55-59 stock steering column

[jeffs56]

Does anyone know if someone makes a stock column replacement for the 55-59 Chevy trucks? Thank you. My column was cut off right at the base and I would like to keep the stock column that way I don't have to buy all the conversion stuff for power steering. Thanks guys

[Indian113]

Ididit and Flaming River both make a direct replacement for your truck. Stay away from the Knock Offs from China, they are the ones for sale at the Low Prices.

[Rude Dude]

stock steering shafts are part of the box, outside column that hold bearing at top of steering wheel spline is another piece. If they cut column at shaft you will need another column

[Rude Dude]

55-56 are longer than 57-59
Classicparts.com have original rebuilt for $300 plus a $150 core charge if none is provided

[Rude Dude]

Originally Posted by Indian113

Ididit and Flaming River both make a direct replacement for your truck. Stay away from the Knock Offs from China, they are the ones for sale at the Low Prices.

I think he is looking for stock column not tilt

[jeffs56]

Yes I don't really want to change out my box. Or if I do I would like to try and replace it with the stock one. That way I don't have to spend around $700 to convert to power steering

[dsraven]

jeffs,
if your original column was cut off anywhere then you need the whole thing, including the box, if you want to replace it to be like a stock column with standard steering. the column shaft is not a seperate part from the box so you would need the complete unit. the outer tube is also pressed into the steering box on a stock set up. some columns are longer because the wheel is flat instead of recessed.
if you still have a shaft sticking out of the box, enough to connect a ujoint to, you could make flat spots on the shaft, like an aftermarket DD shaft looks like, and then use a DD ujoint on the box end and connect the box to the column stub with a short length of DD shaft and another ujoint on the column shaft end to connect the 2 parts. the shaft at the column end would also need to be made to look like a DD shaft to accept a ujount. the column outer tube can be worked to install a bearing at the end of it so the shaft is supported in the tube and also so it wont be able to work it's way up the tube and mess up the turn signals etc. will you be using the stock shifter as well? you would need to have enough room below the floor for the shifter mechanism.
is this the same truck that you are thinking of doing the mustangII front end on a stock frame or you also have a frame with a camaro clip? did plans change somewhere along the line and now you are going stock front suspension?

[jeffs56]

Lol yep same truck. I can't make up my mind lol. I just don't trust the Camaro clip frame I have. Just so easy to mess them up. I have the dropped axle and my leaf springs professionaly lowerd. I have a aftermarket tie rod, adjustable drag link already to prevent the bumpsteer. But it's just so expensive to convert to power steering. I would like to figure out a way too use my stock box and add a aftermarket column or stock column back to it. But it's cut off flush. I was hoping I could get a welder to weld a solid bar to that shafts and then add the DD to it, and be able to add the column

[jeffs56]

Here's a pic

[dsraven]

sorry man, the box snub is prolly too short to get a ujoint onto.
maybe look around for another box with the column etc still intact. would your buddy possibly have one, the guy that has done a few of these trucks?

[dsraven]

the power steering boxes for these trucks are from a toyota truck I think. maybe do a little google search and see what you come up with. might be as cheap as fixing what you have there if you can find a good used power box.

[jeffs56]

I know CPP does the 400 steering box. But the kit is around $600-800 bucks. Or you can use a saginaw box but it moves the box to the outside of the frame. But then your limited to what wheels you can run

[dsraven]

if you wanted to look for a toyota box for a swap check out the wreckers or the local buy and sell for a manual or power steering box from a 79 to early 84 Toyota 4×4 pickup. if going with a power unit get the hoses and grab the pitman either way. these will be a fairly easy bolt in similar to the cpp box.

[jeffs56]

So I could get a manual Toyota box and not run power steering and it will bolt to my stock column or aftermarket tilt column?

[dsraven]

there will not be a direct bolt in unless you go with a stock box/integrated column.
the toyota box is the same work as the cpp box, just cheaper if you can find one.
the column gets connected to the box in the same way as the cpp box does. the column gets cut off below the floor, a bearing is used there to support the lower end of the column shaft, then a short piece of DD steering shaft and a couple of u joints connect the 2 parts. google the "how to" instructions for the cpp box and you will see what I am talking about

[jeffs56]

Alright I gotcha. The CPP box bolts in the stock location which is good. But expensive. I'll see what I can find out about the Toyota conversion. If it's not one thing it's another lol. Too many decisions

[dsraven]

here is an ecklers page with the steering column saver. you install this on the lower end of the column where it is cut off below the floor. short bit of shaft protrudes through the end of this adapter

https://www.ecklerstrucks.com/chevy-...1947-1959.html

then something like this connects that column shaft to the steering box, providing you have enough shaft left there to connect something to. if you went with the toyota box, or similar, then the end of this would connect to the input of the steering box with the correct fitting to match the spline on the box.

https://www.ecklerstrucks.com/chevy-...1947-1959.html

[jeffs56]

Yeah I don't think I have enough protruding from the stock to do anything with unfortunately.

[jeffs56]

Here's another pic

[mr48chev]

Dang, they killed that one by being lazy when they pulled the cab off or snagged the column intending to shorten it and use a bearng at the bottom of the tube.

This is a how to article on putting a Toyota box on an F series Ford https://www.ford-trucks.com/articles...8-1960-trucks/

No photos but he goes step by step.

Some discussion here on the toyota box swap https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads...&Number=526930

Still with all the guys going independent or frame swap or?? hopefully one has saved a good TF box and column and might make you a decent deal on it.

[mr48chev]

In this one a guy shows a toyota FJ manual steering box in a 46 pickup frame. Old thread on the Hamb that I answered several years ago.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...ng-box.749287/

[jeffs56]

I'll look at those. I appreciate it. Yes if someone has one laying around please PM me and we can work something out. The guy that was building my truck cut it off on purpose unfortunately.

[SideStepper]

Jeff, PM sent

[_Ogre]

should be lots of builders here going to ifs that should be able to donate one to your build
i have already given most of my stuff away

[jeffs56]

See that's what makes me nervous lol. Most everyone is going IFS. So makes me feel there been down my road before and the straight axle didn't work out. Plus just for power steering and disc brake kit it's about $1200-1400 plus the shocks and axle and arms. I know I won't get maybe a 1/4 of that out of it if I didn't like it and sell the stuff