Power Steering for Daytona Spyder

I know Gary Bobileff here in San Diego has done this conversion. I saw a coupe daytona being retrofitted with power steering at his place a year or two ago. I think he told me they used parts from a 2+2, but I don't remember which model it was (perhaps from a 365 2+2?). Looked nicelly done and you could not tell it was not supposed to be there.

You might try him, he's not that far from the OC.

Alberto

 

Retrofits have been done from c/4 racks and also from more run of the mill GM parts. In theory it's easier to hide the ladder.

 

Hide it from what...? Concours judges...? Or does the conversion somehow make unoriginal parts visible in the interior or outside of the car...?

 

did you find the answers about your conversion??im also considering doing the same..

 

What about an electrical PAS? I see systems advertised for other classics, can't see why it wouldn't work on a Daytona.

 

Electrical systems almost always rob the steering of any kind of feel. It'll feel like a Prius (numb). I saw a C4 system on a coupe once at Talick's, I think. Can't recall with certainty though...

 

Go to Gary, he has done many of these conversions, it is unobtrusive and the cars drive beautifully. The conversion does not result in over assist, it is a nice compromise.
Malcolm

 

as someone who drives a 365GT2+2 every week, I can attest to the power steering on that car; it is light, but provides good feedback and does not have that vague steering-a-barge feeling that many power assisted steering systems have.

 

I recently did a side by side drive of my C4 and a terrific B4 (the Forza article), The B4s manual steering is wonderful above 100 miles an hour, however, in that heavy Daytona under 100 with the motor squat on the wheel centers, the C4 handles much better. You will be absoultely astonished at how much more you will drive your Daytona once you have the stearing assist in it.

 

Upon reflection I should have written: I found that below 60 MPH the C4's lighter steering makes the car far more precise than the B4 for all but the best conditioned drivers, 60 to 100 the two cars are essentially a wash and over 100, the B4's manual steering is significantly better than the C4's power assist.

 

Michael- I was always amazed at how accurate the Daytona's steering was for a worm and roller system. But then, Mercedes hung onto worm and roller even longer, and their S classes from the 80s and early 90s had excellent high speed feel.

You are right about steering effort, though, it was work at low speeds, especially in a parking lot. IIRC, the conversion to GTC/4 power assist is very straight forward if you can find the parts.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

My Daytona has had the system from a 400 fitted. Makes it significantly lighter at parking pace. Still plenty of feel through the tiller though. I drove my Dads C4 for the first time last week and that feels lighter still although as I didn't drive both cars back to back couldn't be sure.

 

Matthew: I bet he, or who ever made the conversion, drove it more after the conversation was made!

 

Technically no. Dad owned the Daytona from 1974 (when it was a year old) and used it every day covering 30,000 miles in the first 3 years of owning it. So overall in the 34 years its in the family its covered far more miles without PAS. The conversion was done abut 4 years ago and yes it probably has done more miles in those four years compared to the previous 10, but that has more to do with him passing the car to me and me using it than the power steering.

 

Whatever works to get another of those magnificent cars back on the road, far too many are garage queens.

 

Agreed. Looking forward to a 120 mile trip in the old girl tomorrow.