Power Steering retrofit

[Bill Brohman]

I have a 1968 Corvette. Small block V8. It has power assisted disk brakes but no power steering. Is there a retrofit available for this car to install power steering?

[Joe L.]

Re: Power Steering retrofit

Bill-----

Absolutely yes. Most of the Corvette vendors sell kits which include everything you need for the conversion. What's more, the kits are virtually identical to what the factory would have installed on the car if the car had been originally equipped with power steering. The pump, control valve, and hydraulic cylinder are, usually, rebuilt originals. Brackets are reproductions, hoses are replacement (but very similar to the originals), relay rod is reconditioned used or new GM and the pitman arm is reconditioned used or reproduction. It's a very straight-forward installation, too. You'll never regret it.

[Bill Brohman]

Re: Power Steering retrofit

Joe:
Thanks a lot. I am fairly new to this, do you have a recommendation for whom I should contact to buy this type of kit.

Bill

[Jack H.]

Re: Power Steering retrofit

Just call around and shop prices asking if the 'kit' they sell includes EVERTHING you need to do the conversion. You'll find the kit prices will vary quite a bit for two reasons:

(1) I've yet to see a kit that includes EVERYTHING, so this vs. that kit may well include more individual components.

(2) Different sources have a greater appetite for profit.

To clarify item one, if the kit truly included everything, they'd have to ask you LOTS of questions about your current engine compartment configuration to pack the correct pulleys (you may need more or less depending on how the car is really optioned), include the needed belts (sometimes addition of PS on a given car changes V-belt count and routing), and petty items like the PS fluid....

To really determine what you need for the job, it's probably not a bad idea to study your copy of the AIM (Assembly Instruction Manual) and make a list of EVERYTHING that changes on your particular car when PS was added to its configuration. That way you'll be able to better assess who really has the best kit price....

[Bill Brohman]

Re: Power Steering retrofit

Jack and Joe:

Thanks to both of you, you have been a great help. This will make driving my C3 a lot easier as I get older.

Thanks again.

Bill

[Chas Henderson #28127]

Re: Power Steering retrofit

Bill,
don't for get to relocate the tie rod ends into the proper holes on the steering knuckle and plug the other holes with the rivets if you plan on having the car judged.

Chasman