Power Steering Help

[_1966ChevyPU]

I don't know if it was just a rare option the truck came with or if it was thrown on at some point in time... but I've always known my truck to have power steering. During this frameoff, I decided to go ahead and upgrade and improve the power steering... so I bought the CPP kit to do so. Got everything all bolted up but I quickly realized that the center drag link I have... just isn't going to work.

I've looked through all the parts sites I have bookmarked and I can find inner tierods, outer tierods, tierod links and every other componet except a GD center drag link.

Did a quick look through here and I think I've come to the conclusion that it just isn't a part that gets manufactured as it really isn't a wear item.

Am I down to trying to salvage one off a donor truck now??

[losthope]

didnt mean to post......dont mind me!

[_1966ChevyPU]

Hopefully I can... would be nice to get the last part of the front suspension done so the frame can get it's final touches.

[hugger6933]

Your draglink is for power steering as you know. You should be able to buy a center link or drag link as some call it. Are you using a 73-87 front end for all of the stuff

[_1966ChevyPU]

Center link... Drag link... Center drag link... I've seen it said multiple ways everywhere I've been looking for this. :shrug:

Well, before the frameoff... it was all 100% '66 C10 as far as I know. Unfortunately the only two people who would know otherwise have both recently passed which is why I'm doing this now for my Grandfatther and my Dad.

I am putting on a 3/5 lowering kit and I do not know if the spindles used were from another year or if they're a set of drop spindles intended as replacements. So other than the power steering kit which uses a 69-87 steering box... there have not been any other changes.

[Captainfab]

The draglink is the same from '63-'70. When converting to front discs using the '73-'87 spindles, I always recommend utilizing the entire '73-'87 steering linkage as well. This eliminates the need for any special tie rod adjusting sleeves. Not knowing just what style spindles you have, it would be safe to find a '63-'70 drag link for manual steering. I do have one if you can't find one local to you.

[_1966ChevyPU]

I'll double check with my guy today to see what all he's used... I did convert the front to disc and the tierods went right into the spindles.

I just might be getting in touch with you... preciate it.

[newbe351]

They make an adaptor to convert the center link to manual by replacing the control valve on the end. I checked into this and CPP told me it wouldn't work on a truck, they were made for cars. The control valve is the same, however, for cars and trucks. I wound up using a corvette control valve on my '66 GMC, so I don't know why it wouldn't work. CPP sells them, but I couldn't locate it so attached a link to Eckler's.


http://www.lategreatchevy.com/chevy-...1958-1964.html

Edit: Unless there is a pitman arm issue. I think the kits come with a new pitman arm. You would have to use your old power steeting pitman arm with the adaptor and I don't know if that would work with your kit. I didn't get that far into it, I just replaced all of my existing "power assisted" components.

[_1966ChevyPU]

Yea, the new kit comes with a pitman arm and it has a ball joint attached to it... the factory power steering center link has the ball joint attached to it which went to the original pitman arm. I'd have to get back out there to see if the original pitman arm will mount to the new steering box (although my thought is that it won't).

Thank you for the link.

[_1966ChevyPU]

Anyone know if the center link from a C20 is the same as a C10? Found a '66 C20 that's being parted out about 2 hours from me... but don't know if they are or not.

[ctandc]

How big of a hurry are you in?

I'll have the centerlink from my '65 C10 available probably next week. I'm going with a complete '81 C10 steering / brake setup.

Email me at ctandc@comcast.net

[_1966ChevyPU]

Thanks for the help everyone... I actually found a post on Cragslist just last night of a guy parting out a '66 and he's got just the part I need.