Power Steering Revisited - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Lobo'74 · 08-31-2004, 05:41 PM

The previous owner installed power steering in my 1967 C10. It is from a 1985 truck. Since he just bolted the power steering box to the frame the geometry is off a bit. I just bought the kit from GMC Paul's to fix this. The kit came labeled as 1960-1966 so I called GMC Paul's - they said that it IS the correct kit for the '67-'72 as well.

Next question was the steering box used. As I said, PO put in a 1985 unit. Instructions say to use a 1968-1984 unit. GMC Paul's wasn't sure if the '84 and '85's were the same.

The pary number on the power steering box currently installed is 7802644L.

Now for the questions:
1. Does anyone know if this "lower steering sector" (box) is the same as on an '84?

2. A good portion of the instructions for the kit are for shortening the steering column shaft. Since the currently installed power steering unit bolts directly to the original manual box holes in the frame can I assume (I hate to use that word) that the shaft was shortened when the current box was installed?

3. Has anyone used this kit?

Thanks for any help

Lobo'74 · 09-01-2004, 08:53 AM

Anyone done this mod?

gonebad2 · 09-01-2004, 09:35 AM

Could be that the 85 box uses metric fittings. They might suggest those years because they are easier to deal with and the fittings will fit an original pump. The 67 steering shafts were non collapsable. It may be easier for you to swap in a 69 to 72 column. The shaft can be adjusted on those.

Lobo'74 · 09-01-2004, 10:51 AM

So the '69-'72 steering shafts are the "energy absorbing" type and '67-'68 aren't? Hmmmmm. Not that I'm planning on getting in a front end collision, but that sounds like a good swap to make.

Wonder if any board members have done that one?

gonebad2 · 09-01-2004, 10:28 PM

That's right Lobo...It is a very good swap IMO....Nobody ever plans on getting in a head on accident. Heck, You could even use a 70's van tilt. There are plenty out there and the price is usually fair. You just need to drill out the nylon pins on the side of the shaft and collapse it to the correct length. It's pretty much a bolt in.

68w/sbc406 · 09-01-2004, 10:56 PM

i have an 87 box and pump on mine. everything bolted right up. it must have todo with metric hose fittings

**GMCPaul** · 09-02-2004, 06:36 AM

Sorry that the directions for 67-68 did not get packaged with the kit, follow the directions for a 66 with the only difference being You DO NOT need to shorten the steering column lower shaft, after installing kit and gearbox the only thing you need is to use a integral power steering coupler instead of the manual steering coupler ( AKA- Rag Joint ) and that coupler was installed when previous owner installed the late model gearbox, the 84 & 85 boxes are the same.
GMCPaul

Lobo'74 · 09-02-2004, 11:40 AM

GMC Paul, thanks for the clarification. I appreciate your quick response. You have an excellent rep on the board, this is just one more instance of your looking out for us. It looks like the kit drops the front of the steering box just a tad . . . Is that the geometry fix? It looks like that is more evident than the spacing it moves the box away from the frame.

Gonebad2, thanks for the idea, now I'll be hunting for a new column (well, a "new to me" used column).

Still a great bunch of folks on here!

08-31-2004, 05:41 PM	#1
Lobo'74 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 404	Power Steering Revisited The previous owner installed power steering in my 1967 C10. It is from a 1985 truck. Since he just bolted the power steering box to the frame the geometry is off a bit. I just bought the kit from GMC Paul's to fix this. The kit came labeled as 1960-1966 so I called GMC Paul's - they said that it IS the correct kit for the '67-'72 as well. Next question was the steering box used. As I said, PO put in a 1985 unit. Instructions say to use a 1968-1984 unit. GMC Paul's wasn't sure if the '84 and '85's were the same. The pary number on the power steering box currently installed is 7802644L. Now for the questions: 1. Does anyone know if this "lower steering sector" (box) is the same as on an '84? 2. A good portion of the instructions for the kit are for shortening the steering column shaft. Since the currently installed power steering unit bolts directly to the original manual box holes in the frame can I assume (I hate to use that word) that the shaft was shortened when the current box was installed? 3. Has anyone used this kit? Thanks for any help __________________ "Truck" '67 small window '79 350 .030 over, LT1 "clone"

09-01-2004, 08:53 AM	#2
Lobo'74 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 404	Anyone done this mod? __________________ "Truck" '67 small window '79 350 .030 over, LT1 "clone"

09-01-2004, 09:35 AM	#3
gonebad2 Merciless Butcher Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: CC Nevada Posts: 1,447	Could be that the 85 box uses metric fittings. They might suggest those years because they are easier to deal with and the fittings will fit an original pump. The 67 steering shafts were non collapsable. It may be easier for you to swap in a 69 to 72 column. The shaft can be adjusted on those. __________________ Your Bought And Sold....I Got Your Soul!

09-01-2004, 10:51 AM	#4
Lobo'74 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 404	So the '69-'72 steering shafts are the "energy absorbing" type and '67-'68 aren't? Hmmmmm. Not that I'm planning on getting in a front end collision, but that sounds like a good swap to make. Wonder if any board members have done that one? __________________ "Truck" '67 small window '79 350 .030 over, LT1 "clone"

09-01-2004, 10:28 PM	#5
gonebad2 Merciless Butcher Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: CC Nevada Posts: 1,447	That's right Lobo...It is a very good swap IMO....Nobody ever plans on getting in a head on accident. Heck, You could even use a 70's van tilt. There are plenty out there and the price is usually fair. You just need to drill out the nylon pins on the side of the shaft and collapse it to the correct length. It's pretty much a bolt in. __________________ Your Bought And Sold....I Got Your Soul!

09-01-2004, 10:56 PM	#6
68w/sbc406 Got Light Emitting Diode? Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Newberg, OR Posts: 2,485	i have an 87 box and pump on mine. everything bolted right up. it must have todo with metric hose fittings __________________ 1968 1/2 ton 2wd lwb 6 lug disc and bags up front. Next c notch and rear bags '02 Chevy Silverado LT ext cab short bed 2WD 5/7 drop on 22's(the family car) 1993 Cherokee work ride/weekend wheeler

09-02-2004, 06:36 AM	#7
GMCPaul Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Rockville,In. USA Posts: 3,719	Sorry that the directions for 67-68 did not get packaged with the kit, follow the directions for a 66 with the only difference being You DO NOT need to shorten the steering column lower shaft, after installing kit and gearbox the only thing you need is to use a integral power steering coupler instead of the manual steering coupler ( AKA- Rag Joint ) and that coupler was installed when previous owner installed the late model gearbox, the 84 & 85 boxes are the same. GMCPaul __________________ Secure Online Catalog for-GMCPauls Truck Parts Email- GMCPAULS@GMAIL.COM

09-02-2004, 11:40 AM	#8
Lobo'74 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 404	GMC Paul, thanks for the clarification. I appreciate your quick response. You have an excellent rep on the board, this is just one more instance of your looking out for us. It looks like the kit drops the front of the steering box just a tad . . . Is that the geometry fix? It looks like that is more evident than the spacing it moves the box away from the frame. Gonebad2, thanks for the idea, now I'll be hunting for a new column (well, a "new to me" used column). Still a great bunch of folks on here! __________________ "Truck" '67 small window '79 350 .030 over, LT1 "clone"



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