The BORA

Very interesting, thanks for sharing!

 

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_yDWQsrajA[/ame]

 

Hello guys---

Anybody out there who has done, seen or heard of any type of power assisted steering on a Bora?

Thanks.

B.

 

A lot of people have installed this in various older exotics etc. I saw one installed on an Espada. I did not drive it though.

This is probably your best bet.

Home

There's plenty about this on the internet and actually on this forum as well.

 

I have an electric power steering on the Iso Grifo and like it. It was installed by the previous owner.

I have driven some Boras that have very heavy steering but on 1044 the steering is not bad at all. Perhaps it is the Michellin XWX with their stiff side walls that make steering easier. I would look at the tires before adding PS.

Ivan

 

Oh do tell us a bit about the electric steering Ivan.

I think you're probably right on the Bora. I always enjoyed the better handling and fatter tires on mine but the steering was heavier as a result.

The thing I did not like from a technical/mechanical standpoint on the Espada installation was it's use of the mechanical speedo drive. On that car it's run off of the LF front wheel and the tap was very visible in the engine compartment. I would think a trigger added to the driveshaft like many cruise control kits use would be much cleaner. Not a bad time to convert the speedo as well.

There are a couple of public stories from older 911 and Countach owners who felt they could enjoy their cars more and for a longer time because of this being put on their cars.

 

Sounds like it's time to start pumping some iron, then the steering will lighten up.

Just Sayin!

Ciao,
George

 

Yeah, stop torturing me with the reminder that I didn't make it this past summer. AARRGGhh!! ;-)
- Art

 

Would love to hear any and all details of install including personal impressions, especially at speed.
BTW, I run stock size Pirelli 4000 ZRs; even slightly over-inflated...

Thanks.

B.

 

I checked into converting my Bora to electric power steering but in order to do so they had to do surgery on the steering column as well as the supports that currently hold the column in place. I would have lost the tilt provision on the steering column but not the reach capability. I decided that due to the extensive surgery to the column and the removal of existing under dash metal I would pass on the electric steering. I want to make sure that any changes to the car are reversable with no major effort. I examined the possibility of doing a hydraulic system but after months of examination and research, it turned out to be impossible.

 

Thanks Elliot. That makes sense given all of the "stuff" already involved under the driver's side of the dash.

 

Hi Elliot---

The link provided by staatsof above, seems to provide a solution without such complications. Did you ever talk to those guys also?

Thanks.

PS The trick radiators etc we did back then have been bulletproof. Thanks again.

 

I did not install the Grifo's electric power steering so I do not know how much work was involved. I do know this was the first Grifo to get this PS so they had to design a new steering column, the original steering column came with the car.

Looking at the car you cannot tell it has the PS as nothing is visible. The system works very good and there is a potentiometer to adjust the amount of "boost". I have mine set to the minimum as I found it could make the steering a bit too light. At the minimum setting it still provides the right amount of boost for parking.

Ivan

 

The electric PS is suppose to automatically reduce boost as you increase speed. Not sure how well this is working as I would prefer the Grifo to be a bit stiffer at speeds. I do not know if this is being caused by the PS or is a characteristic of the Grifo. I might temporarily disconnect the PS to compare.

While the Pirelli 4000 might be the same size the Michelin XWXs have a very different construction. If you feel the XWX side walls you will notice a couple of ridges halfway up the walls. I was told half of the wall has metal reinforcement making the tire behave more like a low profile tire instead of a traditional 15" tire. This I was told by a Michelin engineer that seemed to know what he was talking about.

Ivan

 

Hello guys---

Just got this from EZ Electric Power Steering (NL):

"Thank you for your enquiry. EZ Power Steering makes a completely new steering column for the Maserati Bora that replaces the original. They are speed sensitive so the steering “feel” at high speeds remains. The speed sensor we supply with the kit also has active dampening so the steering wheel remains steady over bad surfaces even when the wheels have a higher offset than original. The powersteering unit is fitted out of sight, under the dashboard. No evidence of the conversion can be seen in the engine bay.
The price for the kit is 2460 euro (excluding 21% VAT)."

I have also attached photos of the Bora install.

Seriously thinking about this.
Please chime in with perceived (suspected) pitfalls!

Thanks.

B.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Whose system is this?

The one I referenced can be turned off for zero assist and I think it's adjustable for speed as well.

Looking at those photos of a Bora installation I can well believe that one would lose use of the vertical adjustment.

