66 BB power steering

[Glen C.]

I'm in the process of converting my 66 L-72 to power steering. I have many of the parts needed but some parts are from a 1964 Chevrolet passenger car, Thus I have a few questions. I also have a 1964 SB 327/300 Corvette with (as far as I know) factory power steering, so the 64 will serve as a reference.

1. From what I can tell, I should change the center link to the .75" 3822693 or the .90" 3952707 & the pitman arm to the PS 3741383. But, when I looked at the part # on my 64 SB pitman arm the number is 3831473. This is a number that I have not been able to find in my parts book. Does any one know of this number?

2. I have several early style PS pumps one has SB brackets & the other has BB brackets. The cast iron double deep groove PS pulley (3878245) on the BB pump has some damage & should be replaced. The Corvette parts catalogs that I have looked at indicate that the PS pump cast iron pulley they supply is for use on pumps with a tapered shaft & lock nut. Both of my pumps use a small woodruf key & a lock nut, but neither pump has a tapered shaft. Is there an available BB pulley to fit the non tapered shaft pump?

3. From what I've read the hydraulic cylinder, control valve, & pump, should be the same for a Vette as for a pre 1965 passenger car. Is this correct?

Thanks in advance for any comments.

[Joe L.]

Re: 66 BB power steering

I'm in the process of converting my 66 L-72 to power steering. I have many of the parts needed but some parts are from a 1964 Chevrolet passenger car, Thus I have a few questions. I also have a 1964 SB 327/300 Corvette with (as far as I know) factory power steering, so the 64 will serve as a reference.

1. From what I can tell, I should change the center link to the .75" 3822693 or the .90" 3952707 & the pitman arm to the PS 3741383. But, when I looked at the part # on my 64 SB pitman arm the number is 3831473. This is a number that I have not been able to find in my parts book. Does any one know of this number?

2. I have several early style PS pumps one has SB brackets & the other has BB brackets. The cast iron double deep groove PS pulley (3878245) on the BB pump has some damage & should be replaced. The Corvette parts catalogs that I have looked at indicate that the PS pump cast iron pulley they supply is for use on pumps with a tapered shaft & lock nut. Both of my pumps use a small woodruf key & a lock nut, but neither pump has a tapered shaft. Is there an available BB pulley to fit the non tapered shaft pump?

3. From what I've read the hydraulic cylinder, control valve, & pump, should be the same for a Vette as for a pre 1965 passenger car. Is this correct?

Thanks in advance for any comments.

Glen------


I can find no record, at all, of GM #3831473. All I can figure is that it was an alternate forging number used for the GM #3741383 pitman arm. The 3831473 would be about a 1963-released number. The 3741383 was actually released much earlier and originally for 1958 passenger cars. It was "pressed into service" in 1963 for N-40-equipped Corvettes.

If you have the pump with the woodruff key and threaded end, then you have the "tapered" shaft. The "taper" is very slight. All 1958-74 pumps used the tapered shaft. The "straight" shaft was used for 1975+ and it uses no woodruff key and no threaded end. The pullies are strictly interference fit for these pumps and there is NO big block pulley available. Also, the pumps with the "straight" shaft were mostly originally configured with the "one-piece", "tear-drop" shaped reservoir. Pumps with the tapered shaft were mostly originally configured with the "two-piece" reservoir with round base and oval-shaped, welded-on neck. There was a little bit of "cross-over" but not much. None as far as Corvettes are concerned that I know of.

The power steering pumps are BASICALLY the same between Corvette and other Chevrolet applications. However, there are some slight differences in the reservoirs between some passenger cars and Corvettes and, in fact, there are some slight differences between various Corvette engine and/or model years with respect to pump reservoirs.

However, functionally, the pump assemblies with reservoirs are mostly interchangeable between all 58-74 passenger car and Corvette applications with tapered shaft pumps. The 1975+ straight shaft, tear-drop reservoir pumps can be used on 1963-74 Corvette SMALL BLOCKS if the appropriate press-on pulley is also used. However, they cannot be used on big blocks because of the unavailability of an appropriate pulley.

The control valve used for 1958-64 passenger car applications is MOSTLY the same as the Corvette valve but not exactly the same. The difference is an installed spring in the valve portion of the valve and adapter assembly. Corvette valves usually have a "C" or and "X" stamped on the cover on the end of the valve.

