1st of Merry Christmes. I am looking for Ideas on how to put power steering in my 49 chevy fleetline. I want to use the original front end. I already upgraded to disk breaks, and I dont want to do a front end swap so any ideas? I think I can do it and keep the existing linkage but what type of power steering pump would be small/ strong enough? If no ideas on a power steering set up, how about any experience with rack and pinion steering in this year of chevy car? All help is apreciated. Thanks.
1954 or 1955 through about 1959 Chevys use a combination generator/power steering pump. I'm not sure that factory power steering was available on 49-54, but the steering is interchangable through those years. The problem is I suspect to add any other power unit will call for a rack, unless someone knows of a box that will work used in the same position as the stocker.
Most things are do-able depending on your level of ability and how far you are prepared to go to get what you want. I suspect there is not a simple bolt on unit and if there was it would probably be costly. The later pickups had power boxes so that would be my first point of investigation. I suspect you will need to be bale to make up brackets and a steering column...
I would think you could adapt a rear steer rack and pinion of some sort and do away with the center link stock steering but I never really looked into it in any depth since I put an 81 Monte Carlo front clip on my 50 pontiac to get PS and disc brakes. As far as a pump, one of the earlier chevy pumps with the integral reservoir really doesn't take up much room at the front or, if you can afford it, the small pumps with the remote reservoir work well, too. Maybe CPP has something useful.
It's not easy to get a rear steer rack to sit up high enough to prevent bump steer. It would have to be in the oil pan.
Squirrel, I think you're probably right, I wonder if a SBC Chevy II dual sump pan might work in that case, or, as I remember, the steering arms bolt on these spindles - maybe a custom fabbed set of steering arms with correct Ackerman would allow a front steer setup. I haven't done one of these with a R&P, just throwing out some ideas in hopes of generating some discussion.
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