1948 cadillac steering

Looking for some ideas on how to put power steering to the stock suspension. I have a gm 605 box ,fits nice, my problem is connecting with a pitman arm. has anyone put power steering to 48,49 Gm suspension, and no I don't want to clip the chasiss, the car rides great

 

All the steering boxes turn the wrong way for how the '48 steering arm faces. The '49 and later were conventional, but that's not a simple bolt-in.

 

I got a fatman Cavalier conversion for my 47 Buick Roadmaster, isn't the Cadillac similiar?

 

whatever you do dont use that 605 box, they **** *** unless you like steering the car back to center all the time, do some research on them and you will find they are not worth using. I wouldnt use one unless you cannot fit an 800 series. If you have room the saginaw 800 series PS box bolts up the same way or the 525 manual box.

 

It's been almost twenty years since I replaced mine(I still have the car). I used the long sector shaft 605 that was in common use for the 55-57 chevy. Machined the center out of the pitman arm/welded in a new one. Replaced the steering column, with a floor plate to position the column.

 

Thanks, I'll have to investigate fatman

 

Hey Drptp70ss,, i recognize the 37 buick in your pic, 20 years ago, I put a ps box out of I believe it was a 71 cutl*** in my '37 century. It bolted in the factory holes added a vet tilt tele column mated the pitman arms together, and it worked the balls. Sold the car 10 years after and it still out there in P.A. somewhere

 

Yep, shes a 37, cool idea on the steering box, that would of been an 800 series. I didnt get to try that, guy I bought my car from wanted the ch***is back to build a woody so I had to do a frame swap.
I am also doing a cadillac now, 1947, but I clipped it with a G body to get the newer suspension, brakes, and steering all at once for under $100.

 

I have a 1947 Caddy Convt that i also tryin to put in a power steering in.But my orig box is short and has the pitman arm fitted on top on the box,sitting before the front axle,seen from the driving seat.Never seen that on a car earlier. Is your car similar Oleman?Must be hard to get all angles right comparing to steering column,frame and the rest of the front axle parts..Need power steering since parking the car is a HELL,
driving it is ok..

 

Hey cad-man, my box sits in the normal position,the big issue is putting a new style pitman arm to the stock linkage, with that foolish ball. Roger O'Dell, I have a welder friend who wants to try way,he also wants to make the whole arm out of 1/2 inch plate bent into shape

 

A certified welder friend of mine, did mine. I'm one of those ugly weld guys. I never weld anything that could get me or my darling wife killed.

 

If I understand your description correctly, what you described is the same as my '48.

 

I suppose i have to find a low steering box that will fit deasent on the frame.Then try and bend and weld the older pitman ball to the newer pitman arm to make it work with the old ball coupling so all angles in the steering match.Any ideas of what box to use?I have read about these cars having a power rack-and-ball steering but i prefer the common box..In my opinion it looks way to modern with r&p steering on a old 40s car.

 

47 Cad I've worked on has the Bendix power ***ist on the stock box, works well, but the short tie rod on the drivers side had to be bent to fit, it wa sdone thta wya before I got to it and I ended up with a new tie rod from Rare Parts and made it cleaner, they also have the Bendix kits.

 

Here''s an update. I found that a '37 olds pitman arm was the right shape and length. Modifications were: change the ball on the end,'37's too big, weld and pin the '48 ball, a small tweek bend to align perfectly. This all mates up to a 605 box, and the big surprise was the '37 arm was the exact same spline as the 605 box.Now I have power steering with my stock indep suspension !!!! Thanks to all your responses and ideas