What kind of power steering is suitable to fit on my C303????
I was driving all weekend and th esteering is killing me! Would for example steering from a Chevy van fit with some modifications?
I am happy for any feedback to make this amazing car even more fun to drive.
Power steering in C303
Being new here ...
Being new here, I probably should not speak up, however, my research shows that the power steering system out of a Volvo 164 automobile should fit. Not sure how it would hold up compared to other makes and models.
The Volvo 164 was built in the seventies and uses the same motor that is in your C303. Which means you should be able to use the power steering and other accessories that are in the Volvo 164. AC comes to mind. Fuel injection, though I've read that due to age, it's hard, if not impossible to get parts for the fuel injection system. Or maybe even upgrade the tranny to automatic.
Hope that helps.
The Volvo 164 was built in the seventies and uses the same motor that is in your C303. Which means you should be able to use the power steering and other accessories that are in the Volvo 164. AC comes to mind. Fuel injection, though I've read that due to age, it's hard, if not impossible to get parts for the fuel injection system. Or maybe even upgrade the tranny to automatic.
Hope that helps.
Gunsmith, NRA firearms instructor, chef, gardener, medic, computer whiz, philosopher, mechanic, bartender, janitor, and security specialist
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Lightningpinz
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- Location: Lakewood, Co
volvo fuel injection
The 164 fuel injections can be done. What we did was to take an old 164 that was fuel injected. Then take the engine and ALL of the engine wiring harness. The head, the crank, and electrical system are the difference from the car to the c303. I believe Dennis used the C303 crank, injected heads, and I don't remember which block and pistons. After expensive machine shop work and assembly you now need to graft the car fuel injection system in to the volvo. Can you say time consuming. Then you are ready to go. The one we did was for California, so we replaced one muffler with a cat and an electric 12v air pump.
You have now doubled or tripled the cost of your Volvo unless you feel comfortable doing all that work yourself.
You made the comment that being new maybe you shouldn't speak up. HEY!!!!! that is what this board is for. The free trade of ideas. You might help some one else decide if they do or don't want to try something.
You have now doubled or tripled the cost of your Volvo unless you feel comfortable doing all that work yourself.
You made the comment that being new maybe you shouldn't speak up. HEY!!!!! that is what this board is for. The free trade of ideas. You might help some one else decide if they do or don't want to try something.
LP,
Acorrding to my research, the 164 auto had either 8.5:1 or 8.25:1 compression, while the C303 (or 306) has a 9.5:1 compression. SO, if you add the cam and fuel injection to the 303 engine, you should see about 200 hp to the flywheel.
And yes, having all that work DONE by someone else CAN get pricey quick. Being a gunsmith with access to a machine shop, I can do MOST of the work myself.
Will probably have a new cam either made or purchase one if I can find it. Then I will try to refurb the fuel injection system. Not sure about the crank, pistons or heads. Given the higher compression, the piston are different. Probably some form of pop up piston design. But as I have not seen the insides of either engine, that's a tough one to call. I would assume (giving the higher compression) that the 303 six cylinder block should be a little stouter, but I could be wrong. As they were mainly building them for the military, I wonder what the specs were compared to the automobile engine.
Thanks for the welcome. I look forward to posting info IF and when I purchase the Fire Rescue truck.
Acorrding to my research, the 164 auto had either 8.5:1 or 8.25:1 compression, while the C303 (or 306) has a 9.5:1 compression. SO, if you add the cam and fuel injection to the 303 engine, you should see about 200 hp to the flywheel.
And yes, having all that work DONE by someone else CAN get pricey quick. Being a gunsmith with access to a machine shop, I can do MOST of the work myself.
Will probably have a new cam either made or purchase one if I can find it. Then I will try to refurb the fuel injection system. Not sure about the crank, pistons or heads. Given the higher compression, the piston are different. Probably some form of pop up piston design. But as I have not seen the insides of either engine, that's a tough one to call. I would assume (giving the higher compression) that the 303 six cylinder block should be a little stouter, but I could be wrong. As they were mainly building them for the military, I wonder what the specs were compared to the automobile engine.
