I'm trying to help my dad with his '55 Chevy.

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Purs/55.jpg
My dad says the previous owner told him that it had a camaro front end on it. There is alot of play in the steering and it just doesn't "feel" like everything is right. :confused: The car wants to roadwalk and is very unstable (want's to roll from side to side) as you make adjustments. All the bushings, spindles, steering box, etc. look brand new.... The car has been aligned and it didn't help. I thought a front swaybar might help but how do I Identify the year of the front end to figure out what I he needs? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Sorry I can't help but I sure do love that 55 graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Jerry

Can you post a few pics of the suspension and steering gear? That might help us identify what you're working with. Have you checked the center link? Adjusted the sector gear in the steering gear? Also if it does have the original 55 Chevy suspension, there is an adjustment in the end of the drag link - looks like a big slotted screw that you can tighten up on the ball on the end of the pitman arm. Sometimes the ball wears down and you have to replace the pitman arm to make it handle OK.

will post pics of the suspension tomorrow. Thanks for the help!

OK, I found out that it only has camaro front disc brakes and spindles not the whole front end. Will a front swaybar help? How about a rear swaybar? It has a late model steering box on it. I'm going to try to take the play out of it today. Thanks for the help.

It has probably been converted to a 605 steering gear from a 78-84 A-body. This is a popular conversion but it can make the steering twitchy. Make sure the steering gear is in good shape and that all adjustments are correct. If it still wanders, and you can't adjust the sector gear it may be worn. You can modify a stock 55 sector to fit the 605 and if it is worn it will never adjust right. Also check that the steering gear is mounted solidly to the frame. Some coversions are better than others and if the mount flexes, so will your steering. Check your end link and pitman arm ball also, if they are worn or not tight enough, the car will wander. If all suspension components are OK, get the car aligned. Ideally, you want at least 2 1/2 - 3 deg of + caster to make the car steer right with a 605 box. Stock specs are for less than 1 deg of + caster and its difficult to get more than 2 deg w/ stock upper control arms and shafts on a typical frame. See what you can get out of the alignment and then see how it drives. If your steering gear is OK and you still have problems, the next step is offset upper shafts, or tubular uppers. You can get tubular upper control arms with increased caster from McGaughy's Classic Chevy in Fresno, CA for $230/pr w/ bushings. If only Chevelle arms were as reasonable!?!? Another advantage of the increased caster is the wheel will return to center better and will feel more positive. Good luck.

Thanks David! It does have the later steering box conversion and all the front suspension parts and bushings look new. I adjusted the allen nut on top of the steering box and it helped a good bit. The car doesn't want to wander really any but there is still a little play in the steering wheel. It has been aligned but I don't know what the caster was set at. I'll try to find out. Will the sway bar help the body roll from side to side? Thanks.

The sway bars help out a lot with the body roll. Give Hellwig Products a call at 559-734-7451 they have a newly designed front and rear bar coming out for 55-57's that address a lot of the fit issues on these vehicles.