Saturn Vue EPS install in a 1986 Fiero GT - Warning! - many pictures! (Page 3/3)
fireboss APR 08, 12:27 AM

quote
Originally posted by seajai:


I'll second that




I'll third it....
IIKool APR 08, 07:56 AM
You need to make these plug and play
Fieroseverywhere APR 08, 07:55 PM

quote
Originally posted by IIKool:

You need to make these plug and play



Ha!!!

I'll second that!
Jims88 APR 08, 09:11 PM
The pictures turned out great and showed a lot of detail. Nice work!
Got me thinking about how to mount that power unit directly to the rack some how

[This message has been edited by Jims88 (edited 04-08-2015).]

jmbishop APR 09, 10:16 PM

quote
Originally posted by Jims88:

The pictures turned out great and showed a lot of detail. Nice work!
Got me thinking about how to mount that power unit directly to the rack some how



It's not meant to be exposed to the elements, if you can keep it clean and dry it would be ideal. The amount of work done in this tutorial makes me want to look for a easier way but if a speed sensitive controller was available I'd still be willing to go this route.
theogre APR 10, 10:27 AM
Big project... one more problem solved? Might work but have some big issues too.

To get people on same page... Steering wheel and column are made weak for a very good reason.
Issue Here is that the column crush when:
1. You hit steering wheel during a wreck.
2. Car front end is crush keeping wheel push into you.
Both often happens at same time. This is to prevent "Flail chest" and other trauma. Very common in wreck cars before 70's.

Your "upgrade" removes/alters 2 crush zones doing this...
CLICK FOR FULL SIZE
CLICK FOR FULL SIZE

Both shafts won't crush or if they do, not enough. I think the Fiero column can crush 4-5 inches and intermediate shaft adds 2-3 inches or more for both. Some are more Obvious. Some are not so and are still weak like tilt parts made of Al or pot metal, etc.

Not sure if Mod Column is harder to crush as well. Column shell can crush and upper mounts have aluminum parts that shears off to allow column crush but Might not matter since the shafts are functionally solid.

The long spines was part of crush zones on the Saturn column and intermediate shaft. (Column shell and mounting points can crush too.)
I belief the "bulge" shape also part upper crush zone. The shape and slot give that area to "crush" too.
Why to you say that? A cylinder or egg takes a lot of load but any defect, like the slot, and takes very little effort to crush them.
Common Example, Google: crush an egg with one hand, crush egg with bare hands, etc.

Other EPS problems can, likely does, have same issues depending on how their done.

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave (It's also at the top and bottom of every forum page...)

AL68 APR 14, 12:32 AM
Yes, the collapsible parts are solid now, I mentioned it in the 3rd line of the post in case someone was
concerned about it. It will be the same as any car built before 1967, most of the aftermarket parts for
building street rod columns & u-joint shafts are solid

BUT

I figured out a way this weekend to keep the collapsible features:

For the column center shaft, cut off the Vue upper slider shaft on the steering wheel end 1" from the "egg"
& turn down the shaft to .750" fit the same coupler.
Cut the Fiero upper shaft 1" from the bevel end, tighten the set screws & grind off the ends on the outside
of the joint. Slide all 3 pieces together and weld.

This will give you 3+ inches of room to collapse.




For the lower u-uoint shaft take the Vue shaft & cut off the lower joint just above the weld on the tube.
Get a piece of 1" steel rod, cut to 3" long & turn down 1" of one end to the inside diameter of the Vue
tube end (about .963").

Next you need a u-joint that's 17mm DD on one end and 1" ID on the other like Borgeson #014668,
Summit # BRG-014668, $72.

Assemble the .963" end of the rod into the end of the vue shaft & the new u-joint on the other end of the
rod. Test fit in car, you should have about 3.5" of the solid shaft visible out of the lower tube, 4" is
completely extended (too far). If all looks good weld shaft together.
(I don't have the joint or an uncut Vue shaft so no pics)

The shaft will be able to collapse at least 3".
motoracer838 APR 29, 12:35 PM
Just stumbled across this, excellent writeup... a plus from me.

Joe
darbysan MAR 05, 03:03 PM
I just completed this install, and the details of this thread were of great help. I referred to it all the time as I went though the swap. Excellent work!!

I did not want to clutter this thread, nor hijack it, so I created a new thread with my comments and install tips. Al, thanks again!!
http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/139446.html
rbell2915 JUL 03, 10:39 AM
AL68, do you have your photos by chance?