'66 C10 power steering conversion question

Hello all,
Well, I've gotten into restoring my pops old truck and went the power steering route. Bought one of those kits from CPP as highly suggested by many...only to come to find that my mechanic installed the power steering gearbox and automatic steering column without using the kit.

Should I be concerned about things not working properly at some point? I mean, it all looks to be correct...just can't check it now due to needing to hook up some hoses an all to the pump and get the engine running.

Has anyone here ever done a conversion and NOT used a kit from CPP or REZ to complete it? And if so, what is the major difference here?

Thanks for all of your advice so far!

 

the 66 frame is flat where the power box mounts, the CPP adapter spaces the box correctly off the frame. If your mechanic bolted the power box up without some sort of spacers, either the frame will crack or the box will break because of the bind.....no way around not using the adapter for the correct mounting unless you cut and weld the frame for the later box to clear......been there done that...

 

Ding ding ding.... just had a long talk with a Jack from Full Custom Fab in Bastrop, TX.. he's done a ton of 4-5-6 Chevy trucks he said the same thing. I took a look at my power steering box (I bought the truck with it already installed) and the frame was flexing when I turned the wheels. Needless to say the truck is off the road until I install the plate and spacers.

You can find a good one for ~$50 over on the 67 Chevy truck board.

 

this is the guy to get them from, cheap, and they work, he does brake booster brackets too.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=332923

 

I bought one that was called a REZ adapter plate. It was nothing more than a plate with three spacers (different widths to give it the right angle) welded on it. Very good quality and no issues. If I remember right, I only had to drill one hole as the other two matched up?

 

Take a look at a 1967 GMC with power steering and see what they did from factory, I ***ume they would be nearly the same.

Use the kit if it is correct and remember do it once and do it properly.

 

all of the above....oh yea ....and find another mechanic

 

I've done 15 or 20 without the adapter plate. First one in 1995, works fine. None have had issues. I make my own spacers, and don't use any plate.

Go ahead and bash me, or come look at the first one I did that was used 10 years as a true daily driver, and 30/40,000 miles since....no cracks, no flex, no issues, handles great, etc. I also have my own alignment equipment, and it has perfect tire wear.


The 67-72 framerail is no thicker than a 63/66, it just has pressed bosses to space the box away from the rail.

You need to use proper flatwashers to give more support around each bolhole, rather than just a lockwasher.


I also had a guy who bought the Rez kit, but I did not use it. That kit relies on 3 bolts through the frame, Without the plate, you can get all 4 through the rail on 63/66. 60/62 is much more involved without the plate.




By the way, the post about 67 GMC; those were power ***ist steering using a slave cylinder on the steering linkage.

 

I'd go back to the mechanic and ask where the hell my kit is, at the least. Given it can cause the frame to crack, you probably have grounds not to pay the guy or sue in small claims for your money back.

 

Good idea..if I remember correctly, the kit wasn't cheap. At least you can sell it here or on Stovebolt & recoup some bucks.

 

Cracks in the frame around the steering box are not uncommon on those trucks. If the truck is going to see any hard use I'd prefer some additional strength in that area. It would not have to be provided by a kit, but since some spacing is required to mount the box the kit seems like one good approach.

I don't like the idea of the shop doing things different than I requested without a discussion first. I'd find a different shop.

 

Different folks make different variations of the kit, but one reason I like the REZ kit best is that it comes with an extra plate to go inside the frame rails to sandwich the stock frame.

Here's the REZ parts I used on my 63 a few months ago. They come in ugly red powdercoat though, so I stripped it an coated it in a color I liked better.

 

i always cut the piece out of 73 86 chevy pu theat the stering head mounts to and graft it in the early frame , and put the braces from 4x4 frame on it also the later crossmember will bolt in with disc breaks and rubber bushhings , good upgrade