62 power steering

[OldChevy61]

Who has done the power steering upgrade on a 62 c/10 using the torsion bar suspension. I have my frame almost cleaned and ready to start putting back together and figured this would be a good time to do this if I,m going to. What if any complications? I plan on using Captaifabs adapter plate,I know to use the pitman arm that goes with the power steering gearbox. Is there any issues with the center link. I know about the spacers in the frame. How about the template that comes with the adapter,same as the later models? Thanks,John

[LostMy65]

The 60-62 frames are a little different.
I know Captain was talking about making an adapter plate/kit for the 60-62, but I'm not sure how far he'd gotten.
I also will be doing this upgrade. My 65 is on a 62 frame.
I was also wondering about the pitman arm for the newer gear box to the crosslink.
I'm currently searching the forums for helpful threads.
I'll post them here as I find them.

[LostMy65]

Here's a good thread using Captain's plate on a 62 frame :
http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...power+steering

[RKS0069]

I worked on my '62 today. Bracket is installed with steering box bolted up, still need to do the welding. I plan on posting more pictures when I get time to start my build thread.

[LostMy65]

^ What adapter plate is that?
It looks like Captain's.

[62step]

I messaged Captain about that plate ^

It was custom made for him, he's working on a kit though, he's been busy though.

[RKS0069]

Yes. Captain did do the backing plate and the 7/8" tubing. He even sent the correct length bolts as well.

[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by RKS0069

Yes. Captain did do the backing plate and the 7/8" tubing. He even sent the correct length bolts as well.

Cool! I'm glad he's getting a kit together for the 60-62.

[slepysal]

I used one from CPP 60-62 specific. Easy fit, but I agree I would have used Capt.'s if it was available when I did mine

[OldChevy61]

It looks fairly simple with that kit. I just don't like the idea of notching the frame. Does the gearbox require 4 bolts or three like the manual steering? Maybe with three bolts and welding,not have to notch up top.

[verdell]

I installed power steering back in 2005 using one of the adapter plate set ups from our host or LMC (can't recall for certain). It works but required some fab and is nowhere near the quality of Captain's. If I had to do it again, I'd definitely go with Captain's set up.

[LostMy65]

I don't think you need to notch the frame.

[RKS0069]

If you don't use the upper bolt I'm sure it would work but the power steering box is much larger and heavier than the manual box so I wanted the extra strength. I originally did not want to notch the frame either but decided to weld in four pieces of DOM through the frame and leave both plates removable. once the DOM is welded in to the frame I suspect it will be much stronger than before. I plane to drive the crap out of this truck and want everything as strong and reliable as possible.

[LostMy65]

Yes, I see now.
I guess I never noticed that before.
I've went through some other 60-62 power steering conversion threads and noticed they notched theirs also.

[slepysal]

I did not have to

[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by slepysal

I did not have to
Attachment 1447618

.
I think you'll find with that adapter plate that the gear box will have a slight tilt up like this :


.

.
While Captainfab's plate puts it at the correct tilt:

[LostMy65]

It looks like this guy drilled a new hole in the power steering box so he didn't have to notch his frame.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=222089
.

[OldChevy61]

I dont see anything wrong with that.

[RKS0069]

Nice!! Is your plate homemade? I was contemplating fabricating something along those lines but found Captains bracket and decided to use it even though it was not intended for the X frame. I don't fancy the bigger companies that sell the correct bracket and enjoy supporting the smaller guys that do it for the love and not the money. Captains products are top notch! " No pun I swear" Once I embraced the idea of notching the frame I began to like the idea that it is not a bolt in deal. I am starting to enjoy making things that were not intended for my truck not only work but look good too"well hopefully". Your plate looks to be back a few inches from where mine is. How is your alignment with the steering column? My box and column are at the same angle but the center of the column is 3/4 of an inch higher than the center of the rag joint. I think this will be acceptable, guess I'll find out soon enough.

[Joe Pass]

I welded a stud and drilled out the box on mine.....just another idea

[LostMy65]

Which kit did you use?

[Joe Pass]

The kit I used I bought off Ebay from POL....It claimed to fit the 62 but had no written info about the one mount point. I just winged it and figured I would modify it as you can see.
After all the fit and finish, I did weld the bracket permanently to the frame

[LostMy65]

I think I'm just going to use Captainfab's plate and adapt it to the 62 frame.

[RKS0069]

Great Ideas!

My goal was to not modify the box.

My issue with modifying the box is that from that point on you will need to drill out a new box if needed. I wanted to be able to replace the box without making any modifications. Chevrolet did such a great job of making these trucks interchangeable I didn't want to mess that up. Just my thoughts on the matter.

[OldChevy61]

How about the centerlink. Can you use the 62 link as is ? Newer model pitman arm fit the 62 centerlink?