Hey all, Been searching and haven't found much on improving 48-53 olds front ends and/or adding power steering. Aside from a factory option box (not gonna happen in boneyards in my time zone let alone immediate area) there seems to be nothing for power steering. I read that a 58 Pontiac (ONLY year) has lower a arms that had balljoints, 59 was totally different and 57 was kingpins. If I could even find some, the upper A arm fabrication would be difficult without alignment tools. I read that 1° of camber needs 1/2" of shims, so it's not something I'd wanna do without alignment tools. I have to imagine that, even with its low speed steer/high speed stability compromise in design, that it is a nice ride at 75mph if tight and aligned right and has nice tires... but if I did into this car I want a ultra plush cruising machine, not a loose 50's slob that takes two people to parallel park. I drove a 55 Chevy recently that had 80,000 original miles and thought it was a delight compared to my 50 (54 front end). That has ballpoints though. Had it up to 45 only. Just picking brains and getting ideas. I guess I am not opposed to doing a clip. I have access to an 86 Grand Prix, could always search sources i have for a different clip. Thanks Member: Rochester Street Rods - Est. 1970 http://www.rochesterstreetrods.org CrossMembers Car Club - Hebrews 12:2 http://www.crossmemberscc.com
Go over the front end, replace worn parts, tighten bolts, adjust steering box to factory specs. Fill shocks with hydraulic jack oil. Get an alignment, if you have radial tires pump them up to 32 PSI. This is easier and cheaper than a frame clip and should give you the ride and handling improvement you want. Your car should not be hard to steer except at a dead stop. Back in the day old people and women drove them.
True they aren't as bad as my Chevy - but i specifically want that 1-finger feel of old American power steering. Like my Chevy, I know it won't come easy... just really wanted it ever since i drove my friend's nova clip 37 ford Member: Rochester Street Rods - Est. 1970 http://www.rochesterstreetrods.org CrossMembers Car Club - Hebrews 12:2 http://www.crossmemberscc.com
Well what are you waiting for, torch the front of the frame off and weld on a Nova front clip. It's easy, thousands have done it. (sarkylert)
On my 48 cad model 61 sedanette, Same as olds 98, I used long sector shaft (common tri5 conversion) upper ford granada control arms bolted to bracket (homemade) that used to mount front shock, 76 lincoln towncar spindal,rotor,caliper, and lower arm braced to frame
I would clip it. My 48 98 convertible has a clip from a 76 Cutl*** I love the way it steers and rides
Roger that sounds awesome that all that (unlikely matches) stuff went together. I will probly clip to keep things easy and serviceable. For me the hardest part is getting the clip. Most early 90's is crushed already here. Let alone 70's... it's all back to the earth as it was Member: Rochester Street Rods - Est. 1970 http://www.rochesterstreetrods.org CrossMembers Car Club - Hebrews 12:2 http://www.crossmemberscc.com
I had a Monte Carlo clip ready but chickened out. I think I did the car in the very early 90's. It was featured in custom rodder some time in the 90's to long ago, age is setting in
What year is my olds? This is prospective. 52. Should close the deal soon. If I don't, it will be a different 48/49-53/4 GM. Not that different. Roger post some pictures of the beauty. Member: Rochester Street Rods - Est. 1970 http://www.rochesterstreetrods.org CrossMembers Car Club - Hebrews 12:2 http://www.crossmemberscc.com
If you just want power steering the easiest might be to use electric power steering. Lots of them in junkyards, they have been used on new cars for 15 years.Adapt a junkyard unit for $100 or buy a new conversion for $1500 and up. Not exactly HAMB friendly but if you want more info there are several videos on Youtube.
