Power Steering Question?

[chopnchaneled]

Still a noobee here and these trucks.

I have a 68 C 10 stepside and doing up grades along the way, so far i've lowered it 4 and a half in the front and five in the rear, Replaced the 250 inline with a 350, replaced the 3 speed with a 700R4, oh yea disk brakes in the front.

My latest update is power steering. My truck is a early 68 so no divot in the
frame to clear the larger power steering sector. had to space it out 1/4 inch to get it to clear. "Now mind you i had a lot of play with the manuel box" the
replacement box is very snug "no play". Whats happening is when going down the road it feels twichy to me, is it normal or am i just over driving it due to all the play that i had in the old box? or is there some kind of centering
valve in the steering sector that is off due to shimming the sector?
any advice would really help

[NC67Chev]

I'm not an expert by any means, but I did try doing my PS conversion on my '67 using spacers and experienced the same results. I've heard of some people adjusting the the tie rods to center things up. However, I don't think it's recommended. I personally went the route of dimpling the frame, after which the inner bumper brace needed to be notched.

Again, I'm not an expert. That's just my story.

[chopnchaneled]

Originally Posted by NC67Chev

I'm not an expert by any means, but I did try doing my PS conversion on my '67 using spacers and experienced the same results. I've heard of some people adjusting the the tie rods to center things up. However, I don't think it's recommended. I personally went the route of dimpling the frame, after which the inner bumper brace needed to be notched.

Again, I'm not an expert. That's just my story.

Thanks,, So after you dimpled the frame the steering was fine?

[NC67Chev]

Originally Posted by chopnchaneled

Thanks,, So after you dimpled the frame the steering was fine?

Yes, my steering is perfect! The whole problem with spacers is that it brings the center 1/4" over toward the driver side. So, the gears in the steering box are off center. It really doesn't take much of a dimple to fix the problem.

Some people have suggested that a later model steering gear will work without the dimple. I never tried it, but it would be worth a try if you have access to some later model boxes.

[long69]

i know it sounds unlikely but to me it sounds like maybe still some air in the system. if i read "twitchy" correct.

i just finished my p/s conversion, and what i noticed was that until all the air was out i could feel it in the steering. that and low fluid level-i think on mine it was low enough that when i went around a corner quickly i think would momentary feel lack of power steering- i think maybe- it doesn't do it anymore.

while i was putting my parts together i had to come up with some fitting adapters. i took my ehay box with me to make sure i got the correct ones. the guys at the shop installed them for me and seemed to be checking the box out something with the box. i ask'd - they said they could not feel something to do with the center position. at the time i searched for anything on it and could not find anything about it. now that my box is up and running i'm not noticing anything out of the ordinary with the steering, but its still new to me. its like a different truck.

[Classic Heartbeat]

I have done this conversion several times, and done several writeups on it. The problem is spacing the gear off the frame. The stearing gear now runs off center when your wheels are strait. Dimple the frame, bolt the gear directly to it and your problem will be solved. There is also a write up on this subject on my 67 Panel Project build in my website. WES

[NC67Chev]

I hear what your saying about air in the system making it feel twitchy, as I've had that happen to me before too. However, "twitchiness" will be there until you somehow get the steering centered on the 67's and the few 68's without the dimple.

[chopnchaneled]

Originally Posted by long69

i know it sounds unlikely but to me it sounds like maybe still some air in the system. if i read "twitchy" correct.

i just finished my p/s conversion, and what i noticed was that until all the air was out i could feel it in the steering. that and low fluid level-i think on mine it was low enough that when i went around a corner quickly i think would momentary feel lack of power steering- i think maybe- it doesn't do it anymore.

while i was putting my parts together i had to come up with some fitting adapters. i took my ehay box with me to make sure i got the correct ones. the guys at the shop installed them for me and seemed to be checking the box out something with the box. i ask'd - they said they could not feel something to do with the center position. at the time i searched for anything on it and could not find anything about it. now that my box is up and running i'm not noticing anything out of the ordinary with the steering, but its still new to me. its like a different truck.

When i said twitchy, i guess i was trying to say it darts with the slightest
touch of the steering wheel in either direction, it does not feel heavy. it has constant power, but when your going in a straight line down the road its kinda like it goes over center in the sector or something.
Its been aligned at 4 degrees of positive caster, 0 camber and a sixteenth of
toe in.

[NC67Chev]

Originally Posted by chopnchaneled

When i said twitchy, i guess i was trying to say it darts with the slightest
touch of the steering wheel in either direction, it does not feel heavy. it has constant power, but when your going in a straight line down the road its kinda like it goes over center in the sector or something.
Its been aligned at 4 degrees of positive caster, 0 camber and a sixteenth of
toe in.

Are you still using the stock steering wheel?

[chopnchaneled]

Wes,
Thank you for your post, i was busy whinning about my problem and missed it at first.
NC67chevy and Long69 thank you also, Looks like i'll be making a divot
in the frame in the next day or so. I had made the spacers thinking i wouldn't have to put any heat in the frame. did you guys put an internal plate inside the frame?

[NC67Chev]

Originally Posted by chopnchaneled

Wes,
Thank you for your post, i was busy whinning about my problem and missed it at first.
NC67chevy and Long69 thank you also, Looks like i'll be making a divot
in the frame in the next day or so. I had made the spacers thinking i wouldn't have to put any heat in the frame. did you guys put an internal plate inside the frame?

I didn't.

[Classic Heartbeat]

I didn't either. WES

[chopnchaneled]

Thanks Guys,,,
Just finished doing what you suggested and its a whole different truck,
its a pleasure to drive, its amazing what 1/4 of a inch will do!!!!!!

The only dumb thing, was i got my rag joint a 180 degree's out, but i'll change it.

Many Thanks again
Joe

[mr48chev]

One thing I found over the years that I rebuilt power steering pumps and boxes on a regular basis was that it is often easier to get the air out of the system if you have the front wheels off the floor/ground when you work the wheel back and forth after you have had the system open.

[Classic Heartbeat]

Thanks Guys,,,
Just finished doing what you suggested and its a whole different truck,
its a pleasure to drive, its amazing what 1/4 of a inch will do!!!!!!

Your welcome. Like I said in the earlier post, this comes from the school of been there done that... I even got the "T" shirt... Glad that we were able to help you. WES