ADDING POWER STEERING TO A 1963 4 SPEED R2

[studequest]

 HAS ANYONE DONE THIS?

WHAT PARTS ARE REQUIRED AND SOURCE PLEASE (EXCLUDE MEYRS)

GUESTIMATED LABOR TIME?

OTHER SUGGESTIONS... I KNOW FOLKS HAVE DONE ELECTRIC CONVERSIONS

WHAT IS INVOLVED IN THAT RE PARTS AND COST?

 

THANKS

 

KEITH

[64studeavanti]

You would need pump and brackets with bolts, ram and bracket, P.S. bellcrank, P.S crank pulley, control assembly with reach rod and pitman arm as well as hoses and a couple of clamps to keep the hoses tidy.

IIRC, the steering gear ratio is different - you may want to change out steering box.

 

I may have a complete set of spares. I will check later this morning. 

I would guess about 8-10 hours to install. Maybe a little more if you change the steering gear.

 

I don't have any idea on electric conversion. I am sure someone will chime in on that.

[studequest]

THANKS 64

 

WHAT IS IIRC?

[64studeavanti]

I)f I R)ecall C)orrectly.

I have almost all the parts. I could not find the special water manifold bolts and the auxiliary bracket that attaches the pump to the bolt in the exhaust manifold. I also could not find the clamps that attach to the frame to keep the hoses tidy. Those pieces are likely somewhere safe so I would not lose them. The bolts are available from Studebaker International for about $20 each. Thet are showing the exhaust maniford bracket for $26. They may have the clamps as well.

You should get new hoses and a belt. For little more than the cost of the hoses, about $240, Studebaker International has a kit with the hoses plus rebuild kits for the pump,  ram, and control.

I don't know if you plan on doing the work yourself, but you will need to remove and replace the crankshaft dampener to install the pulley. There is a special tool for that. The rest of the installation is fairly straight forward.

Rebuilding the pump can be difficult. Studebaker International has a rebuilt for $218 plus exchange.

Also, some have commented that they could not get the control unit to stop leaking after rebuild. 

If you are interested in these parts let me know.

[studequest]

i am going to test drive the car.  It does not have PS.  If I buy it I am setting up to add it and want some back up

Can you send your email and phone # so I can contact you

 

Keith

[64studeavanti]

My mistake, you do not need to remove dampener. You do need to remove the big crank pulley.

I would guess that if you cannot do the work yourself, plan on at least $2,000 for parts and labor depending on your local labor rate.

 

You can contact me via forum. That way, we are not publicly sharing personal information.

[64studeavanti]

sent a message with contact info.

[mfg]

The last non-power steering equipped Studebaker Avanti I drove surprised me in that the manual steering felt very 'light'!....Granted, there were more steering turns 'lock-to-lock' due to the more favorable (slower) steering ratio...but frankly, unless you're looking for a faster ratio (turning) ability, I'd re-consider adding the complication of power steering to your Stude Avanti...(Just a thought!)

[studegary]

29 minutes ago, mfg said:

The last non-power steering equipped Studebaker Avanti I drove surprised me in that the manual steering felt very 'light'!....Granted, there were more steering turns 'lock-to-lock' due to the more favorable (slower) steering ratio...but frankly, unless you're looking for a faster ratio (turning) ability, I'd re-consider adding the complication of power steering to your Stude Avanti...(Just a thought!)

My experience with driving a non-ps Studebaker Avanti was different.  I found it to be nice on the road, but terrible in slow speed maneuvering.  

[studequest]

GARY:

I went and drove the car in question without power steering.  YOU ARE CORRECT.. IT WAS VERY NIMBLE

In fact, I did not realize it was without the power unit.  Were I to acquire this car, I would not do anything to it!

Thanks...

[PackardV8]

On 5/24/2020 at 7:07 AM, mfg said:

The last non-power steering equipped Studebaker Avanti I drove surprised me in that the manual steering felt very 'light'!....Granted, there were more steering turns 'lock-to-lock' due to the more favorable (slower) steering ratio...but frankly, unless you're looking for a faster ratio (turning) ability, I'd re-consider adding the complication of power steering to your Stude Avanti...(Just a thought!)

Agree.  It all depends on the tire/wheel combination and the condition of the front suspension.  If all is in like-new original condition, they steer easily.  After sixty years of wear and someone installing wider wheels and radial tires, it can be a pig to steer.

jack vines

[Paul K.]

On 5/24/2020 at 7:07 AM, mfg said:

The last non-power steering equipped Studebaker Avanti I drove surprised me in that the manual steering felt very 'light'!....Granted, there were more steering turns 'lock-to-lock' due to the more favorable (slower) steering ratio...but frankly, unless you're looking for a faster ratio (turning) ability, I'd re-consider adding the complication of power steering to your Stude Avanti...(Just a thought!)

+1 . My 63 did not have PS and it was fine for me.  Yes, it was harder to steer when parking, however, the added road feel while driving I really liked. FWIW, I heard that only about 5% of Avantis did not have PS.