VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 steering box question

Is the 1954 steering box any kind of improvmenmt over the 1952.. I have the parts to make the change. Thanks. Paul

I believe myself, that there is noticeable improvement in the 54 steering over the 52, now whether it is all due to the better steering box is something that I really can't verify. I would say that I consider the 54 to have one of the best manual steering systems built, I would never consider cutting off a 54 Chevrolet front end and replaceing it with a Pinto or mousetang.

Not only the roller bearing steering box, but also the 7/8" brake MC, the 3.70 diff, the roller bearing gearbox and the 130 hp 235 engine, a direct bolt-on in your car.And perfection would be having a 54/62 Corvette steering linkage and center pin.

MrMack....are you saying that the 54 front end is also better then the 52 front end ? Paul

You don't get my vote. Among other things the steering wheel is way too big. It's full time correcting the track. Too many moving parts.

i believe the 49 thru 54 steering boxes are identical. the 53 thru 62 corvette steering boxes are identical to their pass car cousins except for the turning ratio, the corvetes being "quicker" ratio or fewer turns of wheel from full left to full right.the 49 to 54 pass car idler arms, with their pin and bushing setup are significantly inferior to the 53 to 62 corvette idler arms which rotate in a huge roller bearing. i've replaced the pin/bushings in my 49 and 50 chevys several times in last 40 years. have never had to replace a bearing in the c-1 vettes.If one were lucky enough to acquire a c-1 vette idler arm at a reasonable cost(they'll fetch a couple hundred bucks from vette dealers) , i believe they could be retrofitted to the 49 to 54 pass cars as the vette and pass car share the same front crossmember to which the idler arm attaches. one caution with the vette idler arms--don't use them to jack up the car--they'll fracture in a heartbeat.mike

The 1949 and early 1950 have one steering gear.Due to complaints of hard steering when parking the ratio was changed in March of 1950.The steering was slightly slower but easier.This gear was continued thru 1952 and required a different sector shaft and worm than the 1949 gear used.

The 1953-54 gear was improved by the use of roller bearings rather than bushings to support the sector shaft.This improvement along with an increase of steering wheel size from 17 1/4" to 18" reduced the steering effort.

If the 1953-54 gear is used in an earlier model the mast jacket - which is attached to the gear must be used.This makes changes to the "top end"necessary and the 1953 style directionals and steering wheel must be used.

Thanks for the education, gene. regards, mike

Actually I am rather prejudiced because I haven't had any manual steering cars except for a Model "A" F0RD, A Farmall Tractor (not really bad) several straight axle Chevrolet trucks, and a 67 K-F Jeep 2.5 ton 6X6 every other car or truck I have owned after 1955 has had power steering.

So Raymundo, do you advocate cutting the original front suspension off and welding on one from a Pinto Or a Mousetang? Or maybe just reducing the size of the original steering wheel or your not so original belly? , I advocate either shortening the steering mast or moving the front seat back!

FYI, There is a 54 Chevy Front Suspension Complete for sale in the "Parts For Sale" section.

Hi all: enjoyed reading about the steering comments on the 52, along with the comment about the C-1 Corvette. I have a 61 Corvette and have owned it for the past 8 years, fun ride in the summer, and some hellish long winters in Minnesota.
I have done a body off restoration in 1998,every thing was replaced with the correct numbers per NCRS (National Corvette Restorers Society) And in 1999 was in the Snap-On calander, and received a Top Fl eight Blue Ribbon from NCRS in the same year. This is a 4 speed with a 270 HP and 2 4/bbls., yes a fun ride and I can't wait until spring. After receiving the Top Fleight award the car is a driver, being retired I put on 1,500 to 2,000 miles a year. See you on the road when the snow is gone.
Dupie