Factory Power Steering Option-1969 CJ5

What do you know-it seems like one of the popular topics on here is converting the Ross steering to Power Steering. But lo and behold there was a power steering option for $81.00 available on the CJ5/6. Does anyone have more information on what it was? Has anyone seen it?

I sure don't remember that slick talking salesman that I delt with offering it or even mentioning it way back then when I bought my 69 CJ5/V6. WestCoastPat

 

Ross = no power steering . that is why you see so much about steering swaps

 

I'm curious as well. '72 and newer was an option as Saginaw manual steering was already standard so adding power was a simple add-on option.

 

I found the name of a book on another site and had my local library borrow it for me. The name of the book is "Standard Catalog of American Light-Duty Trucks and the Author is John Gunnell. There appears to be 3 different volumes of this book, with different authors. It is a semi expensive book-in fact my library was only able to find one copy to borrow for me-and I could not take it out of the building. Some kind of weird rule from the library that loaned it to my library. It is a very comprehensive listing of facts and figures about the subject. For instance in the JEEP section it has pictures and statistics on every thing made by ALL of the builders of JEEPs. Included in the charts are the list price of the base model vehicles as well as tech specs like wheel base-weight-tracking-options-number of units sold as well as a breakdown of every sub model. Very complete from what I could tell. WestCoastPat

 

So I wonder what it was that was offered as an option?

 

Glenn-Sorry, I am still new on here and instead of just replying to your question I posted a new message. As soon as it is approved by a moderator it should be visible.

 

Or maybe Commando...didn't they get PS prior to '72?

 

I could see a retrofit being possible, maybe even a one-off dealer option, but I'm extremely skeptical about a factory offering before 1972 model year in CJ's.
So far I've seen nothing to back this claim up. (Not trying to be rude but it's common knowledge no factory power steering prior to '72 in CJ's ). I'd love to be proven wrong though.

 

In 1971 model year, power steering was not an option on a Universal, but was an option on the Jeepster Commando.

 

Is this the same book?

 

Yes it is. I found pictures but am too old to figure out how to post them on here. Thanks for you help. WCP

 

I'd guess these are errors that propagate from the Hollander's Interchange books. Somehow the data gets mixed up and continues to be cited ... because it's the Hollander's!

Hollander's Interchange is a series of counter books (now online, I presume) that tells which parts will work on what application. Somehow I imagine online parts sources like RockAuto and Autozone have some programmer who doesn't know a thing about cars transcribing. On second thought, they likely get the application information from the parts suppliers, who got it from the Hollander's. Anyway, I suspect the problem is this information is a copy of a copy of a copy ad infinitum. Errors then propagate without correction.

Same thing happens with the Hayne's and Chilton's repair manuals. They consult the Hollander's for application data, and thus have a lot of errors. Plus they have transcription errors from the manuals they copied, whether that be factory, Motor's or whatever.

Always go to the factory manual and factory parts book, if you can. The CJ factory service and parts book for 1971 will show nothing for power steering, because there was no power steering offered for the CJ before 1972.

The book editors would have discovered that if they were more diligent.

 

Hi Pat - In my experience, libraries will hold close some books not because of their rarity or value, but because the audience they appeal to makes them likely to disappear. From the Amazon info above, used for $19.78 is not particularly expensive. For example, Ron Session's TH400 book is much more expensive - http://www.amazon.com/Modify-Hydra-...=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1450471390&sr=1-3 as is Granville King's Jeep Bible http://www.amazon.com/Jeep-Bible-Gr...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1450471448&sr=1-1 - These are both rare and full of good info, otherwise unobtainable.

 

Just FWIW there are two Jeep Bibles( Granville King) on eBay for around $40. If anyone is interested.
I just bought myself one for Christmas. Lol

 

get a brand new one here https://www.thejeepbible.com/

 

Back to the "factory power steering" question, I have my doubts, but I used to work on a '70 or '71 V6 CJ5 back in the late 1970's that the original owner claimed to have power steering from the dealer where he bought it new.
The steering was a power assisted tie rod type, as found on late '60s Ford Mustangs or earlier Chevy lls. The assist cylinder was on the pitman arm on the Ross box, replacing the drag link.
The exhaust system was altered at the left manifold which is why I don't think it was factory. As I remember, the steering worked really well though.
-Donny