Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Categories
- All Discussions27,029
- Orphaned Marques
- ↳ Hudson21,101
- ↳ Street Rods807
- ↳ Off Topic573
- ↳ American Motors148
- ↳ Kaiser - Frazer70
- ↳ Nash70
- ↳ Packard163
- ↳ Studebaker122
- Classic American Cars
- ↳ Ford Motor Company956
- ↳ Chrysler Corporation477
- ↳ GM Corporation1,396
- ↳ Post War Chevrolets75
- ↳ Pontiac Forum119
- General
- ↳ All makes1,958
- ↳ Poll Discussions24
- Swapmeets & Events
- ↳ Events130
- ↳ Swapmeets108
- Hot Rod Corner
- ↳ Ford Rods90
- ↳ Lead Sleds67
- Special Interest Groups
- ↳ The Flathead Forum139
- European marques
- ↳ MG Car Company2
- ↳ Mercedes-Benz2
In this Discussion
- Chuckie Dee April 2008
- Da-Rock April 2006
- Oldcar_Mechanic April 2006
52 Chevy 3100 Pickup steering box ??
-
Hello,
I noticed this forum contains mostly cars, but I figured you may know how to help me out on my 52 pickup.
I am 6'3" and around 300 pounds. These old truck cabs are for midgets (height impaired....like my Cousin!). The steering wheel was nestled right ontop of my belly. I purchased a Grant steering wheel, but that made the steering wheel taller. I thought about getting a thinner seat to give me some more room between the steering wheel and my well formed "Keg". I really like the chrome tilt wheels they have....(kill two birds with one stone by getting the turn signal kit installed with the tilt wheel.)
I took the truck down to "Rods R Us" and had them look at adding in the tiltwheel. He said that the 52 Steering box and steering column is all one unit...(no rag....something or another) Anyways he said he would have to cut out a piece and install the joint and then we could shorten the steering column and add the tiltwheel. $1200 buckaroonies for labor etc....
While looking at a Jim Carter catalog I see that they have a Power Steering conversion kit for 1947-1953 models using a 1969-1987 Cheverolet 2 WD pickup power steering box. It says that you can install a GM tilt steering column after that.
Does this sound cheaper and better then the estimated $1200 for fabricating the old steering box and column? Does anyone have any solid ideas for a fat guy in a little car?
-
Rod's are us is correct. There is no rag joint in the column. It's all one piece and to change the column you need to change the box.
Have you talked to the people at Jim Carter's or tried Chevs of the 40's or maybe Ididit?
I know just a tilt column will cost around 3 or $400 but you may find one that fits from a wrecking yeard.
I had a 1980 Cougar and it had a tilt wheel that tilted right at the wheel.
Good luck
Ron -
I looked at the Chrome Ididit and love it......(it means I can do the Turn signal kit at the same time.)
I am mainly trying to figure out a way to get the rag joint put in without it costing $1000. He said he could cut the column a few inches above the box and fabricate the joint etc. -
Ok. You can put a tilt column in an early chevy truck. The stock column is part of the steering box. It has a sleeve that mounts to the box that contains a long shaft with half of the steering gears on it. Remove the box and this column from the truck.You need to cut the sleeve near the box and get rid of it. Now you need to cut the long shaft about 4-6" above the box. Re-instal the box. You need a couple of steering joints and a steering shaft. The shaft is double "D" shaped. You need one joint with "DD" on both ends and one with round on one and one with "DD". The round end goes on the stock box. Then the "dd" shaft, the other u-joint, then your tilt column. Not a hard job. But remember they had big round steering wheels for a reason. These truck are hard to turn. With a small steering wheel you will wrestle with this thing to get it parked. Jim Carter sells a power steering kit. You'll need a 67-87 chevy pu steering box and bunch of other stuff including all the parts I listed. Give me a call if you have questions.
