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Labor Day Putting down your wrenches or time for MORE wrenching? 
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| | | Forums66 Topics128,006 Posts1,055,267 Members48,418 | | Most Online14,466 Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down with Ads! Again, thanks! | | | | Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 292 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 292 | WHAT DONER CAN I GET A POWER STEERING GEAR BOX OUT OF TO PUT IN MY 51 3100.
Thanks
John | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,832 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,832 | The short answer is any car ever made with power steering since NOTHING will bolt in place of your 51 box. Your 51 box, mast jacket(column) and steering shaft are all one piece and no p/s was ever offered like that. The two easiest ways to go are the mid 80's Toyota 4wd pickup power box or the tie rod assist cylinder. The Toyota will require cutting your column, installing a bearing and a bottom of the column to floor mount. It is the best set up. The tie rod assist cylinder just requires replacing the drag link with the p/s one with the control valve. It also takes a bracket on the frame (or axle I beam) for one end of the assist cylinder and a bracket on the tie rod for the other end. Steering column remains unchanged. The easiest p/s pump setup is the 50's GM generator with a p/s pump on the rear of it. Neither way is a saturday morning twist a few wrenches and drink a few beers procedure. If you don't cut, weld, design, and fabricate then stay with the manual steering, take it to a GOOD shop, or trade it for a truck that came with power steering.
Evan
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,097 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,097 | While I agree that the Toyota set up is a good unit I have not seen one installed in an AD truck. I have installed them in several TF trucks and a 56 F100. There are frame to engine clearance issues on AD trucks made even worse if it has a V-8. Several aftermarker suppliers offer a kit that uses a Saganaw box from a mid 80's truck. I beleive someone on this site did a write up on the conversion. As coilover stated nothing is a a bolt on. Fred
1956 3100 Pickup/Red/350/3sp OD/PS/Disc Brakes 1957 Bel Air Sport Coupe/Red/355/TH350/PS/Disc Brakes 2017 Silverado LT Single Cab SB/Black/5.3/6 Speed Trans 1947 Willys CJ2A w/F-Head engine
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 328 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 328 | Just finished hooking up the power steering lines on the CPP power steering kit for my 51 3105 Panel. Man, what a difference! Steers effortlessly.
This kit uses a 70's early 80s Chevy truck steering box that is relocated to the outer frame rail with a 1/2 inch adapter plate. Uses a stock pump.
Also, updated the tie rod, ends, sway bar, and front brakes to discs..... all attached to the stock suspension. You can adapt your stock column or put a later one in...your choice. mike
| | | | | Joined: May 2011 Posts: 10 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: May 2011 Posts: 10 | I have the same question, but for a '46 two ton. I upgraded to wider tires and if steering wasn't hard enough before, now it really is. How much would the tie rod assist cylinder work in combination with the manual steering box (if at all)? Also, and this might be a stupid question, but is there such thing as a power steering assist cylinder that doesn't require a power steering box? Just pump to cylinder to help aid the manual steering box?
If a power steering box is a must, would a box from a car (like a GM 500 or 600 series of a chevelle or nova) handle the 2 ton truck, or is a larger box required (like a GM 800 series from the 60's trucks)?
Thanks guys! | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,832 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,832 | The tie rod assist is only used in conjunction with a manual box. This setup will handle any load and is governed by the size of the assist cylinder. Is used on many tractors and large construction equipment. The drawback is with the external hoses it's not well suited to something that sits real low but that isn't a factor on a 2T truck. Look at any Chevy car up through 64 that has p/s, Mustang up through 70, and Corvette up to the 80's if you want to get a visual picture of one.
Evan
| | | | | Joined: May 2011 Posts: 10 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: May 2011 Posts: 10 | So I can use a tie rod assist without power steering box and it will work? Does it use a pump like the p/s boxes do? Thanks again for hanging in there with me while I figure this stuff out... | | |
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