How to tell manual from power for a steering box? (62-64 era)

[bobs409]

Is it by the amount of turns lock to lock? Is, how many for each? Another method?


Thanks.

 

[Junky]

The difference is so slight, that you probably won't notice the difference.. possibly the casting number, but hard to tell since they both look the same..

 

[bobs409]

I have 4 boxes here, 3 of them are about 6.5 lock to lock and one is 5.5 so I'd "assume" the last is PS. ?

 

[pvs409]

Bob, That lock to lock 6.5 to 5.5 is what I wrote down for PS box difference lock to lock.

I am sure I have 6.5 in at least one of my factory power steering 62s' (have 3) and at least one 5.5 box and I do not notice any issues or difference.
Paul

 

[62BillT]

This is what I have saved to my files:

Manual steering car gear is 24:1, or about 6 1/4 turns lock to lock.
Power steering car gear is 20:1, or about 5 5/8 turns lock to lock.

Which I have found to be pretty accurate through the years.

 

[Junky]

I have 4 boxes here, 3 of them are about 6.5 lock to lock and one is 5.5 so I'd "assume" the last is PS. ?

do they all have the same casting numbers??

 

[heddrik]

So , can you use either box for power steering????

 

[bobs409]

So , can you use either box for power steering????

Should be able to. The pitman arms are different I believe so would have to change that.

 

[pvs409]

It’s news to me that the pitman arms are different.
I never worried about a different pitman arm( they look the same to me - I have one on the shelf I see no differences) + I removed and replaced at least 10 total -1961 & 1962 steering boxes during 10 frame off and frame on restorations and I would have noticed a difference in the Pittman arms when they were removed, cleaned and painted and reinstalled.

I converted a friends 61 Impala Hardtop just a few years ago from standard power steering to factory power steering - we used the standard steering box on the car and when it was done it drove like my power steering 62’s, I would have noticed any differences, since the conversion was done for a friends son in law, and it had to be right...

I know at least one of my 3 -1962 factory power steering cars has a manual steering box and as I said above i do not detect a difference between driving the cars. The one extra turn in the steering box I think is not noticeable when driving the cars.

just checked my cars...
factory power steering 62 Impala Hardtop 327 4 speed- steering box # 5666723( as I remember I think this was a factory power steering car)
rebuilt steering box on my 62 Impala SS 409 convert added factory power steering - box # 5666728
steering box on my 62 Impala SS 409 Hardtop- added factory power steering - box # 5666723

steering boxes & one pitman arm I have on shelf
# 5666723
# 5666728
pitman arm # 3741383A
I see no difference on the pitman arms after “looking at my cars today” - as I said above

I do not notice a difference in driving my 62’s( the 327HT and my 409 convertible) that have different part #’s on the steering boxes. Just drove both cars within the last 3 weeks

Paul

 

[bobs409]

Maybe it's for 63? Maybe I'm thinking of something else too.

 

[64ss409]

Maybe it's for 63? Maybe I'm thinking of something else too.

Pitman arms are different for non PS in 63 and 64.

 

[bobs409]

Thank you Ron! See guys, I'm not crazy!

 

[Junky]

Thank you Ron! See guys, I'm not crazy!

Sorry, but knowing that there is a difference in pitman arms doesn't validate your sanity. Lets move onto the next test to see how well you do... Who is buried in Grant's Tomb???

 

[bobs409]

pelosi? (wishful thinking...)

 

[Junky]

I knew you wouldn't know the answer........

 

[skipxt4]