55-57 Chevy Powersteering Questions

I titled this 55-57 Chevy power steering questions but I'm hoping for some good answers. I've owned my 55 wagon for many years. The large tires on the front do not make manuel steering fun. Especially here in Florida sand or grassy lawns.
The front end has been completely rebuilt and we installed 2" type lower front springs. Stock steering column is also rebuilt and I'd really like to keep it. But it's not mandatory at this point. Had a smaller Grant wheel but switched to 59 Impala for the 50's look and easier turning.
Engine is a SBC with 200R4 with floor mounted shifter and rear end is an 80's Nova/Camero along with new wagon rear leaf springs. So that's what I have.

I know about the 605 box swap and pretty much what needs to be done with or without original column. Also have seen several different rack and pinion setups. To me those are the best modern update. But have heard some of those cause flexing because of weak mounting points.
Does anyone besides 59 wagon have the rack and pinion type setup and what's your ideas for a 55-57 Chevy power steering setup? Is Brand X better than Brand ZZ? The 605 setup is most likely the cheapest but what's the best? Or at least works and installs fairly straight forward?
I've even heard there are soon to be electric power steering kits available . Not thrilled about those.
I'm not about to go wild with a subframe and total showcar style performance set up. After all ours is just a driver that's been driven by me without power steering since the late 80's.

 

This is the type of question that you would be best off asking at the www.chevytalk.org forums. There is a very large and diversified population of people that have made these steering box changes, and they have the experience to help you avoid the pitfalls of going it alone.

 

damn i feel like i've been blacklisted

 

Thanks Junk. Most likely there and a few other tri-five Chevy forums would help. But I'd prefer finding out what members here have learned. Even if their cars are later model. The basics are the same.
I don't care to go through all the introductions and other formalities when I wouldn't stay anyway. I dropped out of Classic Chevy when they kept adding later model cars. There were stories on these power steering swaps early on.

59 wagon let er rip!

 

I have the 605 because that was a in-expensive way 10 years ago and have changed the box a few years ago for what they said was a updated gear box because the first one from day one always seem to have too much slop for a new box. I would explore the rack and pinion route I believe these days but the 605 is working OK for me. Good luck ModelT which ever way you go.

 

Thanks 1tire Dennis. I heard there is a newer updated 605 type kit.
I sort of like the idea of the rack kit because it seems like mostly a bolt on and replaces a lot of old things.
Then again, I've talked to a few who said they had rack kits with too much flex in the mounts.
I'd sure like to get something. I'm getting too old to be driving a 1955 Mack truck. Front tires are probably much of the problem. too wide.
I only want to do this once. Before computer I'd just do whatever seemed right. At least now we can ask around and learn from other mistakes.

 

you wont be sorry with the r & p . it is a much more modern feel with much less free play . my kit was from unisteer and like everything else there was some extra fab work necessary. the fact i have it combined with air ride is a little tough on the alignment but i enjoy it .

 

I tried a power 605 in my 56 wagon. Hated it. Could not keep the car from wandering going down the highway.
Installed a Borgenson unit about a year ago along with a front stablizer. Love it. Great road feel. No slop - no wandering - goes straight - steers easy, but you know your are driving it. Feels like a rack, without being a rack.
Although it uses the stock bolt holes , you have to dimple the top of the frame where the box mounts.

 

Thanks SS and 59Wagon. Gives me something to think about. Now's a good time for the swap. Car's been down and cold weather is coming. Yes Florida gets cold!
Wish I could make it over to Daytona for Turkey Run coming up. Usually vendors there with everything Tri-Chevy. I thought retirement meant plenty of spare time.

About that wandering. Our 1941 Ford has a Camero clip with power steering. It was spooky handling until I got a kit to cut down the line pressure in the pump. Many cars don't need as high pressure to feel right.

 

wish ya could make the turkey run so i could meet the grumpy old man behind the legend in person

 

I don't know any legends in this part of Florida. Big Daddy the living legend lives about 75 miles away south of Ocala. Sometimes he's grumpy!
And most of the grumpy old men I know also stopped going over to the Rod Run too. Seems like most people I know got old and lazy. I guess it's an addiction people get after living in Florida too long.
We really miss the Turkey run show and the Spring spectacular. Used to make almost a week of it. I remember our very first. We had a top floor room at a large motel over looking the ocean. We'd won a BBQ turkey off the local radio station. There we sat, Thanksgiving eating BBQ turkey on the balcony, looking at people swimming. while wearing swim suits. Fresh from Illinois.

 

Another option is to move into the current century...

Electric steering...
No pump
No hoses.
Simple installation..
Easy feel steering..

Some examples from http://www.unisteer.com/

http://www.unisteer.com/electric-power-steering/search-by-product/electric-power-steering.html









.

 

Thanks. these are both very interesting. The electric steering is tempting. Not what I expected and with the column seems even better.

 

Those things seem scary. If one has to stop somewhere for a leak and there's no suitable spot in sight and one loses it, this would seem to me like bathing in the tub with the hairdryer, if the leak eventually reaches the steering column

 

Hans as soon as I receive my new electric rubber ducky in the mail I am going to check further on those electric steer units and the rack and pinion set ups. Either seems nice. The electric steer unit would give me a modern steering column also without a lot of add-ons. Only the addition of 2 u-joints and short extension piece to old steering box. Plus a cheaper installation.
But the rack setup replaces all of the original steering components with modern steering. Still would need the pump, hoses, U-joints, etc.

As for loosing steering with the electric Steer, the electric motor is built into the new column. I believe it said you have a 35% increase in steering feel over stock. And if that motor goes out you will still retain the original steering. Not as scary as I thought.