VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 38 chevy sedan power steering conversion

Does anyone know if I can install power steering using the solid front axle?

Hi 38fred38,

I would like to welcome you to our site, which caters to the original restoration. With enough money and talent you could power your steering. Would I recommend it, NO!

As some of our members say; If you want a new car, purchase one.

After I chipped away from the steering gear all of the built up crust from decades of oil & grease mixed with dirt it seemed like I had power steering. My 38 is remarkably easy to steer now even at low speed. The only time steering force is an issue is the rare occasion when I have to steer while stopped and that isn't too bad.

For the most part the late '30's and '40's Chevrolets with 6.00 X 16 tires were fairly easy to steer. Things that can cause hard steering are froze king pin bushings and the steering gear lacking lubricant. Radial tires will increse steering effort.
I would think that the most simple P/S to install would be the linkage type with ram like the 1955-59 trucks used.

37 & 38 Deluxe (with knees) have 17.5 : 1 steering ratio. 37 Standard (straight axle) had 16 : 1 for quick steering. 38 Standard has 19 : 1 for easy steering. 37 & 38 passenger steering boxes interchange.
If properly aligned, it should steer easily but not handle like a Porsche.
If you use radial tires, it will be more difficult to steer.

Fred,
Guess my question is why do you want to add power steering? Is it for convience? Lack of arm strength? I am one that climbs a few flights of stairs instead of taking an elevator. Walks to the neighbors instead of driving. Instead of trying to think of ways to make my life easier, I try to prolong the good years that I have left. Excercise is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Just another prospective.

Is this a web site for sarcastic, pessimistic, rude and or obnoxious car owners? I've had 5 responses and most of them have had stupid little quirks that do nothing to help me with a technical question.....Now, if any of you can actually give me a simple yes or no answer to what I thought was a simple question I would greatly appreciate it. Otherwise keep your cute little remarks and anecdotes to yourselves and I will find a more technical based forum.... Oh, by the way, I ride the friggen elevators, park right up close and frankly don't care to go to any of my neighbors houses anyway. As far as my arm strength guess what I am holding up to you now......I really thought I might get some good information here. I truly am disappointed...this actually sucks because when I restored my Model A, all the forums were very friendly, helpful and a wealth of technical information.......

Hi 38fred38,

Sorry you have not been treated up to your expectations. Obviously you didn't take a look at what our game is. By the second post you made, you should have gotten a clue that you were not in the right church. Sometimes we need to step back and just observe the situation and see if you are on the same wave link with the people you wish to join. I have checked your profile and all you give us is the city and nothing else. To be frank with you, it is obvious you are on the wrong forum. With your come-on, we are not likely to change our position to suit you. Wish you a good day.

Please close the door as you leave.

Did you ask about installing power steering on the Model A on their site?. I would hate to see their reaction.

This site would be simular to the Model A site. It mainly covers restoring a Chevrolet to their original condition as the Model A folks do.

For modified cars you may get more help on chevytalk.org

You might also get a 1955-59 Chevrolet small truck shop manual and study the power steering set-up they had. There may also be some street rod type conversions available.

I hesitate to correct you Gene but I had a Model A for about 10 years and was in the Model A Club. There are lots more modified Model As than completely stock. When we had a National Meet in Dayton there were less than 100 fine point judged vehicles out of just over 800.

I do value your knowledge of Chevrolets more than anyone I know.

Sorry, I thought that they were like Chevrolets. They didn't need to be modified to be driven.

Hows your snow doing?

Read the profile, Dudes from Los Angeles. Who am I to talk, round here most of the family trees don't have branches

I dont know what to say about that person as he is a little short tmpered,my 37 p/u with radials does not steer that bad but everything is new in the front end. I dont think adding p/s to a basicly stock 38 would be too easy,how does the pitman arm travel on a 53 or 54 as if its similar to a 38 one could be made to fit but finding one would be the hard part. I have only seen two with p/s,one in a junkyard and the other on a restored 54 hard top

38fred38,
Sorry you interpreted my post as sarcastic, etc. It was not meant to be. I was first trying to understand why you wanted to install power steering. If a medical condition necessitates the modification then a modern system would be most appropriate. Otherwise an assist like proposed by Gene might be ok. Also some are full time and others are not. There can be safety issues particularily with the full time systems.

Guess my personal preference to use a little excercise as I go though life was interpreted as a comment on others. It was definately not intended to be such.

Well, I have an aunt that told us that "My family tree is full of NUTS!"

I had a Model A Guy drive our 31 one day. The first thing he said down the road was "do you have power steering on this car?".
I told him no. You must remember this is a Chevrolet, the vehicle that outsold Ford in 1931 and every year since except 1935 and 1957.

A little side tracked? All I asked, because all I wanted to know was if I could keep the solid axle and modify it to power steering. I did not ask "do any of you guys think that I should....or what is your opinion on.....yet these were the types of responses I received. And as a matter of fact I did ask several TECHNICAL questions on the Model A web site and was able to get some constructive and informative answer. I had no idea that this was an opt-ed forum where opinions run wild and useful tips are few and far between. The Model A was restored to original condition and has won several car shows...the Chevy we are going to have a little fun with and just to get under all your skin we are putting a v-8 with air conditioning, power steering,automatic transmission and many more modern conveniences (maybe even a navigation system) On the outside it will look completely original but will purr like a kitten.....I don't plan on entering this one in any shows, this is strictly a car to enjoy.....Finally, thank you all for your comments...I've had fun

Fred:

I cannot answer your question as I am the one with the least technical knowledge of this group, however, I do have a suggestion.

My wife and I attended the Goodguys regional show in Scottsdale this weekend. They had over 2,000 cars there, mostly hot rods or retro rods. I am sure if you went on their website: www.good-guys.com you will be able to find a forum that would be geared to your needs. They also have a lot of members in the LA area.