EPAS for the Stratos

[john]

Finally got up to Chorley to see Easysteer and talk the epas possibilities with them.
As usual I've had to rethink it all again!
Like everyone else who knows what they are doing they are really busy and it was going to be May before they could do the job for me. So Rick talked me through it and convinced me I could do the job myself.
I've come away from there with a big bag full of bits.
I've opted for their 'Euro' system with GPS speed control for the assistance level.
The motor/gearbox unit has an integral torque sensor which analyses how much steering effort you are putting in.
The only actual machining necessary is to shorten the x19 column shaft and turn the end down to fit in an adapter sleeve supplied with the kit so I'm happy enough doing that. But I have opted to do a couple of chassis mods so that I can instal the whole thing a little higher for extra knee room. I think later LB chassis may have the 40x40 tube hanger for the column at a higher level and there may be enough room for the motor without my mods.
I've shortened the x19 outer column by 45mm. I wanted to retain the column switches and steering lock, plus both column bearings so 45mm was the max I could shorten it by and still have enough room for the adapter plus 25-30mm of 'collapsibility' in the column itself.
Coupled with a splined collapsible intershaft ( which I also got in kit form), and the angled intershaft I'm hoping it will satisfy the IVA man.
So the shortened x19 column is grafted on to a steel sleeve projecting from the motor which can also be shortened to suit.
Just to make life that little bit more difficult for myself I'm also going to try a good strong hinge mount at the rear end of this motor so I can adjust the rake of column and wheel.
Anyway, enough theorising, I'll get back to some practical steps.
Here's a couple of photos of what I'm working with.

[Stratos Fear]

Great project John - I'll be interested to hear of your progress as you work through the challenges. You will be blazing a new trail for EPAS conversions !

[STR_Strat]

Finally got up to Chorley to see Easysteer and talk the epas possibilities with them.
As usual I've had to rethink it all again!
Like everyone else who knows what they are doing they are really busy and it was going to be May before they could do the job for me. So Rick talked me through it and convinced me I could do the job myself.
I've come away from there with a big bag full of bits.
I've opted for their 'Euro' system with GPS speed control for the assistance level.
The motor/gearbox unit has an integral torque sensor which analyses how much steering effort you are putting in.
The only actual machining necessary is to shorten the x19 column shaft and turn the end down to fit in an adapter sleeve supplied with the kit so I'm happy enough doing that. But I have opted to do a couple of chassis mods so that I can instal the whole thing a little higher for extra knee room. I think later LB chassis may have the 40x40 tube hanger for the column at a higher level and there may be enough room for the motor without my mods.
I've shortened the x19 outer column by 45mm. I wanted to retain the column switches and steering lock, plus both column bearings so 45mm was the max I could shorten it by and still have enough room for the adapter plus 25-30mm of 'collapsibility' in the column itself.
Coupled with a splined collapsible intershaft ( which I also got in kit form), and the angled intershaft I'm hoping it will satisfy the IVA man.
So the shortened x19 column is grafted on to a steel sleeve projecting from the motor which can also be shortened to suit.
Just to make life that little bit more difficult for myself I'm also going to try a good strong hinge mount at the rear end of this motor so I can adjust the rake of column and wheel.
Anyway, enough theorising, I'll get back to some practical steps.
Here's a couple of photos of what I'm working with.

"Sounds like a right faff.
I couldn't be bothered with that."

Much easier to just use the tried and tested Corsa B and graft on the X1/9 stalks

[john]

Finally got up to Chorley to see Easysteer and talk the epas possibilities with them.
As usual I've had to rethink it all again!

Like I said.
I'm confident I've spoken to the right guy about how to go about it.
It is more hands on than I wanted, or have time for to be honest.
The advantage for me is I hope I've got everything necessary in one hit and even more so the parts are sat here on my bench. If it doesn't get done now there's no one else to blame.
He didn't elaborate but Rick was fairly dismissive of the Corsa B . Laying them side by side it's not actually any more compact than what I'll end up with and the technology is so yesterday.��

[Strat Fan]

We had this made for an LB car destined for Germany,
It is a TUV compliant EPS unit made from new parts which is designed to accept the X1/9 stalks and ignition barrel.
It is also bracketed to be a direct fit to the LB chassis and uses the standard lower link shaft.
For UK customers we have also developed the equivalent column using the Corsa B as a base which again accepts the X1/9 parts and is also bracketed to fit to the standard LB chassis.

[john]

That's a nice bit of kit. It looks like the motor locates directly below the 40x40 tube.
Is my guess correct that that tube is marginally higher on the later chassis than on mine?
Any collapsibility in the column itself or still fitting a collapsible boss?

[Strat Fan]

That's a nice bit of kit. It looks like the motor locates directly below the 40x40 tube.
Is my guess correct that that tube is marginally higher on the later chassis than on mine?
Any collapsibility in the column itself or still fitting a collapsible boss?

The tube is in the same place but the floor is lower on the later chassis.
The Corsa B has collapsibility in the upper shaft and uses a collapsible boss, the TUV one uses an approved collapsible boss.
There are no welded joints or cut and shuts in the system.

[john]

I see. Thanks. I was only basing my guess on the fact that the top bolt on the door hinge plates is missing the steel of the chassis so I assumed the whole hinge post and 40x40 crossmember was lower on mine.
The only welded joint I will have is where I graft the inner column into the adapter and that can be pinned too so, for me, it's not exactly a 'cut and shut' with all the connotations that implies.