The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Power or Manual steering?

I have a 1953 chevrolet 3600 and I was wondering if I should get Power or Manual steering for my truck. I have a Three on the colum and I was wondering if there was anyway to keep the three on the colum with the power steering.I was wondering if it is a hassle for power steering maintenance and is easier for manual.
If you haveany advice please let me know
Thanks

Ole 53,
Good question.No is the answer. You would have to switch out to a later model and not a easy task for a straight axle. I said no but I did cut mine off just above the grear box so the shifter will still work and then you can switch to a power rack kit.
Hope that helps. Someone my have came up with a better idea but it would mostly depend on our skills and or $$$.

There are kits to put power steering on these trucks and it is possible to retain the original steering column with shifter as you do so. It does require some work, but it can be done.

You could also look at using a later column from a 60s or 70s vehicle that has a three on the tree.

Anything is possible with some money. Here's a CPP power assist kit for 900 bucks. Requires modifying the pitman arm, but other than that, it's bolt in.
http://www.classicperform.com/Store/1947_59_Trucks/4750PSKA.htm

Granted, power steering is nice when you are trying to slide into a tight parking space at your car shows......but I'm a firm believer that the stock Chevy steering box combined with the 17" steering wheel and a little upper body strength are all that's needed. Manual steering gives you good feedback when the truck is rolling and beats hanging a lot of hardware on the engine and chassis that are both expensive and something more to leak. To me, mounting a PS box on the extreme front of the frame puts a bunch of undue stress on the frame horn, requires several rather expensive joints, requires carving up the column and lightens the wallet for the sake of being able to squeeze into that tight parking space.

I would respectfully suggest that anyone driving a non-power assist vehicle, access their driving technique, and with a little practice, master the art of close-quarters navigating.
After all, if we wanted all the creature comforts we'd have driven the Buick.

Dave

Well said, Dave. Driving an old truck is an experience I don't want to give up. I don't want a modern car that looks like an old truck. I want an old truck.

Hey 1953chevy3600,
I agree with what cletis said. I think driving old trucks is something that every one of us here at Stovebolt loves doing, and if there was power steering, it wouldn't have that old truck driving feel that every one at stovebolt is lucky to experience. If it had power steering, it would be just like driving any other new car and what would be the point of having an OLD truck?

I think it is time to chime in for power steering.

My 58 does not have power steering but I sure wish it did. I just completed the power brake upgrade & I can say w/o question driving this truck is not as much fun as I thought it would be.

I knew it would be tuff to turn, but the way my drive way is configured I am always driving in the grass to turn the truck around. Not fun.

If I have a chance to keep this truck for any period of time power steering will be on the list.

I've got two-cents to toss into this one too.

The older I get the more chronic health issues constrain what I can do. I very much enjoy driving old trucks but as my knees are deteriorating I think about an automatic transmission.

As my back problems have increased power steering seems a way to keep me behind the wheel of an old truck for more years.

I know a lot of people feel if you want it to drive like a new truck you should drive a new truck. I don't share that philosophy. Its the classic lines and look of the old truck, and the sense of nostalgia for times I associate with similar trucks that really attracted me to owning old trucks.

For me modernizing has limits. I usually think of modern as 70's technology though lately I have been considering a TBI motor for one of my projects. Those limits are based on what I'm comfortable working on.

Its your truck, you should do with it as you please. And while everyone is entitled to have an opinion of what you do, you have the right to ignore those opinions as long as you stay within the law and good sense (brakes, steering, lighting and such).

My '56 GMC model 150 was very hard to steer when I bought it. Turned out one kingpin was almost frozen. A rubber mallet would not move the steering knuckle. New kingpin kits installed by a machine shop with an arbor press made steering much easier. My two cents.

Dave

Both sides of the coin have been addressed. If the truck is as built and everything is in good order you may want to talk to some old timers how driving techniques. If the truck is rolling it will be much easier to turn for instance. If the front end is loose power steering will only make the truck harder to drive. Sometimes slowing down will make it easier to handle without power steering. All being said Steve has some fair points as so our bodies getting older and some of these added issues will allow us to drive with ease for more years. Just make sure things are safe.

I am wanting to change because someone has added bucket seats to my rig before I got it. That change required a smaller steering wheel because of seat height, and it makes handling more difficult. Also lowering the body has made braking more difficult, so disc's seem imminent.

maybe a seat change would help .......

I have to agree with adding power brakes and power steering, I really enjoy driving and the looks from other people as I tool my old truck around. Although I keep real good tires on my truck a front blowout is possible and with the incresed speeds of today power steering makes it easier to control. The last hing our sport is hadlines like "Antique Truck blows tire causing a massive wreck on the Interstate with failities" That is what some Legisitors are waiting for.

That CPP kit is quite neat. It doesn't disturb the steering box or column. The control valve is on the new drag link and the power piston is attached to the new tie rod assembly. I don't want power steering myself but if I did, I would used that kit.

Someone sent me a really nice bunch of photos of pickup trucks loaded on transport carriers in the 50s. One of them is an AD cab over. there was no power steering on thast rig.

And the stereotype of a truck driver of that era is a fat guy with very muscular arms.

I'm a fat guy who spends most his type staring at a screen and clicking a keyboard. My COE project will have power steering before I ever drive it.

It's your truck and pocketbook, build it the way you want. Whatever you choose, good luck.