The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop 41 Original steering column w/ps box

I plan to put PS on my 41, but intend to use the stock column. What is the best way to acomplish this? Fabrication is expected, but how do I best separate the original column from the old gear box to allow the easiest and best re-attachment to a modern PS box. Will I need to add a lower bearing to the mix? Just would like to have a better idea of what to expect when I get there. FYI this is a COE big truck and the column will attach to an Isuzu npr box in quite a vertical format. I will use a sb350 and GM PS pump if it matters. Thanks for any insight.

For sure you will need some sort of lower bearing in the column tube, and some way to cut the shaft so a adapter will bolt on. I believe they call it a double D steering shaft. You will have to pull the shaft out of the original gear box though the bottom and cut the worm section off.

On the Jalopy Journal web site they have a tech section going this month, one of the items is building a low dollar steering column. Its pretty interesting.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=317238

Joe

Try this...

http://www.classicperform.com/Store/1947_59_Trucks/Column_Saver.htm

From what I understand, you cut the outer mast jacket long enough to protrude thru the toe board, cut the inner shaft a little longer, and install this bearing kit in the end of the mast jacket. You then attach a univeral joint to the end of the inner shaft. They have the column savers in 1.5", 1.75" and 2.0" diameter.

I just cut the outer column shaft to be just a few inches from the toe board and used the same bearing as the upper one. I let the inner shaft run a few inches out to attach the necessary universal joint. I had a second steering column that I stole the inner shaft out of to make the filler piece between the toe board and the steering box. There are several styles of universal joints that will make the necessary bends required to get to the steering box and around the engine. Make sure your u-joints are properly aligned.

Thanks for the input everybody. That is what I was thinking, but it is nice to hear from others that have done it.