Power Steering on 63 L76?

[Leif A.]

Re: Bring A trailer Sale of 63 SWC

Excellent picture. I can see the obvious interference problem with the bigger oil pan. It's amazing to me someone would go to the expense to change to power steering. Probably cost at least $2000 to do that today. Just the parts kit is $1000. Plus the cost of the smaller pan plus labor if you have it done professionally. Thanks much for the pic.

Thomas,
Don't quite understand your "amazement" as to why some would want to add power assisted steering to a classic Corvette. I, for one, have owned many classic Corvettes (C1, C2, C3) most with and some without power steering. The power assisted steering classics that I have owned (and, currently own) are much more enjoyable to drive and especially maneuver at slow speeds. Additionally, as some get older it becomes quite a chore to steer one of these old cars, thus the luxury of being able to add power steering.
Some may enjoy wrestling with these old cars but many don't or can't anymore. I'm amazed that you're amazed.

[Thomas B.]

Re: Bring A trailer Sale of 63 SWC

Lief, Not knocking anyone for improving the driving experience. Believe me I like to drive my car and the ps is nice. May even add value to the car. Probably lose originality points for it. It's just as a personal preference I wouldn't have spent the cash that's all.

Jack you are correct the car does have a block saver plate or scatter shield as I've heard it called in place of the stock bell housing. Also has rear sway bar which, correct me if I'm wrong, is not factory correct. Or is it correct on the L76?

[Timothy B.]

Re: Bring A trailer Sale of 63 SWC

Excellent picture. I can see the obvious interference problem with the bigger oil pan. It's amazing to me someone would go to the expense to change to power steering. Probably cost at least $2000 to do that today. Just the parts kit is $1000. Plus the cost of the smaller pan plus labor if you have it done professionally. Thanks much for the pic.

Thomas,

It's very easy to change the oil pan and bolt on power steering on these engines, $2000 is crazy money.

Is also very easy to change back if desired but once you drive with the steering assist you will not want to change back.

[Harry S.]

Re: Power Steering on 63 L76?

I just put power steering on a friends 64. The parts were $950.00. It was originally a 250hp car so the oil pan was not a problem.

[Rick H.]

Re: Power Steering on 63 L76?

I took these pictures this evening of two oil pans I have on hand to illustrate the differences. The one shown on top is a 5 quart small block pan. The one on the bottom is a 6 quart trap door pan that was installed on L76/L84 engines from the factory. When you look at them side by side, you can clearly see why the 6 quart pan interferes with power steering components.

Oil Pans 1.jpg
Oil Pans 2.jpg
Oil Pans inside.jpg

[Joe L.]

Re: Bring A trailer Sale of 63 SWC

Here's a pic showing the oil pan and power steering equipment. Does this look like a stock 4 quart oil pan? The ones I see on the major corvette parts vendor sites are replacements with the drain plug on the rear rather than on the side. I don't see any stock 5 quart pans for the 340, 360 engines. Thanks

Thomas------

This pan is the general configuration of many 1965+ passenger car oil pans. An oil pan of this general configuration was also used on all 1975-79 Corvettes but no other model year Corvettes.

[Joe L.]

Re: Bring A trailer Sale of 63 SWC

Is there a negative side to having a smaller oil pan on a higher horsepower engine? There must have been a reason for the 340 and 360 engines needed a larger capacity pan. I assume the swap included using the pan which would have been used on the 250 and 300 hp engines. Are there other differences between the smaller and larger pans?

Thomas——-

Internal baffling is also different between the 2 pans. However, for a street driven Corvette the difference is of no consequence.

Addendum: The baffling differences can be seen in the above photo.

[Joe L.]

Re: Bring A trailer Sale of 63 SWC

Lief, Not knocking anyone for improving the driving experience. Believe me I like to drive my car and the ps is nice. May even add value to the car. Probably lose originality points for it. It's just as a personal preference I wouldn't have spent the cash that's all.

Jack you are correct the car does have a block saver plate or scatter shield as I've heard it called in place of the stock bell housing. Also has rear sway bar which, correct me if I'm wrong, is not factory correct. Or is it correct on the L76?

Thomas------

NO 1963-73 Corvette small block, regardless of suspension option, was ever originally equipped with a rear stabilizer bar. The only C2 rear sway bar, GM #3971324, did not even exist until the 1965 model year as was used only for big blocks. The rear sway bar was part of the big block engine options; it was not part of any suspension option in the C2 (or, early C3) period.

[Thomas B.]

Re: Power Steering on 63 L76?

Thanks, Rick for the pan pics. Good to see the internals. I see a couple of used 6 quart pans on ebay for $425 to $575 which don't look as good as yours.
I also see a 75-79 pan on Zip's site with the drain plug on the side similar to mine. Can't see much of the internals but might be the same as the stock 63 250-300hp pan.

Joe, thanks for the answer on the rear sway bar. The car was restored at some unknown point in it's life and I suspect the power steering, scatter shield and rear sway bar were all added at that point. Color change also.

[Joe L.]

Re: Power Steering on 63 L76?

Thanks, Rick for the pan pics. Good to see the internals. I see a couple of used 6 quart pans on ebay for $425 to $575 which don't look as good as yours.
I also see a 75-79 pan on Zip's site with the drain plug on the side similar to mine. Can't see much of the internals but might be the same as the stock 63 250-300hp pan.

Joe, thanks for the answer on the rear sway bar. The car was restored at some unknown point in it's life and I suspect the power steering, scatter shield and rear sway bar were all added at that point. Color change also.

Thomas-----


Some guys thing that adding the rear sway improves handling because "it just seems like it should". Wrong. GM did not use a rear sway bar for small blocks even with F-40/41 HD suspension.

[Thomas B.]

Re: Power Steering on 63 L76?

Did my first oil and filter change in this car and re-filled with 5 qts, 6 oz of oil. I have the stock canister with filter element. Is this the normal amount of oil for a 5 qt oil pan with canister type filter?

Owner manual says 6 qts with oil and filter change for 340 hp engine, 5 qts with 250 and 300 hp engines.

[Thomas B.]

Re: Bring A trailer Sale of 63 SWC

I removed the stabilizer bar. Looks very similar to the product sold by Zip and made by ADDCO. Supposed to fit 63-67 corvettes. It's sold with some additional mounting plates which allow it to be installed on cars that didn't originally have a factory sway bar. Noted scrape marks on the outside of my frame where the bar and top washer of the long mounting bolts were making contact. Seems to have solved a noise issue I was having when turning up my driveway.

So far the ride might even be a bit smoother than before with no noticeable additional body roll under normal conditions.

[Leif A.]

Re: Bring A trailer Sale of 63 SWC

Unless you (or, someone else) has added a BB engine to your '63, your car was never designed for a rear anti-sway bar and it will ride worse with one installed versus the original factory setup. Additionally, the geometry on that setup is a bit jicky.

[Wayne H.]

Re: Bring A trailer Sale of 63 SWC

Here are a couple for you. 1965 L76, Manual Steering. Hope this helps!

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