Depends on what engine! If it has a V8 with side engine mounts use a CPP kit https://cl***icperform.com/shop/5557psu-k With the front mount V8's [265/283] you need to hunt down a P/Steer pump with the generator
I have read in the past that the "500" steering boxes weren't very good, may have been a fallacy or true.. I would see if Borgenson has something; pretty sure they do. I got a package for my ot 72 Comet and it all went in very well except it was for an automatic, had to do some creative work on the clutch Z bar..
Google shows many manufacturers selling the same parts for different money. there is videos and all kinds of information. even rack and pinion
Used CPP on my 55, worked great (not antsy like some). Use the latest box they have though, think its the 600 series. BTW, easy to install.
An easy swap rears ago down here was a Nissan 240K PS (RHD) box, not a lot of work to fit. UK if there is any LHD Nissan equivalent
Some of the new electric car steering boosters hidden under the dash. No pumps to mount or hoses to route or leak. https://www.jegs.com/b/563-8000?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=24127120463
The standard Tri-5 PS upgrade throughout the 1990s was a 605 PS box, pump & hoses. All the aftermarket manufacturers sold the kits.
I used the Borgeson box. It is advertised as a bolt in, it definitely is not. It will require a shortened steering column, which is expected, but I also had to make my own rag joint as the one they suggested did not even come close to working. You will also need to cut a section of the top of the frame rail and beat it down to clear the end of the box. It is a very tight fit in any case. That said the install ****s, but it steers absolutely beautifully. www.ironandsteele.com
We did this on my friends 55 using a Toyota Prius electric power steer column and controller. You need to kiss goodbye any form of column shift. The other issue was the car was still 5-1/2 turns lock to lock. And the lack of positive caster made the feel very light and unresponsive You also need a set of CPP upper A-Arms which add 5° positive caster https://cl***icperform.com/shop/5557sca-u5 If you don't add these the front end feels like a shopping cart. The CPP box quickens the steering to 3-1/2 turns lock to lock [from 5-1/2] With the P/steer and Caster add a heavy front sway bay and get a decent alignment [zero toe and 1/2° neg camber] and the car will have better driver feel. If your car hasn't been ***embled [and you don't mind a bit of ch***is/frame work] forget about the CPP A-Arms and do the frame horn mod [Guldstrand Mod] You can add camber /caster / anti-dive with one simple mod [we did this with my Road Racer Corvette which is similar to tri-5 Chevys]
I did a P/Steer box swap on my C3 Corvette race car using a Mitsubishi Aisin steering box [CPP boxes are Aisin] back then I needed OEM steering but the Tech guys never new it was a swap [it looked factory] I made a hybrid rag joint using a Mitsubishi van /pickup rag joint on the box and the Corvette flange on the column I had to grind the Corvette flange for the safety dowel pins to fit [red arrow] AND tap the collapsible column up about 1-1/2" with a hammer
Rusty, Ive got one the kits Gary is talking about but never really took inventory of what is there so don't know how complete it is, got this along with a pile of 55 chevy parts that I bought from a guy cleaning out his garage this summer. If you're interested, I would sell it cheap, PM your phone number and I can dig the stuff out of the box and send pictures of the instructions and parts Norb
Norb, thanks for that offer and reply; I don't really need anything yet as I'm still dealing on a 55 to buy,...will keep you in mind tho, thanks again.
CPP kit is the simplest and best way to add it. Their steering box has good on center feel and quick ratio. Do not use a stock 500 series box. Steering is too slow. https://cl***icperform.com/shop/cpp5557psk-f
I used one of those 25 years ago in my '76 F100. Very easy conversion and worked perfectly with a Saginaw style pump.
I put CPP brake stuff on my 62 Bel Air after dreaming of buying it for years and hearing they were the way to go. Simply, I've gone out of my way to avoid CPP ever since. Wrong parts, missing parts I had to buy elsewhere myself (at CPP's suggestion even though it was their mistake), mediocre customer service, and an incorrectly manufactured combination valve and brake lines were the highlights. The master and booster are even questionable, and Google tells me I'm far from the only one. Obviously those are brake parts and not steering but I've learned my lesson. They tried to blame Summit Racing at first, but I quickly squashed that. Because of all the issues and waiting for parts a couple times to Canada from CPP, my car was down for exactly 3 months from start to finish for a "bolt-on" install that should have taken no more than a weekend. When I purchased power steering for the same car this year, I went with Borgeson and the control arms and sway bar I purchased to go with are Ridetech. Very nice stuff, and all the right stuff was in the boxes the first time. I haven't installed it yet, but I'm no longer a CPP fan.
Not sure if it fits, but years ago I swapped out the slushbox on a 1972 Pontiac Lemans with one out of an IROC Camaro. Much faster ratio, I think it was 2.5 turns lock-to-lock. I mixed and matched the collapsable steering shaft with the Lemans parts to mate it with the steering column, and made a power steering hose with braided teflon hose and the IROC steel lines and Pontiac power steering pump lines via a couple of fittings from my local hydraulics shop.
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