Intro and Terminology Question 1960 Freightliner COE (1 Viewer)

[RubberDucky]

Hello all,

I have a 1960 White Freightliner COE sleeper I have been slowly working on for years. It runs pretty good but it was a farm rig from a big horse ranch in Montana I think and so things like garden hose air lines and tape that holds electrical connections together are all standard equipment.

I am familiar with custom fab, welding, most mechanical aspects of regular trucks, I have a 87 4runner w/ 7mge, and a 85 regular cab p/u 22r and have been wrenching for the better part of 25 years.

My question is about the steering, on these trucks there is no power steering and no brakes on the front wheels, they are just there as casual suggestions on the direction you wish to go. However I am not as strong of a Man as we used to have in the 60/70's and my delicate sensibilities desire power steering. From building truggies I have put on full hydro and hydro assist where you tap the steering box, but this truck does not have anything to start with and most hot rods have after market kits that have been designed for them and this is kinda... different than a small hot rod.

I swear there is a power steering add on for trucks without power steering and where you do not remove the steering box, does anyone have any suggestion on keywords to search or maybe for bonus points a vendor that may have something like this.

 

[Ditcherman]

Hello all,

I have a 1960 White Freightliner COE sleeper I have been slowly working on for years. It runs pretty good but it was a farm rig from a big horse ranch in Montana I think and so things like garden hose air lines and tape that holds electrical connections together are all standard equipment.

I am familiar with custom fab, welding, most mechanical aspects of regular trucks, I have a 87 4runner w/ 7mge, and a 85 regular cab p/u 22r and have been wrenching for the better part of 25 years.

My question is about the steering, on these trucks there is no power steering and no brakes on the front wheels, they are just there as casual suggestions on the direction you wish to go. However I am not as strong of a Man as we used to have in the 60/70's and my delicate sensibilities desire power steering. From building truggies I have put on full hydro and hydro assist where you tap the steering box, but this truck does not have anything to start with and most hot rods have after market kits that have been designed for them and this is kinda... different than a small hot rod.

I swear there is a power steering add on for trucks without power steering and where you do not remove the steering box, does anyone have any suggestion on keywords to search or maybe for bonus points a vendor that may have something like this.

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I found this discussion- nothing real definitive but a suggestion for air assist:

Adding power steering

I just bought a Freightliner cabover 79. Anybody have idea how to add it or is there a kit? Any help would be appreciated.

www.thetruckersreport.com

I couldn’t imagine no power steering in a big truck, same with brakes. Apparently front brakes weren’t mandatory federally until 1980, who knew?!? Sounds crazy to me but I guess they weren’t going 90 with 100k back then.

I have a Mack Granite with two power steering boxes one on each side and you can steer it with one finger. Not much feedback compared to all the other trucks I’ve had but it’s nice.
The article I linked mentioned better to have air assist that mostly works than to convert to power steering that doesn’t work and leaves you stuck.

Are you working it or showing it? My first truck was a spring ride freightliner with no cab suspension, I was just glad I skipped the whole COE era, but yes, they were real men then.

 

[RubberDucky]

It is going to be our mascot for the local car show, I am going to put some big banners on the back and park it around town for promotion every year. We are calling her Rubber Ducky and I am working on some fun swag to give to kids when we take her out.

That is good advice to not get left stuck, even though I am only going to drive it once in a while it is high blood pressure trying to make a turn with cars all around and hoping I don't screw up and get stuck and brick out a whole intersection. It is already hard enough with the transmission, reverse if basically in the seat, so you have to lean over push the stick all the way in to the side of the seat and kinda pull the seat to the side to get it in. That must be nice with 2 boxes, even my f350 psd feels like the steering box is undersized for it with stock tires. It would be cool to see how they built that system.

Someone suggested PSE (Power Steering Equipment) i spoke with them and they only have full hydro and assists that piggyback on your existing power steering setup. We used to have a great Freightliner Dealer (McCoy Freightliner) but apparently they changed hands and are not as helpful anymore. When wrenching on my Toyotas having a parts guy who will let you pull several parts just to look at is invaluable, I wish I could see if a later year has the same box but with power steering.

I think I am going to drive down to the Freightliner Manufacturing plant this summer with it and see if any of those guys have any ideas.

 

[Ditcherman]

It is going to be our mascot for the local car show, I am going to put some big banners on the back and park it around town for promotion every year. We are calling her Rubber Ducky and I am working on some fun swag to give to kids when we take her out.

That is good advice to not get left stuck, even though I am only going to drive it once in a while it is high blood pressure trying to make a turn with cars all around and hoping I don't screw up and get stuck and brick out a whole intersection. It is already hard enough with the transmission, reverse if basically in the seat, so you have to lean over push the stick all the way in to the side of the seat and kinda pull the seat to the side to get it in. That must be nice with 2 boxes, even my f350 psd feels like the steering box is undersized for it with stock tires. It would be cool to see how they built that system.

Someone suggested PSE (Power Steering Equipment) i spoke with them and they only have full hydro and assists that piggyback on your existing power steering setup. We used to have a great Freightliner Dealer (McCoy Freightliner) but apparently they changed hands and are not as helpful anymore. When wrenching on my Toyotas having a parts guy who will let you pull several parts just to look at is invaluable, I wish I could see if a later year has the same box but with power steering.

I think I am going to drive down to the Freightliner Manufacturing plant this summer with it and see if any of those guys have any ideas.

Find some old timers.
I only looked into it because I have big trucks too, and old stuff is the best stuff, but not that old!

 

[RubberDucky]

Find some old timers.
I only looked into it because I have big trucks too, and old stuff is the best stuff, but not that old!

I stated to do the math, figured if i found the oldest guy working at a truck repair place he may have worked on these in the past. But assuming 1970's when these trucks were last being regularly repaired and if that old guy was 19 when he started 55 years ago + 19 means this old timer must be 74+ in age. lets hope the lead paint has not caused too much memory loss.

 

[White Stripe]

You might be able to use a nqr Isuzu front axle and steering. That thing has a really short nose though so it will be difficult.

 

[too tall]

I built a 1985 peterbilt 362 a number of years ago. It had a power steering box and front brakes. Given that it was a Cabover as well, Maybe check into a later model cabover at a commercial truck wrecker that came with power steering and front brakes? Generally most cabovers have close to the same configuration as far as these systems go in these types of rigs. Should be fairly easy to retrofit onto your rig.