Date:         Wed, 23 Oct 2002 20:21:34 +1300
Reply-To:     Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Subject:      Re: swap of front end components?
In-Reply-To:  <3DB555AF.9143990D@earthlink.net>
Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=us-ascii

>Yes, this is a simple swap if you do the whole front end. You also need
>the PS steering shaft if you install the PS steering rack.
>
>Mark
>
>Derrek Wittmmann wrote:
>>
>>  Is it possible to swap the front end components from an 86-91 to an earlier
>>  model vanagon?
>>  I have an 82 ex-diesel 1.8 gas and I would like to upgrade it to power
>>  steering and cast lower control arm plus thicker brake rotors.
>>  thanks
>>  Derrek Wittmann

 From what I've been told, the PS rack will go straight in, no other
front-end changes needed (PS & nonPS rack measure the same across the
radius rods); the longer nonPS pitman arms will result in lighter
steering and more turns of the wheel lock-to-lock than the PS pitman
arms, but that's not vital (if you want better steering feel, swap
the old steering knuckles and radius rods for PS items).

I have a PS rack to fit to my 84 Caravelle; lack of availability of
used parts means that for the forseeable future I will be stuck with
TOO-light steering. Unless someone in LA feels like donating or
selling cheap a set of 2WD PS knuckles with hubs and radius rods...
(I have cheap shipping available from LA to NZ).
--
Andrew Grebneff
165 Evans St, Dunedin 9001, New Zealand
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut