Ram Assist vs PS - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

*ksjh1316* · 12-12-2007, 10:44 PM

Heres the dilima I am building a 67 Chevy SWB from the ground up and want to stay halfway with the same year parts but am going to use my front end off my 71 GMC for the disc brakes and safty. The current set up on the Chevy is man steering which will be easier to install on the frame the ram assist or ps and which would you go with. Thanks for all the help from the experts I know are out there.

Andy4639 · 12-12-2007, 10:55 PM

If your adding the 71 front end I would go with the power steering off of it. The power assit isn't that great from what I remember.

boundstaffpress · 12-13-2007, 11:48 AM

Power ram is scary!

My 67 nova had one, and talk about bump steer. If the valve is not adjusted just perfectly, you can chase it all over the highway. It worked great for in-town driving, but at 67-75 you'd better not be sleepy.

**Bob B.** · 12-13-2007, 03:04 PM

'62-'67 Nova front ends were scary period! Yes, the control valve has to be adjusted properly, but if it is too touchy, it probably needs to be rebuilt or replaced. The biggest problems with ram-type P/S is that they are a bit prone to leaking and since it uses the same steering box as manual steering, the ratio is slow for power steering. Also, the wheel doesn't return to center by itself all that well. You can buy new hydraulic cylinders and valves if you go with the ram type.

ChevLoRay · 12-13-2007, 04:21 PM

Besides all the extra linkages, they usually leak over time. They're old-school, for sure.

DirtyLarry · 12-13-2007, 06:31 PM

Can that ram assist BS and use a power steering gear box. My 68 GMC originally had ram assist, which I got tired of fixing the leaks and herding it around on the highway. Finally hiked it and the manual steering gear in the trash and used a power steering gearbox instead. After I did that I wondered why I didn’t do that years ago.

wibilly · 12-13-2007, 08:39 PM

i'm guessing the ram asist can't be all that bad or it wouldn't hav been used in corvetts for so long

12-12-2007, 10:44 PM	#1
ksjh1316 Account Suspended Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 1,599	Ram Assist vs PS Heres the dilima I am building a 67 Chevy SWB from the ground up and want to stay halfway with the same year parts but am going to use my front end off my 71 GMC for the disc brakes and safty. The current set up on the Chevy is man steering which will be easier to install on the frame the ram assist or ps and which would you go with. Thanks for all the help from the experts I know are out there.

12-12-2007, 10:55 PM	#2
Andy4639 Old member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S. Posts: 19,945	Re: Ram Assist vs PS If your adding the 71 front end I would go with the power steering off of it. The power assit isn't that great from what I remember. __________________ 1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs.

12-13-2007, 11:48 AM	#3
boundstaffpress Jamie Hyneman is my twin Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: La Junta, Colorado Posts: 705	Re: Ram Assist vs PS Power ram is scary! My 67 nova had one, and talk about bump steer. If the valve is not adjusted just perfectly, you can chase it all over the highway. It worked great for in-town driving, but at 67-75 you'd better not be sleepy. __________________ Justin SOLD 1967 K10 Fleetside, 283, Front and Rear Posi SOLD Color Wiring Diagrams Now in High Resolution V8 and Cab and Cab and Chassis

12-13-2007, 03:04 PM	#4
Bob B. Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,349	Re: Ram Assist vs PS '62-'67 Nova front ends were scary period! Yes, the control valve has to be adjusted properly, but if it is too touchy, it probably needs to be rebuilt or replaced. The biggest problems with ram-type P/S is that they are a bit prone to leaking and since it uses the same steering box as manual steering, the ratio is slow for power steering. Also, the wheel doesn't return to center by itself all that well. You can buy new hydraulic cylinders and valves if you go with the ram type. __________________ 1967 GMC CM-2500 Camper Cruiser, 351E V-6, NP 435 4 speed, Dana 60, and factory A/C. 2012 GMC K-3500 WT regular cab, 6.0L Vortec, 6L90. Last edited by Bob B.; 12-13-2007 at 03:04 PM.

12-13-2007, 04:21 PM	#5
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: Ram Assist vs PS Besides all the extra linkages, they usually leak over time. They're old-school, for sure. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

12-13-2007, 06:31 PM	#6
DirtyLarry Windy Corner of a Dirty Street Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Pueblo West, Colorado Posts: 2,926	Re: Ram Assist vs PS Can that ram assist BS and use a power steering gear box. My 68 GMC originally had ram assist, which I got tired of fixing the leaks and herding it around on the highway. Finally hiked it and the manual steering gear in the trash and used a power steering gearbox instead. After I did that I wondered why I didn’t do that years ago. __________________ Current vehicle collection: 1978 Chevrolet K10, 8.1L, NV4500, NP205 1989 Chevrolet Suburban, 8.1L, NV4500, NP241 1993 Chevrolet C1500 Sportside, TBI 7.4L, 4L60E 2001 Chevrolet K2500HD, Ext Cab, SWB, 8.1L, ZF 6 speed 2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ 3.6L Vortec 8.1L because life is too short to tolerate underpowered vehicles Instagram

12-13-2007, 08:39 PM	#7
wibilly Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: northwestern wi Posts: 2,111	Re: Ram Assist vs PS i'm guessing the ram asist can't be all that bad or it wouldn't hav been used in corvetts for so long __________________ common sense isn't so common anymore



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