power steering mod

I am in the process of buying an 1975 88" series 111, but the steering is heavy and it wanders all over the place.

Can anyone please tell me the easiest and cheapest way to convert to power steering? even if it meens throwing the 2 1/4 petrol engine away, and dropping in a 200tdi maybe.

here is a link for fitting a P38 box Converting a series Land Rover to power steering

I would of done the fabrication differently but you get the idea. P38 boxes are cheap and reliable plus they fit on the outside of the chassis so you can leave the crossmember in place.

If the steering is heavy and wandery it might need overhauling - fitting power steering won't help if the swivels, balljoints and relay are worn or seized.

oxides said:

If the steering is heavy and wandery it might need overhauling - fitting power steering won't help if the swivels, balljoints and relay are worn or seized.

Click to expand...

The ball joints, swivels, wheel bearings, were all replaced in march last year, as were the brakes and pedal box.
I have been told that these older landy's do suffer with steering wander anyway, but i have no idea if this is true or not, because the only landrover experience i have is with disco's.
I do like the P38 solution, and will be giving it a go within the next couple of months, at the same time as i take the body of and sort the chassis, i'll be waxoyling it and replacing the springs and shocks and replacing the hard top with a truck cab.

Dislocation Kid said:

The ball joints, swivels, wheel bearings, were all replaced in march last year, as were the brakes and pedal box.
I have been told that these older landy's do suffer with steering wander anyway, but i have no idea if this is true or not, because the only landrover experience i have is with disco's.
I do like the P38 solution, and will be giving it a go within the next couple of months, at the same time as i take the body of and sort the chassis, i'll be waxoyling it and replacing the springs and shocks and replacing the hard top with a truck cab.

Click to expand...

they didnt suffer steering wander when new ,its only wear that gives it, apart from other stuff steering bx is probably worn

I had a load of problems with mine which in the end I tracked down to both garages I'd taken it to have the tracking done had done it wrong!

The tracking needs to be toed in a little. I did this by hand with a tape measure and it now drives so much nicer. And cheaper than paying a garage...

If it is toed out at all it will drive itself rather than automatically correct. This is how you might run a race car to get it attacking corners but not how you want a Landy...

Other things to check are that the steering relay has oil in it and that the steering box adjustment nut is adjusted correctly - there was plenty of slack in mine when I got it, is a five minute job to adjust. There should be very little play in the steering if all is well.

As to being heavy it will be when parking, you have to learn to crawl/rock on the clutch while turning. If it's heavy when driving then that's another problem.

At first I was going to fit PAS but to be honest I've just decided that I need to man up! Doesn't stop me swearing and sweating when trying to get out of a parking space when the knob heads either end have given me about 3" at each end!

Thanks for the reply guy's
just got back from taking it to my local landy dealer, who checked it over and yes its a naff steering box.
They did adjust it best they could, so i've ordered a replacement, sod the cost it is for my own comfort and safety after all.
All i need now is a pro respray to make it perfect, i find its current colour repulsive (chocolate brown and cream) so its going to be done in desert camo.