Has anyone converted a older Dodge truck from manual to power steering? Are there any kits available?

I've found a 71 short bed sweptline, 318, auto, no power anything. In my older years I like power steering, brakes and air conditioning .

Two choices-

factory

aftermarket.

Personally, I'd do aftermarket...

Mine drives great without P/steering !

because I took that straight axle off

Even if you found an original unit, those were "power assist" and were leak-prone (at least the 2 I had) and can't imagine trying to find parts, as I owned mine in the 80's.

There are no aftermarket kits available for these trucks. The original unit is a power assist and it can be hard to find parts to rebuild it.

If you haven't visited Sweptline.org, there are several options covered for converting to integral power steering.

Thanks guys .

Bigdad......What did you put under the front of yours? Photos?

i wonder if big dad is running a 2000 crown vic front clip---i have seen them under 56-61-66 ford f100---really cool unit---bob

I put independent front susp from www.fatmanfab.com the rear is a fatbar sstem from www.nolimit.net

Thanks, it rides,drives and stops with disc brakes great now !

Bigdad, was it a bolt in kit or one you made work?

Bought the kits , made them fit right .. welded it up ..

Photos?

No sir, don't ..

You can pickup almost any street rod magazine and they install a kit in something every month

It is not terribly hard if you have a well equiped shop, welder, sawsall,etc

Or, contact a local hot rod shop they can help you do it

everyting on my is custom for mine, measurements etc vary from installation to install

I built new crossmembers, fuel tank, you name it

Its pretty trick

I'm selling a factory setup cw pump for a 383 but shipping to you would be costly. I don't think you'd be all that impressed with the factory setup anyway. It gives light steering effort but it's still about 150 turns lock to lock.

Sheldon

The factory p/s set up is a joke, leaks lots of turns lock to lock. As stated above sweptline.org is an oasis of information.

BTW POS dakota, Very nice truck.

My donor truck '71D100 has factory power assist steering. One other minus for the original system is the valve for actuating the system takes up a LOT of room under the drivers side fender. With that in there you have an even greater turning radius with big tires, because the tire will hit the valve and/or pipes/hoses.

R.