1950 Power Steering

[meadowbrook]

Good day all.

I was wondering when power steering 1st became available on Mopars and if such a system could be easily adapted to a 1950 Dodge Meadowbrook.

I seem to remember the 1st system attached to the generator?

I say this because my steering is very hard to turn unless the car is moving. The friction coming from the suspension pivots does not seem excessive and if off the ground, the steering is pretty light, so I suppose maybe there's wear on the system.

I do have it full of 80W90 gear oil and top it off as it leaks it.

If I cannot find a power steering, is rebuilding these steering boxes something that requires special tools besides a press?

Thanks all.

[PatS....]

If you have the "big" Dodge on the Chrysler/DeSoto chassis, the stock 51/52 Chrysler/DeSoto/Imperial box, pump and column are virtual bolt-in swaps. The column is slightly different around the gearshift area but your column parts should interchange to the "new" column to maintain the original shifter.

[55 Fargo]

If you have the "big" Dodge on the Chrysler/DeSoto chassis, the stock 51/52 Chrysler/DeSoto/Imperial box, pump and column are virtual bolt-in swaps. The column is slightly different around the gearshift area but your column parts should interchange to the "new" column to maintain the original shifter.

Hey Pat, what about welding on the column shift bracket onto something else, that could be modded to work, is that in the realm of possiblities

[Dodgeb4ya]

There are at least 3 styles of cast mounting brackets for the 1951-2 hydraguide cars. Dodge never had PS up through 52 so not too sure on that one.

The 6 cylinder DeSoto and Chrysler sixes are one interchangable group.

Then the Chrysler 1951-2 hemi V-8 cars have an early and late mounting bracket. It is cast and a complicated cast bracket that curves to fit the frame. Manual steering gear brackets won't fit the HUGE External Type piston steering gears. The PS cars also have a pinned coupling with a rubber sleeve that connects the steering gear to the upper couumn shaft.Also the pitman arm and boomerang parts are all different. This gear box is really wide too and much bigger that a modern day car PS box.

Anything can be adapted but to do it right is the best way! I'm considering installing factory PS from a 1952 Imperial into my 1950 Chrysler NewYorker hardtop-not a quick and easy job and I have all the parts-the frame bracket and interference of the steering gear to the straight eight starter is a problem, but I can do it!

[Rusty O'Toole]

First car ever to offer power steering was 1951 Chrysler. They had a completely different steering system to Dodge and besides, the early Gemmer system was not that hot.

If you really want power steering your car features a modern style steering box with a vertical shaft. This is a very common type of steering box on more modern cars. If you can find one that will take your original pitman arm, and adapt it to your frame, and put a power steering pump on your engine, you could have power steering.

Before you go to all that trouble may I make a suggestion. Have your front end gone over by a good mechanic and replace all worn parts. Then have an alignment done. To put the frosting on the cake get a new set of shock absorbers for all 4 wheels. Finally pump up your tires to 32 PSI.

I know guys who have done this and were amazed. Their car's steering and handling were transformed. They lost all desire for power steering or new suspension.

One more trick is to have the alignment done with little or no caster. This sharpens the steering and makes the wheel easy to turn at low speeds and when stopped. But it encourages wheel shimmy. So, if you do this, you have to add a steering damper.

I got this trick from older German cars. Mercedes, BMW and even VW were set up this way for many years. It was one of the ways they got superior handling and steering from a conventional non power setup.

PS if you go over your front end and get an alignment, and still aren't happy, all is not lost. You can still put on power steering and be confident the rest of the front end is perfect.