reading some of the posts around here, I'm slightly jealous of the Cutlass guys being able to swap out their steering box with a Grand Cherokee box.

Is there a good upgraded box that will swap in place of the stock '56
A lot more road feel and a lot less floating on air would be nice!

 

Your car has a front steer box and is different from later cars. There is guy who will rebuild you box with a tighter ratio he has been mentioned on this site. Use the search function with "Steering box" and you might find him. Someone else might chime in with his name and web site too.

 

I was thinking the same thing as Pat. I don't recall the name of the place that rebuilds steering gear boxes. For some reason I want to say they are in Springfield, MO. I'm sure you can locate the info with our search function.

 

I've heard of people installing 605s but I wonder how much modification you have to go thru

 

Forgive my ignorance, but what model # box came stock on a '56 with power steering. It might help my quest if I knew what I was starting with

 

don't know the model number but I do know it is a saginaw and that it only came in 1956 pontiacs, oldsmobiles, and cadillacs

 

There's a company on ebay that sells a rebuilt GM 605 power steering gear, and mounting hardware for 49-58 Oldsmobile's. It cost's $225.00 plus $25.00 shipping. Seller's name is chevy605.

 

If the 56 is like the 54, there is no rag joint since the shaft comes out of the box and runs all the way to the steering wheel. If you use a 605 box or any kind of box you will have to get another column or do some serious fabrication to connect through a rag joint to the steering box. This will not be a simple bolt in swap.

 

I believe the 56 with power steering has a rag joint.

 

I know it does...I replaced mine

 

That will make any conversion a lot easier. Can you tell me if the 56 has ball joints instead of king pins and bushings like the 54 has? Just curious.

 

You can send yours in and have it done.
The places I hear the most good things about are Power Steering Services and Lee Manufacturing.


http://www.powersteering.com/products.htm

http://www.lee-powersteering.com/rebuild-misc.htm

 

It's got kingpins. I'm not sure but I think they didn't get ball joints until 58.
I know Pontiac switched in 58.

 

Olds got them in '57 as part of the new platform.

Norm

 

 

nope no rag joint on a 56 olds 88

 

Check the dates on the threads that you read. Some of the ones on the site are old like this one. the date is in the left hand corner. The last post on this thread before yours is July 2010. Over a year old. Just trying to help out.

 

 

well thanks for the info im just here looking for a steering box for my car do u know where there is one poss rebuilt ,smart guy!!!!

 

hey mate

56 olds 88 with factory power steering has a rag joint, non power steer has the steering shaft intergral to the box.

I am also after anyone that has done the jeep grand cherokee steering boxx swap to a 56 olds.

cheers
dell

 

Well then I have a 55olds and I heard the steering box is different from the 56 box is this true. I would like to change my power steering box to make room for stock exhaust header on the 455 im installing. Thanks Butch Eyota