The hydraulic ram assembly is different between Corvettes and passenger cars. The passenger car assembly is about 3" longer in overall length than the Corvette piece.

[Ronald L.]

Re: 66 BB power steering

Glen,
If you follow the AIM for 66 and Joe's advice on parts you could make out fine, I say that as the key difference between SB and BB is the oil pan and the steering system damper interfered and thus was not used on BB applications. All this power assist stuff is pretty much right in the same area.

[Glen C.]

Re: 66 BB power steering

Joe & Ron, Thanks for the prompt response.
Ron I measured the outer case of the two cylinders mentioned earlier they are both 13".
64 SB PS cylinder, 64 SB Impala cylinder, both the same length???
Thanks, Glen.

[Joe L.]

Re: 66 BB power steering

Joe & Ron, Thanks for the prompt response.
Ron I measured the outer case of the two cylinders mentioned earlier they are both 13".
64 SB PS cylinder, 64 SB Impala cylinder, both the same length???
Thanks, Glen.

Glen------


I suspect that the spec length for the cylinders is with the rod extended. The 58-64 passenger car cylinder, GM #5691110, was 26-1/16" overall length. The 63-82 Corvette cylinder, GM #5691112, was 23-5/64" overall length.

[Glen C.]

Re: 66 BB power steering

Joe, You are right 26 1/16" extended. I guess that rules out its use on my Vette, even if mechanically it would fit. I'm guessing the piston needs to be centered in its travel to function properly. I wonder if the Vette vendors will take a passenger car cylinder as a core for a Vette cylinder? NOT! Thanks again.

[Joe L.]

Re: 66 BB power steering

Glen------


A few other things I should have mentioned: first, the 3/4" power steering relay rod (1963-68) and the 7/8" relay rod (1969-82) were Corvette-only pieces. While the 7/8" rod is not correct for 1963-68 applications, it does SERVICE those applications and is stronger and better than the original rod.

Second, the 1965-74 Corvette big block with N-40 associated power steering pump system supports, brackets and braces are Corvette unique and involve a completely different alternator mounting configuration than the non-N-40 big blocks. All of these parts are GM discontinued but available in reproduction.

[Glen C.]

Re: 66 BB power steering

Joe, Yes, I am aware of the bracket differences unique to Corvette & some of the differences between the Corvette BB & SB power steering. Initially I had looked at buying one of the PS kits, but thought I could cut the price approximately in half with some of the components that I currently have. Now it doesn't look like I will save that much. It's looking like about $1000 to $1200 because of the lack of correct cores to return.
By the way, I found the date code on the BB (8LB0) & SB (013L4) pumps.
Thanks for all the help.

[Joe D.]

Re: 66 BB power steering

On a 66 small block, no a/c, does the pulley have to be changed if power steering is added? Thanks, Joe

[John H.]

Re: 66 BB power steering

On a 66 small block, no a/c, does the pulley have to be changed if power steering is added? Thanks, Joe

Joe -

That application uses an "add-on" single pulley to drive the pump, installed on top of the existing crank pulley; all the vendors have them.

[Glen C.]

Re: 66 BB power steering

Joe -

That application uses an "add-on" single pulley to drive the pump, installed on top of the existing crank pulley; all the vendors have them.

That's what mine has. 64, 327/300 PG, PS, AC.

[Joe L.]

Re: 66 BB power steering

Joe -

That application uses an "add-on" single pulley to drive the pump, installed on top of the existing crank pulley; all the vendors have them.

John-----


I think the reason that all the vendors have these is because GM still has them available. The part number is GM #3751232.

[William F.]

Re: 66 BB power steering

Why not just buy a complete power steering add on kit from one of the catalogs catering to Corvettes instead of running down all these individual parts?-it's not going to be original anyway.

[Craig F.]

Re: 66 BB power steering

I am looking for some advice as well. I have a 65 365hp car, non-air and I am interested in adding power steering but would rather buy the complete kit. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what supplier has the best and most complete turn key kit?

[Joe L.]

Re: 66 BB power steering

I am looking for some advice as well. I have a 65 365hp car, non-air and I am interested in adding power steering but would rather buy the complete kit. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what supplier has the best and most complete turn key kit?

Craig-----


In your case, you will need to change the oil pan in order to add power steering. However, I'd say it's worth the trade-off. For a street-driven Corvette, power steering is way more beneficial than the 1 quart larger oil pan you have on the car now.