Would my '63 come with a steering dampner?

[Richard W.]

While under the car rebulding my wheel cylinders, a friend with a '64 noticed that I did not have a steering stablizer shock (dampner). There are holes where a bracket would be and, of course holes on the relay rod. The LICS catalog shows the part except for '63-'65 HIPER. My SWC had a 340 HP engine.

If it did, it is worth replacing for a driver?

Thanks,

Dick

[Mike M.]

Re: Would my '63 come with a steering dampner?

solid lifter 63's ( 340 and 360 hp) had the larger oil pan( 6 qts with filter) . the larger oil pan negated the power steering option, and i believe, the steering shock damper as they interfered with the larger oil pan.. mike

[Loren L.]

Agree with Mike - god, that's not even hard!!! *NM*

[Duke W.]

Re: Would my '63 come with a steering dampner?

Yup! At some point I thought St. Louis neglected to install the damper (not dampner) on my 340 HP SWC, but there was nothing wrong with the way the steering behaved, so I never worried about it. I finally came to realize that it would not fit because the long deep section of the 5 quart (six quart system total with filter) SHP/FI oil pan occupied the same space as the damper or the power steering boost cylinder.

Curiously, there is nothing in the AIM - Section 9 or L-76 or L-84, at least that I could find, that indicates the damper should not be installed with L-76 or L-84, but it definitely doesn't fit, and if this fact was not figured out during the design and prototyping process, it certainly would have become known during the pilot build!

Duke

[Joe L.]

Re: Would my '63 come with a steering dampner?

Dick-----

Also, although that 63-65 with mechanical lifter small blocks and ALL 65-68 Corvette big blocks did not have the steering shock absorber, they all had the same manual steering relay rod. So, the cars without the steering shock absorber still had the holes for it. Relay rods without the steering shock absorber provisions did not appear until 1969 when the steering shock absorber was completly dropped. At that same time, the OD of the rods, both manual and power steering, was increased to 7/8" from the previous 3/4". No 63-68 Corvette was ever originally fitted with a 7/8" relay rod. The 69+ relay rods can be retrofitted to 63-68 Corvettes, though. It's not "correct", of course, but it can be and is done.

[Richard W.]

Very interesting

I thought so since power steering was not avaiable with the 340 HP and I assumed the damper (thanks for the correction Duke) was used only on power steering systems. My buddy's '64 does not have power steering but has the damper, so I learned something.

I just love this stuff. You learn more everyday!

Thanks again for all the responses.

Dick