 

EZ Electric Power steering was who I contacted and the pictures shown Boralogist are exactly what they sent to me. Unfortunately, I didn't want to cut away the bracket that holds the factory steering column and the new column didn't include the till provision or perhaps it didn't include the telescope provision, I forget which. That didn't work for me as I am a short guy, 5'7", and the telescope and tilt provision on the factory setup along with the moving pedals make the Bora one of the few cars from the 70's that I can adjust to fit me perfectly when I drive it. It's one of the big reasons I bought a Bora brand new back in the early seventies. Prejudice that I am, I still think the Bora is the best all around rear engined GT built in the seventies.

 

Good pictures.
It looks like a thoughtfully dimensioned installation, it retains the tilt function too. It doesn't appear to affect the telescope function at all, but I would ask. Their new steering shaft must be internal to the upper column where the telescoping occurs. Also the lower shaft is new, as the geometry at the lower part of the shaft is slightly different, but it looks functional.

From looking under MY dashboard on the side where the Boost Motor is, there is a void with some wires and connectors. The Boost Motor housing just pushes into those wires a little, but not badly.

This is nice to know, but I hope the supplier understands why this statement is not entirely reassuring. LOL.

Best,
- Art

 

Yes and pointedly!

 

The message I got from the US representative for EZ Electric Steering, Robert Hall, The Driven Man, is that the steering changes would permit adjusting rake but not distance, so my previous message still stands. The steering column is not a completely new one in their system but they modified the existing column. The parts of their modification look like they can be taken off and the original parts put back but they do cut away the original mounting bracket. The pictures now in the FerrariChat site are the same ones that Robert sent me when I made my original inquiry. The price quoted in 2013 was $3,795. I don't know if that included on site labor or if that was just for the parts to be sent to my mechanic. I decided not to pursue it further when I read in the email he sent me that the telescope provision would be lost in the conversion. I can inquire if that has changed. If so, I would be prepared to make the conversion even thought the mounting bracket needs to be cut away. The piece removed can always be duplicated and welded back in if someone wants to go back to the straight manual steering. Still, if the steering column is permanently changed using the electric system, then I wouldn't to do the conversion unless I could source an original steering column to put in my spares box.

 

Gentlemen---

Thank you for your thoughts.

According to EZ:
"The existing steering rack or box remains unchanged and thus retains the standard steering ratio and setup. The amount of assistance is fully adjustable and is sensitive to speed and load. When we install the EZ system, we use CNC laser cut bespoke brackets designed to fit the original mounting points of your car. As no holes are drilled, with no cutting or welding to the chassis or body, the car can always be converted back to its original steering column. Under the bonnet there are no changes, everything remains as original...
Because the electric power steering system is truly speed sensitive, it will steer light at low speeds and not become lighter at high speed. The amount of assistance can be selected by turning a potentiometer, so that the driver can select the desired feel (i.e. more assistance with wider tires and/or a smaller sports steering wheel'...
In the unlikely event that the electric power steering system has a defect, the car would steer exactly like it did prior to power steering conversion...
The EZ Electric Power Steering works without making a sound. It can not leak and is completely maintenance-free."

As I am 6" 1', I never use the telescopic function.
The bracket issue does not bother me as it would be very simple to duplicate.
Finally, I see no functional reason why anybody would want to ever remove the EZ PS system as simply turning it off brings you back to the stock manual steering. (Please; no beauty pageant points lost comments)

Time to talk my mechanic; but so far it looks good.

B.

 

Finally:

"EZ Power Steering makes a completely new steering column for the Maserati Bora that replaces the original."

Thus no need to look for another stock steering column.
We get to keep our own.

Anything else I may be missing?

B.

 

I would be interested to see if the electric assistance setup would fit on a RHD car.?

A Bora is on my bucket list (meaning Id like one but cannt afford one now) I like Walter love the seats and I do fit as I am only 5'7 and short legs so its like Maserati powered a sun lounge on wheels!

Cheers
Graeme

 

This is what EZ Power Steering did for the Grifo ... create an entire replacement column. I have the original one on a shelf and I really doubt anybody would ever want to revert the car back to manual steering.

Ivan

 

Ah but that doesn't necessarily mean all of the Bora's function in that department operate as original.

At 6'1" you're probably doing the same thing I do on long drives and sneak your left foot under the pedals from time to time just stretch?

I'm just overly cautious when it comes to things like this and Elliott's comment spooked me a bit. I need the pedals all the way in and the steering column all the way out. The seats provide zero leg support for me because my legs are too long and bottom portion of the seat is way too low in front.