power steering on flathead

[Daves55Sedan]

The first picture that Merc Cruzer has in his post shows a complete power-assist for a mid '50's CAR. It will not work for a truck. The Truck has a completely different spindle connecting rod arrangement where it is not required to have an idler-arm and frame bracket. Also notice how the control valve/drag-link is screwed on to the end of the CAR pitman-arm-to-idler-arm-connecting-rod. The truck control valve is completely separate from the steering rod. The truck has a completely different type of control valve/drag-link assembly. Tell ya the truth, the car ram cylinder differs from the truck also in that the push-rod end of the CAR ram cylinder connects to the CAR cast-iron idler-arm mounting bracket, while the trucks have a different arrangement for connection to the spindle connecting rod. The truck power cylinder is mounted stationary with the truck front axle. It's a completely different animal.

[Merc Cruzer]

Originally Posted by Daves55Sedan

The first picture that Merc Cruzer has in his post shows a complete power-assist for a mid '50's CAR. It will not work for a truck. The Truck has a completely different spindle connecting rod arrangement where it is not required to have an idler-arm and frame bracket. Also notice how the control valve/drag-link is screwed on to the end of the CAR pitman-arm-to-idler-arm-connecting-rod. The truck control valve is completely separate from the steering rod. The truck has a completely different type of control valve/drag-link assembly. Tell ya the truth, the car ram cylinder differs from the truck also in that the push-rod end of the CAR ram cylinder connects to the CAR cast-iron idler-arm mounting bracket, while the trucks have a different arrangement for connection to the spindle connecting rod. The truck power cylinder is mounted stationary with the truck front axle. It's a completely different animal.

On the upside, the 53' truck had electric wipers, where as the cars still had the Trico vacuum wipers. I always wondered if the truck electric wipers could be used in a car.