Installing REAL Power Steering in our Silversides (1948GMC)

[Dave Siegel]

Does anyone out there have a shop or know of someone that is capable of installing a power steering box and pump with the lines , on our PD3751  (1948 Silversides.)? I sent Fred Hobe an e-mail and he very politely back out because he specializes in MCI's only. (So that's one good lead down.)

Dave Siegel

[tekebird]

Luke at US Coach

Berhart Bus

[RJ]

Dave -

Have you considered one of the Air-O-Matic power assist units?  Might be just what you're looking for at a reasonable expense, plus you can DIY.  Here's a link to their website:

http://www.m35products.com/Air-O-Matic.htm

FWIW & HTH. . .

[Runcutter]

Dave, Charles at Tejas Coach Works has done at least one on a later GMC.  They're about 50 miles west of Fort Worth.  I've spoken with him about doing my 4107, he said the last one he did was more work than he wanted to do again, at least at the price he'd charged.  I've also exchanged one set of emails with Busted Knuckle (Bryce), who had an open mind about it.  He's in Northwestern Tennessee.

I know Luke can do it, we talked about it when I was up there on a business trip.  For me, getting the coach up there (3 day drive each way) is the issue - I'd have to integrate it into another trip

I'm still searching, and have a couple of private charter operators I'm thinking about (one in Dallas, one in Massachusetts) - if either pans out, I'll let you know.

Arthur

[Dave Siegel]

Wow. that Air Assist unit really looks like it would work, considering it feels like I'm driving a tank already. Do you suppose this type of unit would work OK on a bus?

Dave

[TomC]

Coming from one that had the Air-O-Matic unit on my bus, I can tell you NOT to install it.  While it does take much of the pressure off manual steering and it works well up to 45mph, as it should on a transit, when you get up to freeway speeds, you are very busy steering it all the time since there is a natural amount of play in the actuating device on the booster unit.
I don't know the setup of the 3751, whether it has the steering box mounted on the frame (which would make for a relatively simple conversion-just use a truck box) or is it like mine that has the steering box mounted on the front axle?
What I changed-first I changed the 90 degree gear box or miter box at the base of the steering column.  It changes the direction of the shaft from vertical to horizontal-to have the driveshaft of the steering going to the steering box on the axle.  The original one had a 1.5 to 1 ratio in it and I replaced it with a 1 to 1.  Then the Sheppard box had to be mounted on the square axle that required drilling four positioning threaded holes and installing two U-bolts.  I had the steering box overhauled and a new Vickers pump installed.  Had the reservoir, then just had them run lines from the front to the back.  It uses 15w-40 engine oil, which makes for some humming when cold.
The difference- It went from 8.5 turns lock to lock (very busy steering), to finger tip 4.5 turns lock to lock.  So much different that even with the air steering, when I was backing into my warehouse, it would require 2-3 back and forths.  Now can do it in one shot.  Also now my wife can drive the bus.  The air steering was too loose for her and freaked her out (everything was tight on the air steering-just the nature of the beast to have play in it, that wasn't fun).  It ultimately cost about $2500 to do it, but WELL worth it.  Good Luck, TomC

[Runcutter]

Tom raises a good point, with the number of full turns of the steering wheel.  I remember driving 4905's in downtown Boston and, essentially, whipping around corners - combination of power steering and the number of turns.  Now, with my 4107 and lack of power steering, there are two issues.  One is the strength required, the other is the number of turns lock to lock.  It has made life difficult in downtown areas (I'm not in my 20's any more).  A three to five point turn in Connecticut, when I saw an unmarked railroad bridge that looked low, sure made me wish I'd watched more Popeye cartoons and had a can of spinach available.

I've heard $2.5 - 3K as rough estimates.  I've also heard suggestions to replace the front axle with one from an RTS; to get the pump, box, etc. from NIMCO, etc.  Getting it done is high on my priority list, right after new tires - my difficulty has been in finding someone to do the work.

Arthur 

[Len Silva]

Don't forget Dean's Coach in NC.  I think $2500-3000 is about right, probably with good used parts.

Len

[uncle ned]

    I have 2 4104's one with power steering and one with out.  bet you cannot guess which one i drive all the time.  The one with automatic and power steering. It is a pleasure to drive on the interstate and in the mountains and back roads.

deans sounds like the place to go. or maybe davids coach in western nc.

uncle ned
"huggy bear"
6v92&v730 and full time power steering with rts axle. has a lot smaller turning radius

[gus]

Dave,

You might be better off getting an original GM power assist setup from another old bus.

If you already have the GM power assist you should keep it. When the manual steering gear box is properly adjusted it works like a charm. I just did this on my 4104 and it is all I would ever want.