The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop What power steering unit to use on a '37?

After the '37's recent 'maiden voyage' it was quickly discovered that she could really use power steering...

Any ideas on what will work with a '37 now powered by a (1967) 350 engine?

There's not a lot of room under the hood but hopefully a fellow bolter has a good (and hopefully economical) answer to this problem or has done this before...

Thanks in advance for your suggestions and ideas...

~Trev

I asked the same question (I have a 37 GMC) a couple of months ago and did't get any good responces. I've been looking on ebay at power steering gear boxes and I like the looks of the corvette from about mid 60s to mid 80s but some modifacation will still have too be done

Not on a 37...
But I found the steering gear box from a late 70's IH Scout II very easy to adapt to my 52 1 ton and my 48 2 ton.
Seen here: http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1484207681080251109ppdzRr

It simply bolts to the frame and then the biggest part of it protrudes above the frame rail out of the way of the wheel/tire, and the business end protrudes below the frame.

Grigg

Grigg...

Not positive but I'm pretty sure you have a lot more room under your hood in either vehicle than the available space under the hood of the '37

That's why I ask... most old chevy trucks have way more room than those of us with 36/37/38 chevy pickups...

That said, who knows... perhaps your idea will work but we're not talkin' a lot of space here...

~Trev

No worries, Shoer... if I get an answer or find anything that will work I'll be happy to share what I learn so it will help you out too...

~Trev

Right, I do have more room under the hood, but that is not the area in question...
How about under the left front fender on the frame rail in front of the axle?
Just trying to present options.. next time you see an HI Scout II, take a look and see if the gear box may work, it's worth a peek just to see.

Grigg

At one point of time the vega box was the standard for hotrods. It offered a compact effecient design.

Trev, did you upgrade the 41-46 column and saginaw box? That is a vast improvement over the stock setup. Other than that skinny, properly inflated tires should be the way to go for a mechanical setup.

The column was updated (from a crappy 1970's van column) to an Ididit column meant for a '57 chevy belair... in order to do that we had to cut the shaft above the original steering box (which had been buttwelded to the van column), "D" sided it, put on a Borgeson joint and bolted it up... the original steering box remains... The tires are considerably wider than "stock" too as you may have guessed... probably why it's so much fun to turn while standing still...

Not many vegas around these days for parts... too bad sunfires and cavaliers wouldn't work... there are hundreds being sold for parts here and it would be super easy to get parts...

~Trev

You could do this:
http://www.jtoutfitters.com/power-steering-bracket-toyota-land-cruiser-fj40-fj45-p-2621.html

It's on a Toyota but the principle is similar, and you could keep your box in the stock location.

Pretty slick, Josiah... under a hundred bucks too...

If it worked that would be a heck of a deal... thanks for the idea!

~Trev

We haven't used the old belt, bracket, pulley, pump, resevoir etc. type set up on street rods we build for several years. The Toyota MR-2 has an electric/hydraualic pump that can be mounted anywhere and lines run to the box--even from in the trunk. Now this set up has been obsoleted by the new all electric power steering. Lexus, Camry, Scion, Ford Escape, Mariner, and several GM are now free of hoses, fluid, and a parasite hung on the front of the engine. All Fords will be completely electric in four years. Much more compact, fewer parts, lower maintenance, and nothing taking up space in the engine compartment. Ford claims a mileage gain of up to 8 mpg but I'm from Missouri on this one. Google on "electric power steering" and read several good pieces on this.

I have a '38 half ton that I'm keeping mostly stock, so I'm interested in your comment on the '41-'46 column and box. What makes the later model box better?

Rob

I'll jump in her an tell you that the 41-46 box is a recirculating ball bearing steering box like the one used on mid 60's Ford Mustangs, to mention one, and makes the steering much easier. I have installed one on my 37 and there is a noticeable difference. It still is a little hard to turn standing still, but when moving even a small amount, the steering wheel with the 41-46 box is noticeably easier to turn. The addition of fluid steering box lubricant will also help, instead of the "gold" grease so many people pack these older steering boxes with.
To go a step further in clearing up the difference between a 37-40 steering box and a 41-46 box, the 37-40 box uses bushings to function as a steering box. In addition, even Chevrolet recognized that the 37-40 was not their best design, so they issued a repair kit which included an additional bushing to help the box work better. It still is not the box that the 41-46 box is.
Joe

Since the MR2 electric pump is becoming scarce (as everyone from street rodders to auto crossers are using them), anyone that comes up with a continuous duty electric power steering / hydro boost pump will make a killing......Or anyone that comes up with a reasonably priced full electric rack (not like the way way way overpriced Flaming River unit)

New venture.....just need working capitol...

Thanks for the info Joe. I'll have to look for one of these later boxes/columns.