Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Hydraulic/mechanical power steering conversion

Hi all

I'm in the market for a 4 cylinder car and have been to view this one: https://www.hyamsautos.co.uk/cars/morgan/plus4/2.0/485352/

It was not ready for a test drive as handbrake and a coupe of other things need adjusting and checking.

I was quite keen on the car and the condition seems pretty good but I discovered that it has had the power steering kit, available though some dealers, fitted. My instinct is to just walk away and look at other cars - power steering is against my ethos of Morgan (my personal opinion in my circumstances).

Should I give the car a chance and arrange another trip to test drive it or just move on? The original Gemmer steering box doesn't come with the car, so I can't cheaply return the car to original.

Any thoughts?

David Stuart
Mogdavid

Hi David, Morgans have ever been modified in varying degrees and you have not given us any idea of your abilities in getting the spanners out and getting involved or if you will have to pay someone else to take on modifications, such as work on the steering gear. I think it might be best to determine what might be YOUR fundamental ideals in terms of a Morgan before you set out to find one...?

Many years ago in the early days of discussion groups I provided a background relative to my motoring experience, mechanical capabilities, hopes and expectations related to Morgan ownership, and asked "Which Morgan" might suit me best, and many kind Morgan folk provided me with their thinking.

Having done a bit of research at the time I came to like the 4/4 as I thought it to perhaps be the best balanced Trad package overall... I have owned my +8 since 2002... As our American cousins say...Go figure.. (-:

Good luck in your search David.

If you like the car, I would say give it a chance. I certainly wouldn't let power steering put me off if the rest of the car suited me and the price was right.

A test drive is the only answer really unless the power steering is a deal breaker, it wouldn't be for me if the rest of the car was up together.

I'm with Tim and Richard on this

As above, let the car have a chance to win you over.

The power steering fitted as standard on my 3.7l Roadster really helps, the previous cars were hard to handle at slow speed. Worst case you can take it off

If you don't like the feel of PAS and it's electrically driven just drop the feed through a relay and switch & you can choose

If it's a hydro pump driven off the engine, just pop the belt off...simples

My +4 came with electric power steering in fact it was the first +4 to be fitted with it, I wouldn't be without it.

or pull the fuse on ignition side as Jon suggests.