Corvette suspension on 59 apache - How do I power the power steering if I keep the 6?

[VTX-Black]

I'm just starting to learn about my new 59. I've been browsing here for a while but haven't formally introduced myself yet.

I have a 59 fleet side and want to install the flat out corvette suspension.

I am thinking of keeping the straight 6. Any ideas on how to install a power steering pump to drive the corvette rack?

Thanks

[ghettoluxury]

You could make a bracket to run it off of the motor or use a pulley on the yoke of the drive shaft like dirt track guys do for alternators.

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by VTX-Black

I'm just starting to learn about my new 59. I've been browsing here for a while but haven't formally introduced myself yet.

I have a 59 fleet side and want to install the flat out corvette suspension.

I am thinking of keeping the straight 6. Any ideas on how to install a power steering pump to drive the corvette rack?

Thanks

If you're intent on a 6 then I would at least use a 250 or 292 that you can get brackets for and run highway speeds and bolt a modern trans to. I think you would be very disappointed in the results after having done all that chassis work and keeping a 235. The comparison would be having a late model Corvette with a 135 hp 6.

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by ghettoluxury

You could make a bracket to run it off of the motor or use a pulley on the yoke of the drive shaft like dirt track guys do for alternators.

That or the aftermarket probably has a bracket to mount a newer style pump to the engine.

I have to think along the same line as Dwcsr on keeping the stock engine when using the Corvette chassis though. You will get the great handling and ride but never have the power to actually enjoy it the way it should be. Most of us who go that way with a suspension setup do so because we are building a truck that we intend to do some serious driving in either on the big long roads at big road speed or on the nice back roads and want the handling.

[VTX-Black]

Thanks

I have a complete corvette parts car and plan to eventually use that V8 and tranny, but was planning on doing the upgrades in stages with the suspension first. Sounds like it might be as much effort trying to use the original 6 as it would be to do the full swap right away.

Still deciding if I should use the rear corvette IRS or a different rear axle. Would be nice to use it to haul a light race car trailer but not sure if the IRS will take the load? (though there is not much tongue weight at all).

[_Ogre]

if you have money to burn; an aftermarket bracket is the easiest solution.
i made all of my front end accessory brackets for almost nothing.
the power steering mount was the easiest.
be sure what ever you do that the bracket doesn't move.







i took these when i had to change out the ps pump when my rack went bad.
i believe the pump is a 68 truck pump, though the pumps were all the same from 60s thru 00s.
they used the same pump in different housings.

[diceman50]

Many new vehicles use an electric power steering pump. This would require an alternator to handle the electrical load. Following is a link to an article about such an arrangement.

http://www.evsource.com/tls_steering.php

P.S. Keep the 235.

[VTX-Black]

Diceman, given that some 70s V8 corvettes only had 150hp, the 6 doesn't sound so bad :-)


Ogre, thanks for the pics!

[mr48chev]

Well since you already have the V8 sitting there wouldn't it be prudent to install it when you install the suspension?

..Unless you already have an open drive transmission in the truck you have to come up with an open drive trans to work with the engine. Then you have to have a custom driveshaft fabricated to work with that transmission and the Corvette rear axle. Unless you just shorten one that is at least 150.00 minimum. The power steering might take longer to figure out than installing the V8 would by the time you come up with a pump bracket for the 235 and buy a pump and have custom hoses made.

Also the money it would take to put the powersteering on the six and buy a trans and have a driveshaft made might come pretty close to buying the kit to install one end or the other of the Corvette suspension.

[fabguy]

I would say to do it how you like,
Although you already have to make mounts to accommodate the 235 so why not just fabricate some up for the V8. Other than a little electrical work, exhaust, and a trans cooler it seems easy enough. If the budget is tight and the mufflers are good on the donor car, you can have those installed for now.
That's similar to what I am currently going to do, and also on my future 39 build.

Just my .02¢

[VTX-Black]

I love the 6 in this thread (although as he says he could have put an LS1 in for what he has invested :-)

As people have said, it is starting to sound like just swapping the corvette engine and exhaust, power steering etc would be easier than all this home engineering though.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=508754