Quote:
fredkanter wrote:
The only car I ever drive without Power Steering is our 25,000 mile '52 Patrician factory show car.......and it's a bear to drive if not on a straight road. Windy hilly roads are a bear and the lock to lock is forever. The PS setup I was going to install fell victim to the Limo.
When I drove my first car, a 37 120C, it felt like it had power steering and we just had a customer in this week to show off his 120C. He confirmed that it is a breeze to steer. The king pins/bushings/knuckles are nearly identical on the 37 and 53, I wonder just what Packard "lost" over the years. Then again the other thing that might have changed are my biceps and elbows??
Any thoughts??
I have gone into this with other old car guys and my advice is always the same. Have a good front end man inspect and repair or replace worn parts, and have an alignment done. Pump up the tires to 32PSI especially if they are radials and for good measure, put on a set of new shock absorbers.
2 or 3 have done this and been very gratified at how easy and nice their car now drives. In one case,the owner was contemplating cutting the frame off and welding on a Camaro front clip to get PS. An alignment job and a set of shocks, took away all desire to do this.
A car can slowly get out of line over the years and if you do not have PS they do not have to be far out to be cranky. Also, stock shocks are only good for 20,000 or 25,000 miles. They may look ok and not leak but they don't work like new anymore. A new set will give you back that new car ride, a lot cheaper than buying a new car ha ha.
O ya am surprised they used the same shocks as a Chev. Don't know how such a light shock can control a heavy car's suspension but I suppose they knew what they were doing.
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