I am working on a 66 big block which does not currently have power steering. Is there any way to tell if it originally came with power steering and someone removed it? It is a roadster with two tops, power windows and AM/FM radio. Seems a bit strange not to build the car with P/S and P/B!
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Re: C 2 Power Steering
Mine had p/s and no p/b also(68) I am trying to put power Assist in it because I have the car completely apart. The car without p/b in the south is called the bible car. You have to keep one on the front seat and every time you hit the brakes you put your hand on it and pray it will stop. I would assume that if the holes in the fire wall were cut out or used it would be because it had the p/s unit in it. -
Re: C 2 Power Steering
My 68 does not have power assist, have thought about installing it. My wife has not driven this car in over 16 years, no power assist, no power brakes, and 4-speed.Comment
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Re: C 2 Power Steering
Gary-----
Corvettes were commonly ordered without power steering in the late 60's. In fact, only 20% of ALL 1966 Corvettes were so-equipped. You can bet that a lot of those were also on cars with base engine and Powerglide, so that probably "skews" the situation so that less than 20% of all the other Corvettes were equipped with it.
So, the chances are that your car was originally built without power steering. If it once was equipped with power steering there may be some "vestige" of that installation still present. I strongly doubt it, though. Believe me, FAR more power steering set-ups have been INSTALLED and manual set-ups REMOVED than the converse. About the only way you'd find a car with power steering removed and manual installed is if the car was previously used for some sort of road racing.
The nice part about it all is that while it's virtually impossible to tell if original power steering has been removed and manual steering installed, it's ALSO virtually impossible to tell if an original manual steering car is converted to power steering.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: C 2 Power Steering
I have two 66 BB cars in my shop right now undergoing frame offs. One with P/S & P/B, and one only with P/B. The brakets that hold the alternator on the P/S car is totally different than none P/S cars. There is no brace for the alternator on top of the alternator on P/S cars, it is only on the side an the bottom. Also, P/S cars had the outer tie rods connected into the forward hole of the steering arm that is connected to the front spindle, and also had a plug in the rear one. Non-P/S cars used the rear hole. These are a couple of things that may or may not be on your car, a person didn't have to remove those items to take the P/S off and still drive the car. Also pitman arm is different. Hope that helps. It is just fresh in my mind as I have just finished both chassis in the last 2 months. They are both A/C cars also.
Jeremy Hedges
#31711Comment
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Re: C 2 Power Steering
Jeremy-----
In most cases, I think that a conversion would include removing all of the original pieces and replacing with the pieces required for the manual steering-only application. Most of the stuff would HAVE to come off and be replaced. However, there are a few "vestiges" which could remain.
The rivets in the steering arm outer hole position that you mentioned would be one possibility. However, if someone converted to manual steering, I would think that they would remove the rivets and use the outer holes for the standard ratio steering. If they did not do it initially, they'd probably do so soon after they dislocated their shoulder trying to park the car.
The other "vestige" that you mentioned which would be much more likely to remain would be the pitman arm. Many folks don't even know that the pitman arms were different between power and manual steering and the arms will usually work ok even if interchanged. In that regard, the manual steering arm has forging number beginning with "38"; the power steering arm begins with "37". That would be something to check.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: C 2 Power Steering
I forgot to mention that the car has A/C as well. Are there any production numbers available for this combination?Comment
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Look in Noland's Vol2, '66 ECL's for C60, N40, J50
and you'll get some totals for various combinations. Pretty rare anyhow you slice it.Comment
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Re: Look in Noland's Vol2, '66 ECL's for C60, N40,
Wayne: Thanks. I have the book. Didn't know that info was in there.
GaryComment
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