I am going to add power steering to my otherwise stock 1949 98. I am thinking of a pancake power steering pump setup like the bowties of the sixties. Any guidance? Comments good bad and ugly? Anyone made this alteration? If so pictures and pitfalls? Thanks. Ron

 

Your 98 is a C body Oldsmobile, body construction by Fleetwood. I'm mostly sure the steeering box and mast jacket assy's will bolt in from years 1952-53, which are Fisher body cars. The 1953 mast jacket and steering are overall shorter then earlier years, meaning the wheel is now closer to dashboard. Also, 1953 does not have a shift quadrant on mast jacket, in that year shift indication is in instrument cluster. So 1952 is the one if you want factory bolt-in stuff.

Another problem is the steering pump with factory brackets uses some of the attachment points used presently by generator. With power steering in 1952, generator was moved to passenger side of engine attached to exhaust manifold, then with no idler pulley for generator belt tension. Not a lot of room in the earlier years as the wheel well is right there at the front passenger side corner of engine. This all assumes the use of GM Oldsmobile parts.

Factory Oldsmobile power steering parts are sought after today, but with some looking money and patience you might find what you need. It's a great, easy to drive system with one finger control even at idle. Good luck ~

 

"....Thrill to the new Rocket ride as you cruise at high speed past architecturally significant residences in the Culver City area...."

 

Seems funny they used blackwall tires in the commercial.

 

Gotta remember in 1952 we were barely out of the Korean "police action" and chrome and rubber were still tough to get. But yeah, whitewalls would have set that S88 off.