Is it possible to change up to power steering from a engine that did not have it ('68 302) in a car that did not have that engine (the 302) while keeping the stock steering column and wheel ? I'd like to put power steering into the car, but I don't want one of those damned tilt columns and a tiny assed wheel. Any thoughts ?
You can alter any column, even one that originally had the steering box mounted as one piece. You'd cut it off at the box, and add a simple flanged bearing at the bottom, and also need to adapt the inner shaft to a D or double D shape to accept a u-joint or rag joint.
I did with my '46 Olds. Retained OEM column, cut it down, turned inner shaft to DD and added a bearing support as stated. I also added a plate on bottom of tube so that column can bolt to toe board as it's already supported at dash end.