The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop BEST POWER STEEERING CONVERSION

Hello Wise Ones,
I have finaly dropped the 454 and th400 in my 59 but the sanderson headers that are supposed to fit with the stock steering box do not. They will work if I move the engine all the way to the passenger side but it is still real close to the steering box. So now I am thinking about power steering. Can someone please let me know whats the best way to convert to power steering with the straight axle front end and where can I get the parts.
Thanks, Bill

IMHO the BEST POWER STEEERING CONVERSION is a pair of strong arms!

Check with Classic Performance

e-mail: classicperform.com

Thanks for the info on CCP conversion kit, anyone else use this conversion kit or have any sugestions on power steering pros and cons.
I really do appreciate it.
Thanks, Bill

Classic Performance in Buena Park is very good. However, I used American Brake and Steering (http://www.abspowerbrake.com/) here in Orange, CA for my ’59 truck. They offer a couple of different options of bolt in steering conversion kits.

I haven’t driven mine yet, so I can’t tell you if I am happy with the set up, but I saw a few of their kits installed on other 55-59 Chevy trucks and I was very impressed with those installations.

If you go with Classic Performance, I am sure you will also be happy with their product as well.

Good luck on your project!

Jim Karras
Orange, CA
'59 Chevrolet Apache 32 Stepside Pickup
E-mail: Jim@59apache.com
Internet: http://www.59apache.com/

I used the CPP version, got a box from a 74 Chevy, 2wd. Install was ok, don't really like the way I had to install the Borgeson joints to get everything to line up. Truck steers ok, there is some bump steer (minor) but that could be caused by the 2 inch lift kit. Most trucks are lowered, so the relationship of pitman arm to steering arm is different than mine.

My biggest complaint about the set up is the cheapo rod ends that are used on the pitman arm to connect it to the steering arm. They wore out FAST! Couple of hundred miles! Took them to Napa and crossed the part # over, 1947 Mercury! Still a good number, bought a set from Napa. 3,000 miles and going strong.

I also upgraded the tie rod ends on the drag link to a more modern design. (Safety reasons)

I like the look of the Toyota box install. Seem much cleaner.
My .02

Curly thanks for the info, you say it steers ok, do you think the money and time was worth it or is it better to just live with the stock steering set up?
also did you lose any turning radius with the CCP conversion? I have had some people tell me that I could buy a complete mustang II weld on front end for $1500 with power rack and pinion and disc brakes. I figure it will cost me about $1000 to convert my straight axle to power steering. What do you guys think of these mustang II front ends on a truck? Anyone else have anything to say about the power steering conversion for these trucks?
Besides the added wieght and clearance problems of the 454 I would like my wife to be able to drive it thats the reason I bought the power brake set up and the interest in power steering.
I do not want to lower the truck and really dont mind the way the truck drove when it was all stock, it just needed a new motor and rear end change. To make it more freeway freindly any advise is appreciated.
Thanks, Bill

Hello Wise ones,
I went to the pleasanton car show/swap meet yesterday and talked to a guy with a 57 chevy truck. He said that he had put a power steering conversion like the one at CCP and said the bump steer was so bad he ended up putting on a mustang II front end. He said that his truck was the stock height but I`m wishing that maybe he had weak springs or something. I really want to do the power steering conversion. Anyone have any other experience good or bad with this type of power steering conversion.

I'm going to put the CCP dropped axle and disc brake setup along with their booster and a complete front end rebuild on my '59 short fleetside this spring. I'm considering the power assist steering but will try the truck out first with the new components. I'm in Menlo Park, off the Alemeda if you want to check out my truck sometime.
Terry

I think im going to get the CPP, kit for my 51,3100. I have already changed the front springs and bushings,as well as wheel bearings,and I also went to the modern tie rod and tie rod ends. My big priblem will be getting the correct steering pump and alt brackets for the 235. old navy 51............

Thanks for the info, I just ordered everything from CPP(box, pump, hoses, steering colum saver bearing, steering joints/shaft, tie rod & ends,pitman arm and conversion kit)I hope this will ensure everything works together the first time. I will let you know how it goes once I get the parts in. The parts cost more than I paid for the truck.Wow never really thought that would happen, when I got the truck it was just going to be my cheap arround town and dump runner vehicle. At least thats what I told my wife when I brought it home. Now its my aspiring family get away / hot rod Pride & Joy.
This has happened also to my 62 Nova and my wifes 58 Brookwood wagon is there a cure for this?

