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I thought I knew what I was going to do untill I read some of the treads on power steering.
I am now totally confused I need somebody to tell me go to the wrecking yard and get this power steering set up.
I have a 37 GMC pickup that I want to put power steering in, I was going to use a vega steering box but they are getting hard to find, I also have a pick and pull just up the road.

THANKS

I have a GM " Saginaw " type pump on my '40, connected to a Mustang 2 rack.

I had IH Scout box and a GM Saginaw "P" pump on my 1 ton.
Now same box and the next size up pump on my 48.
Steering linkage is a crossover type, not like original.

Grigg

None of these conversions are quick, easy, or cheap. Nothing that I am aware of is a direct "bolt on". If you are looking for a Saginaw box the truck boxes mount outside the frame and are used on trucks from 67-87. The car boxes mount inside the frame on approximately the same years. Both have a standard ratio and a quick ratio available. There is also a 605 steering box used on late 70's mid 80's mid size GM cars. You will need to fabricate and/or purchase the related steering components for your application.
Fred

I guess I'm a little confused. Your thread title is power steering, but you mention a Vega steering box. I'm pretty sure none of the Vega's I owned had power steering, and though its been a couple decades, I had six of them back in the day and had most of them apart at one time or another.

There is a kit to put power steering on a '47 to '54 that includes a drag link and steering arm, and is based on a Saginaw box from a 70's or 80's pickup. I would imagine you could adapt that to the '37.

I assume since you don't say otherwise that you are using stock suspension and axle?

I have the original suspension and axle. What about rack and pinion how hard would that be to put in?? What would I need to do??

I think you'd need to mount the rack on the axle for the geometry to work without massive bump steer. Could be quite difficult to arrange a steering column setup that can deal with the total 5" or so of axle/rack movement.

I have the 70s/80s Truck Saginaw setup on my AD. We are going to fit the same setup to my brother's 36 low cab truck later this year, doesn't look to be too difficult as there's room on the front of the chassis for the steering box -would have thought your GMC would be similar.

Stuart.

I have seen axle mounted rack and pinion steering for semi trucks.. Well not actually on the truck, but at a trade show. I would expect to see them become more popular as they are tested, and become accepted by truckers.

But for a small rack and pinion to be mounted on the axle for our trucks I don't think it's a good idea. If there were a factory setup that could be adapted I may change my mind, but any homemade setup I would be hesitant.

Perhaps if you really want to make it happen you can use the slip joint and or steering shaft from the semi truck sized unit, It can't be but so much bigger then needed on a smaller vehicle, as a person's arms are only so strong.

Grigg

There is a kit available to do it, and I've seen one home built approach. I think its a bad idea. Last time I saw the homebuilt it was disasembled for modifications because the owner was not happy with how it worked.

Mounting the rack on the axle means adding a lot of weight, unsprung weight, that will not have a positive impact on handling and ride.

You'll also have a slip joint that has to work real well for this to work, and that slip joint will be in motion nearly all the time. If it sticks at all it will either break something or hamper suspension travel.

If the rack is not mounted on the axle I don't know how you could limit bump steer.

well I guess rack and pinon is out of the question, you say 70 80 saginaw truck steering box, I'll have to check the locall pick and pull thanks