The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks Power Steering for 4x4 '61?

Hey all,

I've just joined this great site after recently buying a 1961 Apache that was previously converted into a 4x4. I want to install power steering but none of the sites I've visited have solutions.

Any ideas? I'm all ears.

Thanks,
Pete

NO ONE has any ideas? Bummer.

Hi Peter, Im new to the site as of today but not new to these trucks. I have a 63 GMC 4x4 and heres what I used.

Several people have Emailed me about this P/S conversion, so I will list some part numbers. If you use the stock closed knuckle (1960-1969) Dana front end you must use these drag link parts with the 70-86 Power Steering Box. Latter steering boxes require different hose fittings.

NAPA 269-1105 Tie Rod End
NAPA 269-2441 Drag Link 1970-1986
ES2234R 1985 Blazer Tie Rod

The closed knuckle front end has a smaller taper and requires the Blazer Tie Rod.


I also recommend the quick ratio Steering Box. Several people make and offer these. One being, AGR Performance Steering, unit #292117 for $350. You can find a used GM P/S box for under $100.

You will have to space out the new box from the frame slightly and modify the end of the column for the longer steering box.

Jon.

Hey Jon,

Thanks much for responding. I've been going nuts for three weeks now trying to find out what to do. My mechanic has never seen one of these trucks, so he's left it up to me.

I'll get started on this.
Thanks again,
Pete

Well this isnt a stock replacement deal or factory but its the easiest way to go. Good luck with the swap.

Jon.

I used a power steering box out of a 84 chevy truck.
Went to the junk yard and cut the frame out where it mounts so I would have the bolt pattern for the gear box. I then welded that section of frame over my 61s frame rail and drilled out where the bolts go.
This was because chevys have been known to crack the frame where the box mounts so I reinforced the frame there. You can then use the 84 style pitman arm for the steering. I did have to trim the inner fender skirt for clearance of the steering rod from the steering wheel to the gear box.
The pump was a remote reservoir chevy pump, but I just switched it to a pump with the reservoir built in to save space.

I got a "complete kit" from the steering store (on sale) for $650. But it lacks a bracket for the 235. Was hoping not to have to fab one, but have come up dry looking for one. Any ideas?

Hi Jon,

I am helping a friend put power steering in his 61 4x4. When he bought the truck, there was a power steering conversion kit included (uninstalled) I think I understand what you used the parts you listed for (I'm assuming the link between the pitman arm and the arm on the steering knuckle) Thank you for providing those P/Ns. My question is, what did you use for a pitman arm? The one that was supplied with the kit has a tapered stud for connection to the link, but I think we will need one with a tapered hole for the drag link joint to fit into.

Hope you're still around on the forum to answer this Thanks,

Jim

Thanks

PM me your email and I will send you a few pictures of the steering arm required for the knuckle joint frt axle to a later drag link
ron

Being new to this forum, I am not yet able to use the PM function. I followed one of your links to the pic you have posted. Could you possibly post the pics in there?

Thanks,

Jim

just click on my name and a box will drop down and one will be for pm. Image shack just changed over from free to not free any more, I am not going to pay to post a pic
what frame and eng do you have in your truck?
ron

Sorry, didn't know you'd have to pay to post a pic (that sucks). I did click on your name and use the pm in the drop down and it tells me its disabled.

The truck has a 350 engine. Not sure what you mean by type of frame. It is a short step side bed

someone may have changed the frame under it. does it have an xmember or a ladder style frame. there are a lot of bastard type changes done to these trucks and it makes it difficult for a neophyte to these trucks to know exactly what was done to them. it would be interesting to see how your engine and trans is mounted.
it makes a difference as to how your ps pump gets mounted and as to how your p/steering box gets mounted to the frame.
60-62 2 wheel dr frames are a lot different from the 60-62 4 x 4 frame. those who usually convert to 4 x 4 will usually put a later frame in
does the eng mount under the front of the eng or on the side of the eng. is there a round tubular crossmember under the frt of the eng
if your mechanic doesn't know poop all about the older trucks, then he will be lost also and if he is a real mechanic or a backyarder will also make a large difference
if it is a chev then the ser# should be on the top of the frame by where the steering box goes. that should match the vin # on the plate inside the drivers door jamb and on your registration papers.It will be more helpful to know all of these things before you commence to do the work as you can sometimes get more screwed up on the jobs trying to match things up. what years is the power steering pump and that off of. long water pump or short water pump- different pulleys, different pumps - sae std thread or metric on the steering box,hoses and pump; there are years that these change
ron
you do need so many posts to clear for PM, I forgot. you can perhaps ask the moderator to do it for you or just post a few more posts(even dummy posts-test 1,2,3) to get the count up. you don't need that many

Thanks Ron,

The frame is not an X frame. There is a tubular cross member in front of the engine and the engine mounts to brackets on the frame on each side. Looks like some mods were made to the engine mount brackets (with a cutting torch) to accommodate the mounts for the 350 engine. There are also mounts on each side of the bell housing.

I don't know what year the PS pump and gear box are. These came in a kit that was with the truck when it was purchased. Kit includes mounting brackets for the gearbox, PS pump and the hydraulic hoses. I am aware that the later year gearboxes changed to metric fittings, etc. There is a bracket riveted to the frame that the current manual steering gear is bolted to. It looks to me like this bracket will have to be removed to accommodate the new PS steering gear.

The truck does not belong to me, it belongs to a friend of mine and I am helping him (I am the mechanic). Just a little on my background; although I don't turn wrenches for a living any more, I spent a number of years as a line mechanic in dealerships (Chevy for one) and independent garages (specialized in automatic trans repair/rebuilding). I still do most of the work on my own vehicles.

I PM'ed you

[quote=jjsinaz]I PM'ed you [/quote
I thought that I was responding to the original poster.you have seemed to have stolen the thread from him
ron

No sorry, I'm not the OP. Actually, my first post was meant for GMC collector, who replied to the OP with some P/Ns for stuff he used to get the power steering working on his 63. I wanted to know what he used for a pitman arm, since the PS conversion kit we have is for a 4x2 and does not have the correct arm. Should I have started a new thread?. I just posted in this one, as it was dealing with the subject I was interested in.

you have to use a 4 x 4 steering box and the pitman arm that goes with it
ron

how was it converted to a 4 x 4?
ron