The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop power steering solution

I was digging around in one of my step Dads barns today, he is into early Chevy cars and has a couple in the barn. I was looking at what I think is an early power steering set up. Looks like it all it is is one end of a hydraulic ram connected to about the middle of the tie rod and the other end connected to the frame. I can fabricate the parts to attach the ram to the tie rod and the axle.

What I would like to know from you guys that know more then me and that have more experience in this area is what is/are your opions of this set up and how good does it work. I will be putting this on a 38 GMC. I don't like armstrong steering

It is a relatively easy option, but not one people use very often, I'm guessing either parts are expensive or the newer PS gear boxes work better even if it is more work to install.

Grigg

I have never used this system or driven anything that has, but it is not too uncommon. The basic idea is that the pitman arm or drag link has a brain. That is to say it senses the pushing or pulling of the drag link to control the power assist ram.
I believe some people have complained about bump stear with this setup, but that was likely due to poor steering geometry.

There are many options available to improve the steering of your 38. One of the most simple solutions is to swap out the steering box and colum with one from a 41-46 chevy or gmc. This is virtually a bolt in change and will give you a more modern "Saginaw" recirculator ball bearing steering gear. This upgrade will reduce steering effort by up to 30%. Proper size tires will also help with the ease of which your rig will turn.

I don't know what was used in passenger cars, but that is the basic setup used in trucks till GM switched to the power steering box. It was also used in the Vette up till at least 77.

Larry

I think it started in cars in the mid 50's as an option.
They ran the PS pump off the back side of the generator in those models.

Grigg

Used on chevy cars through 64, vettes way on up to near the 80's, and on several 4wd trucks later than that. You have exactly the right idea to anchor one end of the ram to the axle and the other to the tie rod---guaranteed no bump steer. The hoses from the sensor in the draglink to the ram will get a good work out mounted this way but no more than brake line hoses. They are a good working set up with the main draw back being hoses that can hang low and catch on things if used on a low vehicle. I guess vettes weren't used much for off road so it wasn't a factor with them.

Don, steering with an orbitrol on industrial equipment is different than hydraulic assist on a vehicle.

well I got to work taking it apart and now I understand what is going on with it. I know I could make it work but I just flat out do not want to spend all the time and money making it work, so my search for a power steering gear box that will work continues.

FYI some times even after some of you guys have explained stuff I still have to get my hands on what ever it is to understand what your talking about


Thanks for all the useful info you gave and I got

After you've worked on something you can see a picture of it in your head, If you've not taken it apart and put it back together, sometimes the picture is blurred.

I don't beleive there is a kit for your '38, but a similar approach to the kits made for '47 to '54 trucks might work. I paid $40 at a u-pull-it for the right power steering box to make that work.

Old Dollar you are so right about that.

OldSub that's my step dad thought he had an original for the kit your talking about for the 47-54. I plan on going to the local pick and pull and just start looking and measuring to see what I can find.