Electric Power Steering for Classic Cars: The Flaming River MicroSteer (EPAS) Buyer's Guide

3 min read
Electric Power Steering for Classic Cars: The Flaming River MicroSteer (EPAS) Buyer's Guide

Electric power steering (EPAS) is one of the cleanest upgrades you can make to a classic car. Instead of a belt-driven hydraulic pump, pressure hoses, and fluid, an electric assist motor is built into the steering column and powered by your existing 12-volt system. Flaming River's version is called MicroSteer, and we stock it at Muscle Road. This guide explains what it is, why builders choose it, and which applications Flaming River offers.

Why go electric?

  • No pump, no hoses, no fluid. Nothing to plumb, no belt to route, and nothing to leak on your fresh paint or garage floor.
  • Frees up the engine bay. No pump hanging off the front of the engine — a real win on tight swaps, LS conversions, and dressed-up show engines.
  • No parasitic belt drag. The assist only draws power when you're actually steering.
  • Clean, modern feel with the look of a classic column.

For a lot of restomods and pro-touring builds, EPAS is the difference between an easy-steering cruiser and wrestling a manual box — without the clutter of a hydraulic system.

MicroSteer applications Flaming River offers

Flaming River builds MicroSteer as vehicle-specific bolt-in columns for several popular classics, plus a universal kit. From the live catalog:

  • 1965–1966 Mustang MicroSteer column
  • 1967–1970 Mustang MicroSteer column
  • 1967–68 Camaro MicroSteer tilt column
  • 1968–1982 C3 Corvette MicroSteer column
  • 30" Roadster BellaTilt MicroSteer column for street rods
  • The universal MicroSteer electric power steering unit, and a MicroSteer kit with speed sensor

Flaming River also offers Mustang cradle kits that come with a MicroSteer column (65–66 Mustang, in OE or Granada spindle versions) — a full rack & pinion + electric-assist conversion in one kit.

Choosing your MicroSteer column

Finish

The vehicle-specific columns are offered in the usual finishes — paintable (mill), polished, and black powdercoat — so you can match your interior. It's the same column mechanically; choose on looks.

Speed sensor

Flaming River lists a MicroSteer kit with a speed sensor. A speed sensor lets the system vary assist with vehicle speed — more help at parking-lot speeds, a firmer, more stable feel at highway speeds. If you want speed-sensitive assist, look for the kit that includes the sensor.

What you'll want to confirm before buying

  • Your car matches a listed application — or you're building a custom/street-rod car for the universal unit or BellaTilt column.
  • Your electrical system is healthy. EPAS draws current when steering, so a sound charging system and proper wiring matter. Follow Flaming River's included wiring instructions — we don't publish amperage or wiring specifics here because they belong to the kit's own documentation.
  • Steering wheel adapter — as with any Flaming River column, confirm you have the correct wheel adapter for the wheel you're running.

Bottom line

MicroSteer gives you power-assisted steering with none of the hydraulic plumbing — ideal for restomods, LS swaps, and any build where a clean engine bay matters. If Flaming River lists a MicroSteer column for your exact year and model, it's a bolt-in path to modern steering feel in a classic.

Browse Flaming River electric power steering (MicroSteer) at Muscle Road, and see our companion steering column and rack & pinion guides to complete your steering system.