power assist steering

[67slammer]

has any one ever heard of power assist steering? i found a frame yesterday at a local yard, it has what the owner calls power assist steering. it looked like a big cluster f*** to me. the frame was a 67 and it had a hydraulic cylinder to move the steering back and forth. was this a weird factory option, a dealer item or an aftermarket add on? i never saw anything like it and i am curious to know what it is. sorry no pics i didnt think to take my camera i was only there to pick up my trans. mike

[71swb4x4]

That's 67 only power steering. It looks weird when you are used to the newer power steering setups.

[kgt]

My 68 1/2 ton has it, my dad was the 2nd owner and bought it with 60k on the clock(now has 72k). the old guy bought it and ordered it with power strg. I removed it and installed a standard system.

[71swb4x4]

I should have more correctly stated, on the 67-72 era the ram-assist will be the factory power steering on all 67's and some early 68's. Later 68's will have the newer style power steering.
BTW - the 67 style is fairly rare, if you can get that setup at a decent price jump on it.

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by 71swb4x4

I should have more correctly stated, on the 67-72 era the ram-assist will be the factory power steering on all 67's and some early 68's. Later 68's will have the newer style power steering.
BTW - the 67 style is fairly rare, if you can get that setup at a decent price jump on it.

71swb4X4 is right. The same system was used on the 60-66 body style trucks as well, but I unsure of what year it was actually introduced.

[71swb4x4]

Originally Posted by 67_C-30

The same system was used on the 60-66 body style trucks as well

And on Corvettes from the 60's to the 80's.

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by 71swb4x4

And on Corvettes from the 60's to the 80's.

Wow! I didn't know that! What year did it debut? I'm assuming it was probably available for the Vettes before the trucks, right?

[Andy4639]

Something to this effect. This is for a chevy II. 67 trucks had it and I had a complete unit at one time and sold it years ago.

[71swb4x4]

I believe it was a 1963 - 1982 deal in Corvettes. I wouldn't bet money on those years, but I "think" that's correct.

[Longhorn Man]

i think the monzas had it too.
It's actiually a junk system.

[kgt]

Hmm...I threw my system out....shoulda hung on to it, it was one of those moving to a new house deals...

[Livrat]

Power assist came on alot of different makes from the late 50's to late 60's.. Ford used them in their big cars till the mid sixtes.. Mustangs had it till 73.. Granada's had till the late 70's.. Corvettes till the late 70's early 80's, Studebaker had it from 59 till their demise in 66.. Avanti II's used it till 83..

It does work.. although it is not "power steering" as you may know it, usually alway leaks.. On the 60's chevy trucks it is weird to drive if you not used to it as they used a normal "Manual box" with the assist.. and it is way too many turns lock to lock. although easy to turn you still wonder if your going to make it around a tight corner before you run out of arm to turn the wheel!!

Here's the setup like the one you found in the parts yard..

[Andy4639]

In less I had a spid that said it had it and was going for the correct restroration I'd leave it alone and do the later version of power steering.

[kenoverbey]

I have a 68 with that steering. What donor truck or parts do I NEED TO UPGRADE? That steering is all over the place! If it's rare i'll trade someone for the parts I need.

[Bob B.]

I'll tell you what a nut I am: I actually added this type of power steering to my '67! I wanted the correct power steering (those V-6's are HEAVY on the front wheels) and didn't want to modify my chassis. I got lucky on Ebay and here on this board and found all the parts (the control valves and cylinders are available both new and rebuilt). The bracket to mount the pump on a V-6 is tough to find.

[El Jay]

A friend of mine has a '59 Elky, and his wife has a '63 Impala; they were both originally equipped with the "ram assist" power steering, and then "upgraded" to the newer power steering.
The Impala is a bit "twitchy" with the later power steering, so the wife doesn't like driving it. I got to drive the car to 2 local, amateur car shows, and the steering is a mite quicker than you'd expect on a car of that size.
I think a rack & pinion upgrade is in the works for the Impala.

I hope that helps somebody, or anybody.

L.J.

[Livrat]

Originally Posted by kenoverbey

I have a 68 with that steering. What donor truck or parts do I NEED TO UPGRADE? That steering is all over the place! If it's rare i'll trade someone for the parts I need.

..

You would need a power steering box and hoses for an upgrade.. the easiest would be find a 69 - 72 truck and get it all.. or you can use the power steering box itself off of any 69 - 80 GM 2WD truck.

I also have a complete power assist assembly that I do not need off of a 68 chev V8. complete with pump and hoses

[El Jay]

Originally Posted by Livrat

..

You would need a power steering box and hoses for an upgrade.. the easiest would be find a 69 - 72 truck and get it all.. or you can use the power steering box itself off of any 69 - 80 GM 2WD truck.

I also have a complete power assist assembly that I do not need off of a 68 chev V8. complete with pump and hoses

Off topic, but not a hijack.

Dude, if I ever get to the PNW, I'd just love to drop in and wander through your "collection!"

[psychobilly451]

where can I find parts to rebuild my ram assist power steering?

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by El Jay

A friend of mine has a '59 Elky, and his wife has a '63 Impala; they were both originally equipped with the "ram assist" power steering, and then "upgraded" to the newer power steering.
The Impala is a bit "twitchy" with the later power steering, so the wife doesn't like driving it. I got to drive the car to 2 local, amateur car shows, and the steering is a mite quicker than you'd expect on a car of that size.
I think a rack & pinion upgrade is in the works for the Impala.

I hope that helps somebody, or anybody.

L.J.

It probably has a quicker ratio box in it than it needs. The hot lick for a few years was to put the quick ratio boxes in and they are a bit too quick in some instances.

I used to have to work on those ram setups every once in a while and they are a pain to get regulated right after you reseal one. And as someone mentined they are a leak looking for a place to happen. If they don't leak now they will pretty soon if you drive the rig any at all.

[El Jay]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

It probably has a quicker ratio box in it than it needs. The hot lick for a few years was to put the quick ratio boxes in and they are a bit too quick in some instances.

I used to have to work on those ram setups every once in a while and they are a pain to get regulated right after you reseal one. And as someone mentined they are a leak looking for a place to happen. If they don't leak now they will pretty soon if you drive the rig any at all.

I'm way more than a bit inclined to agree with you.
Sometime in the distant past, somebody installed PS in my '69. It's a bit quicker than you would expect from a truck of that vintage, but not bad, especially once ya get used to it.

But that Impala is even a bit faster. If driven on a daily basis, it would be just fine. Humans can adapt to things on a real quick basis. But it only gets driven to local car shows & what not; so nobody is used to it.

My friend is virtually blind, so he can't drive. His wife doesn't like driving the car a whole lot, so when it does get driven, driving duties are generally relegated to whomever is available at that particular time.