Anyone know of the reason old 49 chevys are so hard to steer? Is it just one major thing or everything? Anyone ever put in one of those front-end rebuild kits?

Allong as the king pins are not frozen from lack of lubrication and you are not running radial tires the car should not require excessive steering force when moving, It will reqire more forse when standinng stiil. Compared to a 1039-1948 it will require considerly more effor due to the wide low pressure tires and the fact that there is more weight on the front wheels.
In mid 1950 the steering gear ratio was changed to require less effort in turning the steering wheell at low speed or when not moving.

Have you driven other ‘49 Chevy’s to get a basis for comparison? My friend’s ‘49 3100 pick-up steers much easier than my ‘37 Master coupe. The major difference is that the pick-up has a re-circulating ball steering gear.

As Gene noted a non-power steering car needs to be moving in order to steer it.

The Advanced Design 1/2 ton trucks with the 6.00X16 tires an much better ball race steering gear steered much easier than 1949 cars.

Hi Gene,

I did not realize that the cars in that time period did not have the recirculating ball steering. I am amazed at how well the 3100 steers even with radial tires. Of course my basis was the worm-sector steering box in my Master coupe. That is about the highest friction design gear reduction you can find.

Chevrolet passenger cars changed to recirculating ball steering gear in 1955,,
much better quality and design than 1954 and prior,
The 1941 and up Chevrolet and GMC trucks also had R.B. steering gear.

MY 54 CAR IS ALSO HARD TO STEER IT IS AN ANTIQUATED SYSTEM LIKE A MODEL A FORD THAT I OWN. IT IS BASICALLY A WORM AND SECTOR I WOULD LIKE TO FIND A RECIRCULATING BALL BOX THAT I COULD ADAPT TO THE CAR.

iT AINT EASY BUT INSTALLING A 1954 POWER STEERING UNIT WOULD ALSO BE AN OPTION.