55.2-59 Adding Power Steering

[FickleFinn]

I have a 57 Chevy pickup with 235 engine, can anyone recommend a kit to add power steering to this?

thx,

Ficklefinn

[mr48chev]

A number of outfits sell this style of kit that mounts the steering box on the outside of the frame rail in front of the axle. Depending on how good you can scrounge and source parts you can buy a kit that just has the linkage or a complete kit like this. https://www.classicparts.com/1947-59...ctinfo/76-975/

A couple of members have used units off fairly common donor rigs and hopefully they will post or post a link to their build thread telling you where to find the info.

[57tailgater]

There are also kits that put a new box in the same location at the original box. CPP I believe makes the box but it looks to be in other supplier's kits.

Here's one example:

https://www.classicindustries.com/pr...5559pskoc.html

Article from Hot Rod magazine: https://www.hotrod.com/articles/powe...traight-axles/

I am not sure what you will have to do for power steering pump brackets for your engine.

[dsraven]

some also use the 84 -87 toyota 4x4 steering box but they aren't so common anymore.
heres a thread that talks about options. personally I wouldn't do the hydraulic ram style that attaches to the drag link or cross shaft. I have fixed too many over the years.

https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads...46530&page=all

[mr48chev]

That gets to be a problem with a lot of things that we used on these trucks because we used to be able to get them at bargain prices.

The Toyota power steering box is a good choice but the Toyota 4x4 guys have always kept them bought up around here. They make crawlers out of those little old trucks and then beat them to death in the hills. The Camaro subframes used to be cheap and easy to find but now guys restoring Camaros have run the price up as they hunt for replacements for damaged units. Nine inch Ford rear ends used to be real easy to find an now they bring a stiff price if they are a limited slip and or have good gear ratios.

[mick53]

I went with electric P/S.

[1-ton of fun]

i have a spare NIB cpp toyota-style box that mounts in the stock location that i would sell for cheap! was going to use it, but converted to 4x4 with crossover steering.

[mr48chev]

I've been wanting to figure out a cross steer setup for AD and TF trucks with a Panhard bar for years. One that uses a common easy to find steering box with either manual or power steering. Motor mount and exhaust clearance are two issues that put some limits on a one setup works for all plan though.