Ever get the feeling that modern technology is getting to the point where it's nearly impossible to enjoy some of the more nostalgic things in life ... or your truck, to be more specific? While there's absolutely nothing wrong with bringing an antiquated pickup up to date in the way of certain mechanical aspects--drivetrain, brakes, and steering in particular--there are many of us, myself included, who prefer to keep a certain amount of vintage appearance intact. By performing most upgrades, you sometimes take the risk of losing more of your truck's natural appeal, especially when it comes to the steering. Or do you?
After I'd hauled ol' Dirty home from Total Cost Involved, I was left with a tough decision: how to make a modern rack-and-pinion steering unit work with the original equipment from the cab back (or in my case, later `40s components)? From the rack back is not a problem, as I obtained the needed U-joints, intermediate shaft, and shaft support bearing from Flaming River. It's from that point on that had me scratching my head--do I just cut the column and come up with some sort of homemade retainer/bearing setup or bite the bullet and buy a new steering column? Well, because I was dead set on using a '40 Chevy DeLuxe wheel, which uses an integral bell, I didn't want create more headaches trying to mate it to a new column. So it was clear I had to improvise ... or so I thought.
Some time ago, there was an item on the market that allowed you to modify an OE `40s-50s column (after separating it from the stock steering box) to be used with a rack or later-model steering box. Unfortunately, I couldn't find what I was looking for. But someone mentioned that CPP had recently taken the idea and come up with an improved "column saver" kit, which was available in three diameters (1 1/2-, 1 3/4-, and 2-inch), giving it more widespread application for early cars and trucks. Suffice it to say, I wasted no time further investigating this. And the rumor turned out to be fact, as CPP does indeed offer a machined aluminum collar/bearing kit that's easy to install and works as good, if not better, than the finished product looks. To top it all off, you don't need to have access to anything more than simple hand tools in order to make it all work. In other words, if I can do it with professional results, you can too.
So, let's get down and get Dirty steered in the right direction!
