Southern Parts Power Steering

[steve1973]

For those who have a halftrack or those who had a chance to drive one you will find that steering can be a bear. I stumbled across a Southern Parts catalog and at one time they sold a power steering retrofit kit that would make steering these beasts much more enjoyable. I only know of one person that has this in his halftrack and that is steve-0. Does anyone else have one of these kits? I would like to build one for mine. Either copy one that someone has or go to a 4X4 place that does custom steering set ups. This is what I do know of the kit. It uses an Eaton power steering pump used on larger commercial trucks like International, hard to come by. The rebuild kits are available for about $15 for seals, gaskets. There are no major parts available any more. I will enclose a photo out of the Southern Parts catalog and also an image of maximum steering angles. If anyone else has any more info please post it here.

[WayOffTrack]

My dad had a halftrack with the power steering unit and it drove like a dream. It really did work incredibly well.

[roadrunnertech]

We've built custom full hydraulic steering systems, building a power assist isn't too bad at all.  Would you (opinions wanted) want a "period correct" add-on or a new system with the more modern hydraulics?  I've got an M15A1 and a M3/M16A1 halftrack here to play/test with, so if there is a need for it I can get'er done. 

[steve-0]

is the modern setup you are talking about similar to the southern parts setup? i think the less visible it is to people the more they would accept it, also if it was easy to switch back to original.

[steve1973]

We've built custom full hydraulic steering systems, building a power assist isn't too bad at all.  Would you (opinions wanted) want a "period correct" add-on or a new system with the more modern hydraulics?  I've got an M15A1 and a M3/M16A1 halftrack here to play/test with, so if there is a need for it I can get'er done. 

If you are up to doing this I would be very interested. As the halftrack never came with power steering I would go for a modern set up similar to what Southern Parts did, power assist. I would use a GM Delco style power steering pump as they are easy to come by. Those Eaton pumps are getting harder to find and only gasket and seal kits are available.

[roadrunnertech]

We've built custom full hydraulic steering systems, building a power assist isn't too bad at all.  Would you (opinions wanted) want a "period correct" add-on or a new system with the more modern hydraulics?  I've got an M15A1 and a M3/M16A1 halftrack here to play/test with, so if there is a need for it I can get'er done. 

If you are up to doing this I would be very interested. As the halftrack never came with power steering I would go for a modern set up similar to what Southern Parts did, power assist. I would use a GM Delco style power steering pump as they are easy to come by. Those Eaton pumps are getting harder to find and only gasket and seal kits are available.

Got slammed by some DoD contracts, but have a little time to work on this again.  I was thinking of a GM Delco pump, but considered making an adapter plate and pitman arm for a modern PS box.  But if it needs to be removable, copying the old set-up can be done.  The only thing I didn't find off the shelf was the valve in the link that controls the cylinder.  I do happen to have a '68 Bookmobile that has that exact valve.  I can yank it off and reverse engineer it then machine the parts, but if someone knew of a supplier that would probably be a cheaper way to go.

[roadrunnertech]

I spoke too soon, just found a supplier for drag link valves...

[steve1973]

Roadrunnertech,

Any updates on your power steering setup? I've spoken to another halftrack owner that just had 2 halftracks for sale on eBay and is in the proccess of remaking the Southern Parts kit with some improvements. He is starting out with 20 kits but not sure on price yet. I think they will be available sometime in late April or May.

[roadrunnertech]

I backburnered the project, work was way too busy.  Glad someone's re-making the kits, do you happen to have contact info for them?

[Thelobsterking]

Any updates on the power steering kits? I need one