Thanks for the welcome. I look forward to posting info IF and when I purchase the Fire Rescue truck.
Gunsmith, NRA firearms instructor, chef, gardener, medic, computer whiz, philosopher, mechanic, bartender, janitor, and security specialist
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Lightningpinz
- Posts: 218
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- Location: Lakewood, Co
Thought on PS
Dennis reminded me that space was at a premium around the v belt area. That is why we added a 12v smog pump instead of a belt driven one. You may be looking at a need for a drive off a jack shaft to drive the power steering pump.
A/c suggest using a roof mount. We determined that with the small cooling area at the front of the vehicle there was marginal air flow to accomplish cooling through the radiator area.
For the engine we used .040 over pistons for the c303 and the car cam for compatibility with the fuel injection. Conservatively at the highest spec published we were about 180 hp. At this point the vehicle became squirrely in the steering. Weight transfer made the steering over responsive and therefore turns during launch were FUN. We upgraded the radiator to a modern thicker core. Also the exhaust is fun as you must use the car exhaust manifold and then rehash the vehicle to mate up. (the flange is different). Dennis says to harvest all parts from a "GOOD" donor as some parts are hard to source. Such as the dual thermal valve is hard to get and PRICEY. Connectors are almost impossible to replace. Remember the harness is 25 years old. The plastic is hard and brittle and shorts and opens will drive you crazy. Injectors are expensive and hard to source. Good Grounds are mandentory as the injection is positive switched not neg switched. Suggest you add a roll over switch from a late model fuel vehicle. We used a inertia switch from a range rover. (Turn fuel pump off in a roll over NO FIRES)
Best of luck.
A/c suggest using a roof mount. We determined that with the small cooling area at the front of the vehicle there was marginal air flow to accomplish cooling through the radiator area.
For the engine we used .040 over pistons for the c303 and the car cam for compatibility with the fuel injection. Conservatively at the highest spec published we were about 180 hp. At this point the vehicle became squirrely in the steering. Weight transfer made the steering over responsive and therefore turns during launch were FUN. We upgraded the radiator to a modern thicker core. Also the exhaust is fun as you must use the car exhaust manifold and then rehash the vehicle to mate up. (the flange is different). Dennis says to harvest all parts from a "GOOD" donor as some parts are hard to source. Such as the dual thermal valve is hard to get and PRICEY. Connectors are almost impossible to replace. Remember the harness is 25 years old. The plastic is hard and brittle and shorts and opens will drive you crazy. Injectors are expensive and hard to source. Good Grounds are mandentory as the injection is positive switched not neg switched. Suggest you add a roll over switch from a late model fuel vehicle. We used a inertia switch from a range rover. (Turn fuel pump off in a roll over NO FIRES)
Best of luck.
LP,
Did you use the head off the auto?
Uh, did you use the heads also from the auto? If not, having to use the exhaust manifold does not make sense to me. If you DID use the auto head, THEN it does.For the engine we used .040 over pistons for the c303 and the car cam for compatibility with the fuel injection...
Also the exhaust is fun as you must use the car exhaust manifold and then rehash the vehicle to mate up. (the flange is different).
Did you use the head off the auto?
Gunsmith, NRA firearms instructor, chef, gardener, medic, computer whiz, philosopher, mechanic, bartender, janitor, and security specialist
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Lightningpinz
- Posts: 218
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- Location: Lakewood, Co
Which heads
I apologize that I wasn't specific. We used the injected head from the donor car. Without that head you will not get fuel injection. The injection is in to the port of the head. 
Hope that helps.
Hope that helps.-
VinceAtReal4x4s
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Why do you think any PS box will just fit a 303? It won't. And if one can be made to fit properly, you have to think about the fact that the guy that did it probably has lots of hours and lots of money into solving a first time solution like that one.
