Dam, this getting old ain't for sissies. Due to unrecoverable health problems and losing 70+ lbs I find my 40 increasingly harder to drive at slow speeds. Currently I have a new 525 GM box with a 16 inch wheel and reasonably small narrow tires on the front. I'm thinking power steering but I'm so **** I want the job to appear factory.. I'm ***uming 605 box but maybe there's a better solution. I'm not wanting cheap just good. Suggestions?
Have you thought about a bigger steering wheel. For example, a 1950 Olds came with an 18 inch diameter steering wheel. Makes a huge difference when turning the wheel at a standstill.
Electric can be completely hidden under the dash. At 82 I'm looking for some comfort as well. I opted for a converted Prius unit in my '33 for financial reasons, but there are aftermarket units out there that would be simpler to integrate.
I fee; your pain. At 84 and with arthritis in both shoulders, I am having trouble with the steering on my '51 Ford. Luckily, I live in a rural area where I can get by with sufficient planning ahead when I drive. Power steering would be a Godsend. I have a 1967 Corvette that does have power steering as a "backup", Unforeseeably, getting in and out of it s is a problem in itself. When I restored the Corvette, I thought that a power steering similar to the one in it might be an easy way to add PS to an older car. The steering box is just a regular box with nothing to do with the power steering. The power is added by a ram attached to the drag link and controlled by a control valve on the end of the link. Of course, a pump has to be mounted on the engine to run the whole thing. I am considering seeing what it would take to add such a setup to the old Ford. The steering box works fine as it is; it just takes too much effort. Because of the 6 volt system, and electric unit is out.
1955-64 Chevrolet p***enger cars used the slave cylinder setup. I knew someone who adapted it to the stock steering linkage on his '32 Chevy.
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