C2 Power Steering Bracket-Curious

[Gerard F.]

Saw a post yesterday about C2 big blocks not having a steering stabilizer, yet they could have power steering. I was curious that the bracket might be different. Here's a picture of my power steering backet (add-on kit on my 67 S/B):


Not sure if this is the correct bracket, but below it in the picture is the stabilizer bracket I took off.

If you notice the difference in the brackets, the stabilizer bracket is angled back towards the rear of the car. Lining up the bracket holes in the frame, the stabilizer cylinder would be about 1 1/2"-2" more to the rear than the power steering cylinder with it's bracket. On a left turn the stabilizer would be pretty close to my 5 quart oil pan.

So I wonder if this is the reason why big blocks didn't have steering stabilizers, yet they could have power steering. Or am I all wet, as usual?
Joe?

Having fun,

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179

[Joe L.]

Re: C2 Power Steering Bracket-Curious

Jerry-----

The bracket you have installed looks to be the correct power steering cylinder frame bracket (I don't know if it's 100% correct in every nuance of detail, but it's certainly generally correct). The un-attached bracket looks just like I would expect the steering stabilizer frame bracket to appear.

I strongly suspect the angularity differences that you have discerned might be exactly the reason why power steering could be installed on a big block but the steering stabilizer couldn't.

However, as has been previously discussed, I think that the steering stabilizer will actually clear the big block pan, but not by enough to make GM engineers comfortable with the clearance. Or, it may also be as you have noted that interference might actually occur at certain steering linkage positions.