What would be the best road to take in changing my stock steering to a 605 gearbox or something similar? What components do I need and is there a "show and tell" install somewhere to be found? I'm great with a wrench, but I'd like to find a simple easy install that's not gonna break the bank and will last me for years to come. Thanks for all replies.

You need to go to Classic Chevy International (should be on the web). You could almost literally build a brand new '55 - '56 - '57 from their catalog and their club bulletin is second to none for those needing help maintianing a classic. They have everything you need to do the conversion.

I am also interested in improving the steering, but I have a '56 Olds 88 to play with. I have heard of the 605 but can't remember much about it. Will a non-Metric pump be needed? What models/ years do 605's come from?

Any power steering pump will work with any steering gear. Only incompatibility is going from big car pump to small car gear - pressure is a little too high but that is easily fixed. After market suppliers offer pressure regulators for the popular GM pump/MII gear combo. If you go with the 605, any pump will work. I feel your pain with the Olds; I built my Willys B4 they were popular and built my son a '36 Pontiac sedan. Try to find brackets and adaptors for those! They call me 'Bracket Man'! There is an upside though; I never bought a kit for anything. Just figured it out and made the parts myself. MUCH more satifying than assembling a kit car.

Hey Willys, you madd gasser guy you. Thats the second time you refered to your sons poncho. Got a picture?

As a matter of fact I do have some snapshots. I'll scan 'em and put them on the picture site. Car has some nicities like MII stock x-member front end, powder coated engine, frame, trans, etc. I polished the powerglide and put WAY too much money in it tricking it out. It could handle 1500hp and I put a 250hp 230ci Chevy 6 in front of it! The engine is fairly tricky too. Equal length dual headers, Home made cast aluminum 180deg, equal length runner intake manifold w/ 390 Holley, (divided the siameeze intake ports in the head), 270 cam w/Rhodes lifters, chrome anything that would stand still long enough. Car is on the road and waiting for him to find enough money to buy paint (lot of body work to do yet!) and upholstery.

Madd; Pontiac pictures posted. I put up 3 and wanted to do 2 more but can't figure out how to load more than 3.

I understand what you mean about make-yer-own. Back in the 70's I built a 40 Chev Business Coupe when anything Non-Ford was an act of sacreledge. I learned some valuable lessons, like: ask other people before I "invent" something. They might have a better idea (would have saved me 2 weeks on an alternator bracket on the Chevy).
I am using this Olds project to keep my teen daughters into the rodding thing. Lo buck fun only. I put over 100k miles on that Chev and had tons of fun. I hope they will get the point.