67 Power steering?

[waterboy202]

I just got my 67' frame back from the powdercoater and I think I made a little mistake. I went to bolt on a new power steering gear box and it hits the frame. I heard you have to dimple the frame. Does anybody have any input on what I should do? Do they make some spacers to go behind the gear box? I am new to the forum so this is my first post. Thanks!

[rage'nrat638]

welcome to the board

your info is coming up..i am sure it will be answered.
your pal mark

[jimmydean]

There is a plate you can buy and bolt on rather than hitting your frame with a hammer. Since you just paid good money for coating, I would just bolt up the plate. It acts as a spacer.

From GMC Pauls:
67-68 Power Steering Conversion Kit
692996 1967-68 Power steering conversion kit, includes required brackets, shims, bolts, washers and nuts required to mount a integral power steering gearbox to the frame of 1967 and early 1968 frames without the required indentation in frame.

$59.95

[53lowdown]

Hits the frame? Do you mean it is hitting the bumper bracket? You have to notch the bumper bracket to clear the power steering gear.

[msgross]

no, he's talking the frame inside the bolts for the PS pump. I have heard of the "dimple" method (last choice), welding a piece off a newer frame (better choice) or the GMC Paul conversion (best choice).

Remember that you might need to install Borgeson U-joints to line the steering linkage back up. Here is a borrowed pic of the 2nd choice, what i'm gonna do. Since you already coated your frame them I would contact GMC Paul....remember to mock EVERYTHING up first...hindsight's 20/20 so good luck...

Here's the U-joints
http://store.summitracing.com/egnsea...9&autoview=sku

[STP67-72]

I machined some spacers before on customers truck. I think they were about 3/8 inch thick. Hope this helps.

[Bob Moore]

I think you can use a flat washer about 1/8th inch thick. Before you buy the kit from GMC Paul try the washers. Only being 1/8th offset you don't need any special u-joints, etc. Did this to my 67 454 powered C20 back in '93 and still good to this day.

[waterboy202]

Thanks guys for all the help. I will have to post some pics of the progress. I have dropped spindles and rotors and all the front end part on order. Thanks again.

Bart

[Tim Christian]

What Bob said. My 67 GMC was done with spacers. No problems here.

[waterboy202]

Thanks for the info Tim and Bob. I will try that and see how it works. Tim, are you going to be at Super Chevy in Memphis this year? Hope to see you there.

Bart

[Brad]

Originally Posted by Bob Moore

I think you can use a flat washer about 1/8th inch thick. Before you buy the kit from GMC Paul try the washers. Only being 1/8th offset you don't need any special u-joints, etc. Did this to my 67 454 powered C20 back in '93 and still good to this day.

Here's the caveot- IIRC, the early 67 frames were completely flat in that area, but the later model '67 frames had the spacer pads. Of course the '68's had the dimple and the pads. I would see what you have first and then try 2 washers on each pad. It's worked for me for 5 years now and no need to buy anything extra.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by Bob Moore

I think you can use a flat washer about 1/8th inch thick. Before you buy the kit from GMC Paul try the washers. Only being 1/8th offset you don't need any special u-joints, etc. Did this to my 67 454 powered C20 back in '93 and still good to this day.

Here's the caveat- IIRC, the early 67 frames were completely flat in that area, but the later model frames had the spacer pads. Of course the '68's had the dimple and the pads. I would see what you have first and then try 2 washers on each pad. It's worked for me for 5 years now and no need to buy anything extra.

[msgross]

my 68 is flat... I will post pics when I work on mine

[Brad]

Originally Posted by msgross

my 68 is flat... I will post pics when I work on mine

Interesting, I'd like to see that. I could be way off base on my observations. It could be that different plants were doing different things-nothing unheard of.

[HeavyD]

What is the problem with dimpling the frame? Is it too easy to mess up?

[Bob Moore]

Heavy D - there is nothing wrong with dimpling the frame except in this case he has had it powder coated already. When I built my 1st 67 I did not have access to a torch. The washers have worked for 13 years now just fine. My current 67 was previous dimpled by the PO.

[raiders3581]

my frame was dimpled already so must be a late 67 i will try to post some pics tomorrow .

[qksilver]

I have both a 2 wheel and 4 wheel drive 68's that do not have the dimple or the raised pads.
I do have a 67 2 wheel that has the raised pads. They built them with what they had!

[msgross]

Originally Posted by Brad

Interesting, I'd like to see that. I could be way off base on my observations. It could be that different plants were doing different things-nothing unheard of.

Here ya go....


Here is my 68 frame


And here is the later model 4WD PS pump... just a mock up to see what I need to do

[Bob Moore]

Yes - I can see why you would NOT want to use spacers if you had a 67/68 frame without the raised pads. As I said in my case the raised pads were there just not the dimple. The washers I used were right at 1/8th inch thick.

It looks like that without the raised pads you would have to use at least a 3/8ths spacer maybe even more. In that case you could have some alinement problems with the steering column. I was fortunate to have the pads on both of my 67s.

This is why I think so much of this board. After 14 years of playing with these old trucks I still learn something.

Waterboy202 what did you wind up doing?

[jmking9]

msgross, what did you end up doing with the frame. i'm curious because i have the same issue.

[msgross]

still in the process, I am attempting to get a piece of later model frame and weld it to mine like this pic below...(borrowed pic from board member) Unless you dimple the frame then you will most likely have to use a U-joint in your steering shaft to line it up again (so i've been told).