Saginaw power steering

Bob Are you going to have a parts list for your truck parts? If you do you should post it on the Truck talk forum. Any parts for a 38 coupe express? When I get started on mine Ill need plenty.

Bob,

I have an extra setup from a '55 C-K, the box leaks though. Pump is good, I swapped pumps because I detailed the one that I bought while the original was doing its thing on the car. I do not know how much interchanges with a sedan though; I suspect that other than the box and pump not much. I was hoping to send it off to have it rebuilt to swap into my '55 if I can't come up with a Saginaw manual box, but I haven't been able to justify the $$$ yet. Let me know if you're interested; the sucker is HEAVY though, I imagine shipping would be quite expensive.

nate

I believe that the coupe will have a longer steering column as the body is set back about 4" as compared to a sedan. I also have an "extra" Saginaw power steering box and pump mount but little else.

BTW, a manual box for Champions should be a Saginaw for '53-55. Same for 1956 maybe except that the steering wheel spline may be different. The spline definitely changed in 1957.

JT

yes, you are correct, I just need to find a good one. Actually I have everything I need to make it work except for the steering shaft/worm gear. I bought a complete box and column including the pitman arm, reach rod, and bellcrank at a swap meet a while back but when I knocked the steering wheel off the top of the steering shaft was messed up and I don't like welding on steering shafts. I think 53-56 will all work.

nate

Whatever you do, don't use the Ross manual box. They are crap. The original still resides in the Power Hawk but it has had that "flat" spot on the worm almost ever since I bought the car in 1966 with only 33K on the clock. It now is in the low 90K range and all it needs is some ambition on my part to install the Saginaw box (assuming that it's the right one) that I got from Heiple years ago.

JT

On the flip side, the Saginaw P/S setup that I have in the car now is working flawlessly and only needs a new Pitman shaft seal to be perfect...

nate

I wouldn't get rid of the Saginaw power unit. With it a smaller diameter wheel is permissible. The c/k's have a serious clearance problem, (wheel clearance to your lap) since the shaft is more horizontal than sedans due to the set back of the c/k cabin.

Jeff Rice might still have some info how to seal the ram shaft on the Saginaw or you could just go to using c/v joint grease that works great.

JT

I agree on all counts, but I actually have a stock 17" wheel on it right now and while it's a little cramped I don't have a problem with it. I can always swap back if it doesn't work out. I figure I'm putting this car together for me; if I can drive it comfortably that's all that really matters. down the road if I sell it to someone and they don't like it, I can always throw the P/S stuff in the trunk (I do have two complete setups, so it's no skin off my nose etc. The "extra" was just so I could have one rebuilt if I never found a manual box. I have been looking, not seriously, but keeping an eye out for one ever since I got this car, and I have only seen the two that I've purchased.)

nate