Good morning, this is my first post to this forum on CO, and I am not sure if I should post this under general discussion. Anyway, my base 88 has power arm steering and its fine at speed, but a PITA otherwise. Has anyone gone through the exercise of converting their similar period car to power steering? I'd prefer a period-correct conversion. I know I will need a coupling for the steering mast, a two or three groove pulley (keeping PB in mind for the future), a pump, fluid lines, a PS unit, and maybe a center steering link. I'd like to verify the components list I will need for this project - or is it DOA. I'd like to get any information I can about making the conversion. Any and all input is appreciated. Thanks, David

 

I looked into a project like this for someone a while ago..
Practically every part of the steering from the steering arms up through the steering linkage, the box and the column are different.
Power vs. Manual.
The best way to do this is to obtain a '57 ( or '58?) parts car with a complete power steering package..
Take a good look at the steering column and box. It's all one piece on the manual unit.
There is no coupling. The entire unit comes out thru a hole in the floor.
Usually after removing the front seat and steering wheel.

 

Thanks for your input Charlie. Would a '56 also work, maybe other years? I welcome any suggestions, David

 

No, '56 is quite different from '57.
And I'm not even sure that all '58 components would work either.
Seriously, the easiest/cheapest thing to do would be to sell this car to somebody that doesn't know any better.
And buy a '57 with power steering.

 

Hi Charlie, I'm following up on an older post. I think I've got all the necessary components and want to check that I've not missed anything:

1957 Oldsmobile 88 Power Vs Manual Steering

For P.S. the following are needed:

· Power Steering pump, gearbox, hose, fittings, inner and outer column, coupler, mounting brackets/hardware
· Plain (steering) arm p/n 570148 (right) and 570149 (left) – Manual uses 569798 (right) and 569799 (left)
· Inner tie rod end p/n 5671614 (2) – Manual uses 5671610 (2)
· Outer tie rod end p/n 5674340 (2) – Manual uses same p/n
· Pitman arm p/n 5671630 (1) – Manual uses 5663671 (1)
· Idler arm p/n 5670339 (1) – Manual uses same p/n

What is missing from this list that might come back to haunt me?
Thanks, David

 

You will need the entire steering column, from the wheel on down to the steering box.
The manual column is one piece, the power is two pieces separated by a "rag" joint.
Besides the pump and brackets, do you have at least a two groove harmonic balancer?
The P/S belt runs in it's own groove on the balancer.
Plus all the parts you mentioned.
Realistically, the best way is to get a parts car or find someone who is parting out a P/S car to get all the parts.
Good luck. I had a manual steering '57 Olds once, It was a beast to drive, especially parallel parking.

 

Hi Charlie,
Yes, I have a two groove harmonic balancer and the steering column - I plan to use the current steering wheel and I expect to purchase a new rag joint. I think I have everything I will need. Have you done such a swap? I am wondering how different the plain steering arms, inner tie rod ends, and pitman arm parts are from the manual set up? How about the mounting hardware/fasteners? I do not have a donor car, but I have a resource that knows these cars well and he has found what he says I will need. At this point I am trying to proactively verify and have a check list to make sure I have everything I will need. I am open to any input. Thanks, David

 

I moved this to the Vintage section to see if we can drum up some additional answers.

 

Perfect!

Thanks Eric,

David

 

I have never actually performed this swap. As I stated before, I looked into doing it .
I got all my information from the Oldsmobile Parts Catalog.

I told the guy at the time that he was better to find a complete parts car,
Never heard back from him.
Maybe he's still looking

It sounds to me that you have what you need.

 

Do any of you guys out there happen to know what the differences are in the Idler/tie rods/pitman arms happen to be? Parts catalog tells us they are all different, but I"m wondering what might be diffferent? Geometry maybe? Perhaps PS car parts are beefier due to higher loads ? curious!!

 

We probably won't know the answer to this question until someone actually does this installation.
Then the parts can be evaluated side by side.
My guess would be that it had something to do with steering ratios.
I remember that the manual steering had more turns lock to lock, than did the power.

 

The ratio differences are a good guess for sure...though I would think most of that would have been accomplished a lot more simply in the gearbox itself...hmmm. Was hoping somebody had pulled a few of these apart over the years or had a basket of old dirty parts in a bin that could be looked at. Maybe I can find a winning lottery ticket too, eh?

 

I can put you into contact with the guy that has a 57 olds that's got power steering and Factory air in an molested parts car if you're still interested in going that way you didn't say if you had power brakes or not but I would assume that a 57 then that had power steering and air conditioning probably had power brakes as well I couldn't tell from the picture if it was 98 or 98 or super but if you're still looking I can put you in contact with him.

 

Most of these '57 Oldsmobile's were equipped with P/S.
Manual steering cars were a rarity back in the day.
It's a wonder that any of them survived to the present day.

 

While I think I have what I need, I'd be interested to learn what is available from the 'molested' parts car. Thanks, David

 

Thank you all for your help and support. I am happy to report that I was successful in gathering the parts needed to switch my 1957 Oldsmobile 88 from manual to Power Steering. I had some good help and advice along the way. In my specific case, I got a PS gear, pump and a PS mast with upper shaft. I was missing the upper steering bolts and a horn ground strap. I could find some of these as NOS or aftermarket or not at all. I wound up ordering a coupler from https://classicperform.com/shop/rjc-730r - this gave me the ground strap, the flexible disc and coupling bolts, but I had to modify this set up as the female/male components of this set up were the opposite of what I needed for my application. I cut off the part of this unit that had the splined metal coupler and I cut off 2 sections of the metal washer and I took one of the bolts that was too large, turned it to 5/16", cut new threads in it and used the corresponding nut and split washer (see attached photos).

I used my '57 shop manual for removal and reinstallation of parts. The steering gear was a little tricky to locate on the frame and get the retaining bolts started. I was pleasantly surprised that when I loosened the clamp that held the mast jacket to the one piece manual gear and shaft, it was not rusted or difficult to separate. I inserted the PS upper shaft into my original manual mast jacket/column and this all worked out as hoped. The rest of this job involved adding and connecting PS components and tightening down any fasteners.

I've attached a couple of documents and some photos, should they be useful to anyone who is interested in a period-correct conversion.

I appreciate all the input I received. Thank you, David