If you can't find that older stuff in Rochester, NY you ain't looking. Just s****ped an '88 Caprice with no takers for a long time on it. All the you-pick yards get older cars - and some fairly decent ones - you just have to go and look once in a while. Hell there is a '68 Olds 98 in a yard here, an old pimpmobile with silver vinyl glued on in a half top - including the rear side windows and three inches or so below the gl*** all the way around. Remains of porta-walls on it too. It's a POS but last year they had a '73 Impala that was pretty solid, and a '69 Bonneville coupe that was a damn shame to see in there, it was nice enough it could have been shown before they picked it to death. Hell, I almost bought a '58 Pontiac to part out not too long ago, never could get the guy to answer his phone and then it was gone. Right beside the road in Canastota.
Rusty newyorker where? My fav yard has 6 olds cars. 1960 and back. As trophies. Other than that, 1990 seems to be the oldest. Roger at your convenience would love to see it. Andrew.Ca****lla@gmail.com Member: Rochester Street Rods - Est. 1970 http://www.rochesterstreetrods.org CrossMembers Car Club - Hebrews 12:2 http://www.crossmemberscc.com
I have a '49 Old's 88 2dr fst bk. When I bought the car in '07 it was complete, unmolested car that needed a lot of mechanical work. My first plan was to rebuild the car as a clone to the one I had in 1954-55 that would out run anything on the road. Several of my friends had purchased '55 Chevy's and thought they were hot stuff, that is until they tangled with my Olds and I ran off and hide from them. As I started working on my Olds I started to reconsider rebuilding the car to a stock configuration, I discarded the Rocket engine and Hydramatic trans in favor of a '78 Olds engine and 2004R trans, saving almost 400 pounds. next came the front end. I purchased a disk brake conversion for the car and a GM 605 steering gear setup. I then found myself rethinking the front end, coming to the conclusion that I was making a mistake trying to bring an antiquated front end up to modern standards for steering and stopping. After contacting FatMan I opted for one of their front clips, which was made to fit under my '49 Olds. The installation did require cutting and welding the frame, however, the net result was an installation that looked like a factory job.
'68 - '74 Nova fits great and looks factory. I like the rear steer unit, because it doesn't interfere with the stock core support, radiator and hood latch pan.
Very nice job. You probly smile every time you go under that car. Just out of curiosity, what did you do to level and align? My method is level the frame at ride height. using spring rate calculations and giant bolts instead of shocks, put the clip at its ride height amount of compression. Use angle iron as tracks fixed to the floor and steel wheels to make a trolley to slide the clip back and forth, eliminating all movement except to and away from the frame. Plumb bobs to lines on the floor in various places to triple check. A set of jigs made before cutting the old frame front are used to find exact wheelbase, core support holes, bumper horn holes. Of course the two latter things will be recreated from box stock once the clip is properly ****oned up with the frame. Because of the jigs everything is perfect and the front clip should drop right back on easy as original with a little inner fender trim That's my method; I wanted to put it out there to here feedback and about how others do it. Member: Rochester Street Rods - Est. 1970 http://www.rochesterstreetrods.org CrossMembers Car Club - Hebrews 12:2 http://www.crossmemberscc.com
A 52 Olds has a recirculating ball steering box. Unless the car has been run in to the ground the box is repairable for about $12.00 worth of parts. The box can be repaired in the car. Drive out the old bushings and seal and take them to bearing house. After ***embly fill it with Mobile 1 Syn. 90w gear oil. Grease the the front end with Mobile 1 Syn. grease. The car will steer like it had power steering.
Buddy has an 88 with cut springs and it's not that bad... but either way, it's not just the steering but the ride (stability) at 75. Think someone who likes one hand steering on the highway at 75 would like the front end? Guess I gotta drive my friends again. It was over a year ago and it was under 60. But again, cut springs. I wouldn't do that. I am all about smooth. Maybe air bags if the shock isn't center. Or move the shock? I just want smooth and stable at speed Member: Rochester Street Rods - Est. 1970 http://www.rochesterstreetrods.org CrossMembers Car Club - Hebrews 12:2 http://www.crossmemberscc.com
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