59PTruck, just reading your post from March '05 and was wondering if you installed your ps conversion kit yet and if so , how do you like it? Thanx, bowtie

go to www.classictrucks.com , tech articles, page #5, titled steered straight, hope this helps

Thanx 61apache, looks just like what I needed!
Hey Hill city bill did you see this site? it may work for your '35 also! Tha snow will be gone tomorrow, 61 a high but rain this weekend.

hoowdee Mike!!...
i hope you are well...
that snow was mighty pretty... i enjoyed it a lot...
i had found this article several months ago while researching my steering system..
i had used this info plus some info from CPP (their Fwrd effie adapter) to decide on the Toyota box and whether or not it might work for me... then i checked around to assure that the input shaft and pitman arm would turn in the proper direction for me... CPP mounts their box on "TOP" of the frame... i didn't want that... there's another company in NC that makes a similar rig they sell on eBay... i looked my rig over closely came up with a somewhat different mounting system that i will fabricate myself... i bought a nice Toyota box just last week down in Naruna so i'm good to go now... i'll use Borgenson joints to adapt to the Monte Carlo tilt column i'll be using... i think this thing should do okay but i'm still concerned about the operating pressure from the steering pump if i use a chevy saginaw unit... i need to find out what the toyota uses... no luck yet... i did find a supplier that make an adapter to mount the toyota steering pump to the chevy engine... i like that idea if the pulley will line up properly... they make two different units depending on which toyota pump is being used... i couyld then use the toyota pump; cooler; resevoir; and lines and all the fittings would be stock toyota compatible... the chevy stuff most likely won't match up and it will have to be adapted... i'd rather deal with just the drive pulley and the toyota uses a separate belt tension idler too which is nice... some of these guys are using the mustang ifs stuff and mustang steering boxes too... i've read that the GM pump pressures are a lot greater that the Fwrd pump pressures and i feel this could be a potential problem... i don't want ANY steering or brake problems whatsoever regardless of cost...

Mike... i'm sorry... i didn't mean to write a booklet...
let 'er rain.. let 'er snow... i don't care... i like it all...

NO PROBLEM hillcitybill, ditto on the weather and I would definately like to c-your set up on tha ps sometime. Keep up the good work,
bowties

we'll have to hook up Mike!!... you're more than welcome to check out my Toyota box and make any measurements you need before you run out and buy one... i kept running into conflicting info so it took me awhile to decide on this combo... ALSO>>> my BIG PLAN was to have ALL CHEVY or at the very least ALL GM stuff on my truck... "aftermarket" would have been okay but nothing from any other auto builder other than GM and NO FWRD stuff even if is was FREE... and i have a bunch of '34 FWRD truck stuff on hand too!!... it is still KILLING ME to have to use this Toyota part on my truck instead of a GM part.. there is a Dodge box (made by saginaw) that is also supposed to work but they seem to be harder to find that the toyota and the pitman shaft housing seems to be a bit shorter and i need some extra length inside my frame... oh well... it ain't over yet...

Here is a pic of my PS in my 55 2nd series. Straight axle, tillt steering column, 350 small block with front engine mounts.

http://hotrodders.com/journal_photos/00026732/11395042661.jpg

James, was the original box mounted on top of your frame and attched directly to the steering column like on my '48? If so what year steering box do u have installed? also looks like you have the ps kit from CCP or CD . Looks great!
bowties

The original box mounted inside the frame connected directly to the steering column. The gera box is out of a 1975 chevy two wheel drive truck. It is a saginaw 800 box (has four mounting holes). I actually bought a used one for $75 and used it as my $86 core exchange. I bought this one rebuilt from NAPA with a lifetime warrenty. I don't buy any rotating parts from anybody else....lets just say I learned my lesson the hard way. I'll look for a pic of the orginal set up and post it if I have one. Oh yea the kit was from Chevy Duty. It was about $100 if I recall correctly.

Anyone else have updates???

I used an IH scout II steering box in my 52.
Will probably work for yours too. It bolts to the outside of the frame.
Check the pictures on my link below for the Chevy axle conversion.

Grigg