Bergman PS box (Borgeson) and Lares PS box on a 66 Hemi?

[AR67GTX]

Since my post on S&G Sport feel boxes wasn’t getting much response and their phone was busy when I called, I started browsing through threads and reading up on the Lares and Bergman boxes and have a couple of questions.

Has anyone installed a Bergman (Borgeson) box on a stock 66 Hemi with TRW pump and stock hoses? In other words do the hose connections clear the stock manifolds or require an adaptor? Does the box accept the 5/8” return?

On the Lares 11033 “new manufacture” box I’m not finding much feedback on steering effort, and center feel. I assume since it’s very similar to the stock box it would clear a Hemi manifold with a 90 degree fitting on the pressure line? Is it a 15.7:1 box? Based on the following it looks like it might not be recommended for a 66 and earlier and at the bottom it seems to promote a Firm Feel box? Edit: Looks like the fast ratio box is 11043.

Lares Catalog

 

[gtx6970]

Ive no reply to your question. Mine was converted to power steering many years ago.

Its a stock B body box, . And he used the Saginaw pump and hoses for 67 or later ( easier to find parts for )

I have no complaints

 

[AR67GTX]

I’ve already got the early 60s TRW pump, brackets, hoses, fittings and pulleys, and shaft so I’m what you might call committed to a basically stock set up. But if Bergman has a box that bolts right in and hooks up I’ll consider it. It sounds like they have a coupler that works on a standard PS column shaft.

Thanks

 

[gtx6970]

My issue for the Bergman box is it doesn't look like a Mopar box, Same goes for a Lares.

 

[ckessel]

Give Peter a call at BAC.

 

[bobsgtx]

Originality or function? It's up to you.

 

[AR67GTX]

Heard from Peter. Sounds like it could be a little problematic with the TRW pump and not enough pressure. Complicating that is the Hemi only has a 5-1/2” crank pulley - I aasume to prevent over speeding the alternator and power steering and water pump at high rpm. He said Hemi pulleys were never available with Saginaw pumps and that might pose a problem at low speed. I guess he normally recommends a Saginaw pump if I understood him correctly and I don’t think it fits an Hemi. And you can’t easily use RB (non-Hemi) pulleys with the Hemi balancer. He knows his Mopars.

So, for this occasional cruiser I’ll probably go with some sort of OEM box and not take a chance. Sounds like there is a bit of favoritism leaning to Firm Feel over Steer and Gear. I’ll probably stick with a level 2 or Modern level to avoid the numb center position transitioning to heavy resistance on either side with the level 3 box that Kern Dog referenced in one of his posts.

 

[gtx6970]

Mine is a Saginaw pump from a big block ( year unknown )
But mine uses an aftermkt balancer so I have a typical B/RB pulley setup

 

[AR67GTX]

Yeah - the balancer is why it normally doesn’t fit a 66/67 Hemi.

 

[Russ Hood]

I have a new borgeson steering gear and lares power steering pump. Drives great.

 

[ckessel]

Since it looks like you'll stay with an oe box, check in with Redhead out of Washington state. Another rebuilder, like Firm Feel and Steer and Gear, who do a proper job of actually rebuilding the unit. Unlike parts stores and many other outlets where, if you're lucky, the reman company they source from will replace a seal, repaint it and call it "rebuilt".