked Lee to rebuild to match the new box and to rebuild it so that it would take some occasional racing. So it's slightly lower pressure at low RPM which causes a little more effort in steering, but hopefully that saves me from having too much pressure at high RPM. I don't get over 5800RPMs so I'm not stressing the pump too much like some folks might.

I've talked with people that have had good luck with AGR and talked with people that had the same experience I did, so I think it's a bit random. Honestly, I don't think there should be that much randomness for that kind of money. When I spoke with Lee, they actually had a good explanation for why that randomness might occur with other vendors and it's why they completely disassemble and rebuild each unit they get from GM. Who knows, maybe a 4th try with AGR would've worked out, but it's such a pain in the arse for me to remove that box so I just wanted to try something new that might eliminate 'chance'. Each person I talked to that used Lee was very happy, so I gave them a shot. Now, if the Lee box blows out at RTTC, I'm going yank the whole steering system and just tie 2 ropes to the steering knuckles and go that route.

Thanks for the reply Chris. Since I have the AGR 12:1 box I think I'll try matching it with their upgraded pump. We'll know soon enough how it works!

Personally, I like Fumigator for your car name.

[ProTouring442]

I am a bit confused as to the need to have the pump"re-valved" to "match" the box. All of the effort valving is contained in the box, the only thing in the pump is the high-pressure bypass and any lowering of that value can cause a lack of assist when assist is most needed.

Or am I not understanding things here?

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by ProTouring442

I am a bit confused as to the need to have the pump"re-valved" to "match" the box. All of the effort valving is contained in the box, the only thing in the pump is the high-pressure bypass and any lowering of that value can cause a lack of assist when assist is most needed.

Or am I not understanding things here?

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

Bill -- Don't try to use a Chevy pump on a Ford rack.....

That's what's being changed -- the orifice in the pump on a Chevy is too large for the Ford rack...

Not sure what is what on these boxes and pumps being discussed in this thread - but obviously there is a mis-match that has to be "adjusted".

[Track Junky]

Chris, just my $.02 and way to late, but there are other options that would have given you header clearance such as a bolt on rack-n-pinion set up. I went with the Flaming River rack. Aside from avoiding clearance issues the weight savings is substantial.

As far as power steering pumps go, I used a KRC aluminum set up with seperate resevoir and I have been running time trials and track days on road courses with this set up since 2002. Whats nice about the KRC pumps is you can adjust the feel of the steering by changing the flow valve on the out put side of the pump.

I think the total set up cost me about $1400.

Once again, just my $.02

[chr2002ca]

Originally Posted by Track Junky

Chris, just my $.02 and way to late, but there are other options that would have given you header clearance such as a bolt on rack-n-pinion set up. I went with the Flaming River rack. Aside from avoiding clearance issues the weight savings is substantial.

As far as power steering pumps go, I used a KRC aluminum set up with seperate resevoir and I have been running time trials and track days on road courses with this set up since 2002. Whats nice about the KRC pumps is you can adjust the feel of the steering by changing the flow valve on the out put side of the pump.

I think the total set up cost me about $1400.

Once again, just my $.02

Thanks for the friendly advice Gaetano. Trust me, I have considered the rack solution many times considering all the trouble I have had with these boxes and getting them to fit. I guess I'm just working my way up the food chain. I went with the $600 Lee box versus the $1400 rack strictly based on price. Also, my front end is a bit low and I'm a little nervous about how the rack and mounting bracket hang down below the frame, but I do like the idea of the further weight loss. I thought the new Lee 600 series box would actually fit better because it was smaller, but once I tried to mount it, I learned it actually fit worse, so I was kinda stuck at that point with just having to ding the headers a little more. I've been driving the car around the past few days and I really love the feel of my steering now, so if I can just get those 2 primaries on my headers re-worked, I think I'll be good to go. I wish I had a dollar for every time I've said that.

[Blake Foster]

ATS/Lee also sell the TC series (ie new Corvette) pumps with remote resevoirs that are all blue printed. new seals,bearings, and flow tested. Tom also recomended a cooler on ResurreXion with an inline filter the filter has some effect on the pump pulse waves that can smooth out the system flow,also his resevoirs are designed like a drysump tank, and on my car there is NO Airation!!! no whine and it primed in about 20 seconds spinning the pump with a drill.
if you are having power steering problems give me a call and i can talk to Tom and it will get fixed.