If I were him, I'd charge you $5000 to tell you... seriously!
Vince
If I were him, I'd charge you $5000 to tell you... seriously!
Vince
"For those who risk, life has a flavor the protected shall never enjoy"
Your donation makes this site possible!
Your donation makes this site possible!
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Lightningpinz
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Thank YOU VINCE
Vince has made and excellent point here. Vince, Dennis, Tlo, So-Cal, Cold War, Swiss Army and all the other dealers and mechanics are in this business AS A BUSINESS. The difference between a business and a hobby is a business MUST make money Vince needs to feed himself and his family and plan for the future. So must all the other dealers and mechanics. I think we all forget to say THANK YOU to all the dealers and mechanics who support us in our hobby. Even though I work for Dennis, this is still a hobby for me. There is a difference between hobby and work. Thank you Vince and all the other dealers and mechanics who TRY to GENERATE a LIVING doing this. I'm sure Vince, Dennis and all who would Design, power steering units, Swap in Diesel engines if you would do what you do for a living for FREE for them. Also Thank you Vince for this BBS. All of us users get a lot of VALUE from it. I and many others APPRECIATE that you don't charge us for the use of this bbs. We just forget to say thank you. :idea:
I SECOND THAT THANK YOU. TO ALL OF YOU. Especially Vince for giving us a place to hang out.
Having said that, there is a guy here in Denver who does NOTHING but steering stuff. Mainly power steering but he does work on manual steering occaisionally. If I get the C306 I have my eye on, I'll give him a visit. IF ANYONE knows what to do about a power steering unit, it's this guy. He's been doing it for more than thirty years.
I firmly expect him to shake his head and tell me NO WAY, but hey, he may go, "I got just the thing...". And yeah, it won't be for free, that's for sure. But it would be worth it if he could. I will keep you folks informed.
AGAIN, THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR GIVING ALL OF US THE OPPORTUNITY TO OWN REALLY UNIQUE VEHICLES AND KEEP THEM RUNNING.
YOU GUYS ROCK!
Having said that, there is a guy here in Denver who does NOTHING but steering stuff. Mainly power steering but he does work on manual steering occaisionally. If I get the C306 I have my eye on, I'll give him a visit. IF ANYONE knows what to do about a power steering unit, it's this guy. He's been doing it for more than thirty years.
I firmly expect him to shake his head and tell me NO WAY, but hey, he may go, "I got just the thing...". And yeah, it won't be for free, that's for sure. But it would be worth it if he could. I will keep you folks informed.
AGAIN, THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR GIVING ALL OF US THE OPPORTUNITY TO OWN REALLY UNIQUE VEHICLES AND KEEP THEM RUNNING.
YOU GUYS ROCK!
Gunsmith, NRA firearms instructor, chef, gardener, medic, computer whiz, philosopher, mechanic, bartender, janitor, and security specialist
Some Swedish electric companys c303 had Power steering they use a Torque amplifier TAD from sauer-danfoss.
http://www.sauer-danfoss.com/domdb/SASp ... 0L0468.pdf
I have also seen a c303 witha a volvo 164 Power steering.
Power steering from volvo 164 assemble in a c202
http://www.stack4x4.mine.nu/StacksHemsi ... sKolle.htm
http://www.sauer-danfoss.com/domdb/SASp ... 0L0468.pdf
I have also seen a c303 witha a volvo 164 Power steering.
Power steering from volvo 164 assemble in a c202
http://www.stack4x4.mine.nu/StacksHemsi ... sKolle.htm
Powersteering C303
Hi! I am that fellow ho made those Steeringsystem on Volvo c 303 for the Swedish electric companys i was using Torque amplifier TAD from sauer-danfoss and a wickers Hyd pump on crankchaft front, i deliveryd 30 units.
Claes
Claes