L76 Option with Power Steering??!!

[Lenny K.]

I am in the midst of "correcting" some glaring issues with my otherwise great '63 convert and I cannot get the skinny on one point (searched forum and archives)...were the L76 and power steering N40 option available together in 63....and if so, what oil pan should have been used. I suspect that the PS was added later to the otherwise correct L76 (my intake is with Jerry McNeish as I type) but the oil pan is neither fish nor fowl.....fits but would like to make it correct to factory, if the options were available together.

Thanks, Lenny

[Dan H.]

Re: L76 Option with Power Steering??!!

Had a L76 63 Coupe that the original owner had the Dealer install PS on. The pan is the short version, for clearance of steering ram. To reverse a PS installation you need the long 'trap door' pan, windage tray and bolts, idler pulley and correct belt and put tie rod ends back into correct end holes on steering arms. Sell your old PS unit for beer during new installation!
Dan

[Lenny K.]

Re: L76 Option with Power Steering??!!

Thanks and rest assured I have enough beer money from the sale of other "rare factory options" I have already changed out....smile...more to the point of the original question, were the two options even AVAILABLE from the factory or was PS only a dealer installed option for '63. Searched various books (Newton, etc.) and unless I can look at a dealer order manual or ?! or get one of you brainiacs to clue me, I will not know if the two together are potentially factory correct, regardless of if I keep it on or not.....smile. The TIM&JG 5E doesn't seem to spell out much regarding the oil pan, other than referencing the standard L76 "6 quart pan"....which wont work with PS.....All input appreciated.....really....smile

[Dan H.]

Re: L76 Option with Power Steering??!!

Hi Lenny, since the engine was built in the Flint plant and only one pan was used on the L76, no way could it of had PS used with it. Dealer installed etc. would be the only way a car had it reto fitted when new. No rare options I'm afraid.
Dan

[Barry K.]

Re: L76 Option with Power Steering??!!

PS was NOT available with the L76 from the factory. As already mentioned, the issue was the larger 6-qt oil pan the L76 used that interfered with the PS set-up.
If you had one option checked you couldn't have the other one.

[Jack H.]

Re: L76 Option with Power Steering??!!

See Noland Adams' book...

He shows 3063 N40 equipped cars were built in 1963 with the ECL code restricting the option to base or L75 engine equipped cars. There's a footnote in the ECL table that reads:

"Note: due to interference between the hydraulic cylinder and the oversized oil pan, N40 could not be installed on L76 or L84 engines."

Does this answer your question?

[Duke W.]

Re: L76 Option with Power Steering??!!

N-40 was never a factory option with L-76 in '63. I don't know what "other option" you are talking about, but C-60 was available with L-76 in '64 and '65, but I don't think N-40 was.

N-40 was available with L-79 beginning in '65, however, possibly not early in the year as early L-79s might have had the big pan. I've never been able to fully sort this out.

With no N-40 or C-60 available on L-76 in '63 there was only one L-76 engine code and one front end accessory configuration - the dual belt setup as shown in the AIM with an alternator and idler pulley.

Duke

[Joe L.]

Re: L76 Option with Power Steering??!!

Lenny-----

As others have described, N-40 was not available with L-76 (or, L-84) for the 1963 model year. However, before you go removing the power steering keep this in mind: IF your interest with the car is 100% "correctness", NCRS/NCCB judging events, and you plan to drive the car very little, if at all, then you're on the right path. Obtain an original "6 quart" pan including related parts, a manual steering relay rod (3/4" type), and convert the car back to manual steering.

On the other hand, if you plan on driving the car on the street a considerable amount, think twice about the above. Power steering makes the car infinitely more enjoyable to drive on the street. With Corvette-type power steering, road feel is also very good. That's undoubtedly why once-upon-a-time someone had this car converted to power steering. It was an EXCELLENT choice then and, under similar circumstances, it's still an EXCELLENT choice today.

[Barry K.]

Re: L76 Option with Power Steering??!!

Lenny-----

As others have described, N-40 was not available with L-76 (or, L-84) for the 1963 model year. However, before you go removing the power steering keep this in mind: IF your interest with the car is 100% "correctness", NCRS/NCCB judging events, and you plan to drive the car very little, if at all, then you're on the right path. Obtain an original "6 quart" pan including related parts, a manual steering relay rod (3/4" type), and convert the car back to manual steering.

On the other hand, if you plan on driving the car on the street a considerable amount, think twice about the above. Power steering makes the car infinitely more enjoyable to drive on the street. With Corvette-type power steering, road feel is also very good. That's undoubtedly why once-upon-a-time someone had this car converted to power steering. It was an EXCELLENT choice then and, under similar circumstances, it's still an EXCELLENT choice today.

good advice by Joe.

I have a '65 L76 car, fully restored but I don't take it for judging. low speed turning, parking, etc is not fun and sure gives your upper body a workout, especially with radial tires. I've seriously considered replacing the 6qt oilpan and adding the factory steering set-up.

[Lenny K.]

Re: L76 Option with Power Steering??!!

First, thanks to all of you that replied and I appreciate the Noland reference I had not found. It verified what I suspected. I will now puzzle as to what I want to do as I certainly will not be driving the car a great deal but do enjoy the lesser effort with the PS. I will put the pan onto the LATER pile and finish the upper engine resto as I have redone the AFB and as mentioned, have the intake out for reskinning.

The individual that did a major resto in 2001 really did a good job, but maybe chose to trespass on the details in a few areas. I have not owned the car very long, but have certainly found a number of "oh no!!!" items that are easy to correct and make a big difference. I will be meeting with a local chapter individual to have him look over the car and help me cut a path but right now, it is pure enjoyment to get it back to more correctness where I can.