"Let me make this perfectly clear" ... ...if I had built the '41 Pickup for me to drive it would not have had power steering or an automatic or the AC or the power brakes...but this truck wasn't built for me, it was built for my wife, and I hope she owns it, enjoys it and drives it long after I hit the used car lot in the sky. A power steering pump on the front of the hemi would have been nasty and difficult, to say nothing of the steering box and plumbing. Instead, I installed an electric power ***ist motor on the steering column. I don't take pictures or discuss OT stuff out of respect for the main forum and our members. But that doesn't mean these bits don't exist on my cars. (I really should have painted this column black, but you all know me and shiny stuff) . I do plan to add a Halon Extinguisher to the column like I did on my roadster. That will soften the blow by being distracting. This is ElectraSteer, made in the USA. There are several variations sold by Summit, Flaming River, Ididit and others. It came with a "brain" which I mounted under the seat with the battery, amp, sub, fuse panel, mini shift computer for the overdrive and cooling fans... ...that receives a signal from my electric speedo so it knows how much ***ist to render. In a parking lot or my back yard, it is a one finger operation, peg to peg, even under the weight of the hemi. At speed it knows to help less and, on the highway, there is little to no ***ist, so you don't sneeze and change lanes. One of the drawbacks was that it required a 2" column. That would have ****ed if I already had a 1 3/4" column but in this case, I had not bought one yet so I could order the correct 2" floor plate and build the column drop connecting rod to fit. And I don't see why a creative guy couldn't adapt it to fit a smaller column. It wouldn't know the difference. These are widely used on muscle cars, Factory 5, cobra kit cars and the like. In my truck it is more visible due to the column position but in a car, they are nearly invisible under the dash. Easy to install and just a couple of wires. If they fail, the steering is no more difficult that a manual steering box so there is no safety issue. I know a lot of you will raise the flag and give it the one finger salute it over this idea. But my wife lacks a lot of upper body strength, and she has complained over the years having to drive my cars without PS. There are guys that have had strokes or physical injuries, and they lack the use of two hands required for "Armstrong" steering. This is an alternative to parking your hot rods due to aging. I have to admit, I don't need it, but driving the truck is a dream. Definitely not for everybody, definitely not for the main forum, but I have definitely no regrets having installed it.
Saw a brief mention from the main forum. Thanks for the follow up here, I was curious about the set up.
Well done Billy. I looked into doing electric, but decided the tried and proven hydraulic system would be easiest for me. I already had the pump on the accessory drive, so it was as simple as mounting the box and plumbing it. I used a Saginaw for a 80 model Cutl***.
Well done. May not be a lot of guy's jumping onto this, but when, or if there is a need to add PS to our hot rods, this is a viable option. Am I to ***ume this comes as a "kit" that includes everything you need and also comes with good instructions?
Was just checking out Summits offerings. Looks like complete kits start @ $1549 and go up. Lots of specific car offerings (5 pages worth), some include the column, and they even offer an electric power rack & pinion system. Might be a good option to be able to keep driving the old rod, or make things easier to add PS to a new build.
It was very complete and easy to install. Yeah, it's not cheap but it's nearly invisible. I had both doors open at the Portland Roadster Show this year and most people never saw it. Hide your tech. Hot Rods rule.
Somewhere I've seen a writeup on using a unit from a Toyota, I think. Edit: found it. https://www.therangerstation.com/tech/toyota-electric-power-steering-eps-conversion/
I considered it but with the brain this made it sound fool proof. And it kinda was. I think I spent close to $2k on the system in chrome with the Ididit column. This isn't a race car, but no HP robbing belt drives this way.
Here's a write-up I did when I installed a junkyard EPS unit in my '54 Ford. It took a little fabrication but was a lot easier than I imagined. Pulled off the whole thing for under $200. I've been driving it for a couple of months now with no issues whatsoever! My old body loves the electric power steering! https://www.hotrodders.com/threads/electric-power-steering-install-in-a-54-ford.526435/#post-4739217
As an addition to this tech, many are using the elect. power brake booster from some of the newer cars. The down side to this is the capacity of the alternator and the wiring to handle the additional current needs. When there's no accessory drive options for your setup, the electric makes many things possible.
Hey Billy. The kick *** "Shure" microphone, thinking its a gear shift, is cleverly arranged, to be able to talk to the automatic transmission ! Very cool indeed. "Everything old, is new again" Thanks from Dennis, for sharing these cool photos.
Excellent add to this thread! Thats a lot cheaper than ElectraSteer. Can you imagine all the cool bits in wrecking yards when the electric car fad ends? And if my Tesla and Rivian stocks are any indicator, it is ending.
I think the auto power ***ist adjustment connected to the vehicle speed sensor could be a huge help with a vehicle being scratch built, or for someone adding the electric ***ist to an existing car. $1600 would probably be cheaper then adding a clip just to gain PS. Other options are always good info. If you have something else, post it up too.
@sailingadventure installed electric PS on his supercharged Avanti and loves it. If you have ever looked under the hood of one of these cars, there is not much room. As I understand it, you could not get PS in the supercharged cars, if you got AC. Jeff has maybe the only super charged Avanti with PS and AC. Plus, it's a smoking good looking car that he built.
As we get older, bad shoulders, knees and so on keep us from driving our cars. If power steering and automatic transmissions let us drive more I say great. Bill thanks for sharing.
Evintho used an electric power steering unit from a Saturn Vue on his 54 Customline build. It looked very similar to your unit. I don't know what the cost would be from a salvage yard. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/epas-install.1193648/
I had an LT1 Vette that didn't come with PS or PB, someone was after the HP. This would have been invisible under the dash and not rob power from the engine. This is why I started the thread, not everyone had full use of their extremities any longer. 3 pedals don't make it a hot rod nor does armstrong steering and flat black paint. I plan to drive mine until they plant me. Number 37's VP was a Ford, but he drove a 1950 Oldsmobile 98. Yep, Richard was an Oldsmobile man. One of my favorite quotes of his “If you take no risks, you will suffer no defeats. But if you take no risks, you win no victories.” Driving an Olds (which I do) definitely fits that risk/reward scenario.
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