Manual Vs. Power Steering...

[71_Duster]

Both of my cars where automatics.

 

[Cranky]

I have manual steering in my 67' Belvedere with a 440 and am swapping to power.

The car is an absolote pig in any sort of parking situation cars shows etc. I also find the manual steering while having much better feel at highway then stock power steering is rather twitchy. In my Duster I had before I swapped to power steering from manual and can honestly say it saved me from an accident.

I had a woman cut across traffic from one side of the street to the other and with the manual steering I HIGHLY doubt I would have had the reaction time due to the fact I was just one hand driving in a straight line and the fact slow *** ratio of the manual steering I would have plowed into her broad side at 60kmh.

Manual for drag racing power if you drive it.

Check out the Borgeson steering box set up and the install kit that Bergman autocraft sells to make it a drop in part that's what I am going to buy.

PS. I live in Alberta but the Belvy doesn't come out in the snow for anyone to drive! It's been -25 to -30 celcius this whole week.

I would like to know what your alignment specs are, tire size and PSI that you run....

 

[Runner 68]

You will love the manual steering above 5 or 10 mph and at speed and probably hate it when trying to park it in tight parking lots or slow cruising with a lot of turns

My old 68 RR was a manual steering 4 speed car and I loved it, but at slow speeds and doing a lot of turning in city traffic or a parking lot with a 4 speed it was sometimes a little challenging try to turn with left hand and shift with the right at the same time at slow speeds and I was 16 to 26 years old when I owned it.

You probably won't be parallel parking it but that's a whole lot of fun.

So what are you trying to tell us TH, that you didn't have enough lead in your britches at that age to handle it? We used to call it ArmStrong Steering, not manual.

Mine is a manual steering 4 speed car and I hear you. The only time it's a hassle cranking the wheels is while sitting still. Other than that no big deal. The aftermarket smaller steering wheels don't help matters either. I'm keeping mine manual.

 

[tallhair]

So what are you trying to tell us TH, that you didn't have enough lead in your britches at that age to handle it?

Mine is a manual steering 4 speed car and I hear you. The only time it's a hassle cranking the wheels is while sitting still. Other than that no big deal. The aftermarket smaller steering wheels don't help matters either. I'm keeping mine manual.

I think what I've already said was pretty clear ... I daily drove two cars splitting time between them so I had plenty of lead in my britches I guess, whatever the hell that means. I loved the 68 but it was less than ideal if not moving or moving very slowly esp with the 4 speed. The cop car steering feeling is similar to the manual and not as big a pain to turn or maneuver at slow speeds. And Cranky is right tire size and I'm sure proper alignment definitely made a difference and an RB over the front end did too.

Lighthorseman has already said he's going to do it so we'll see what his opinion is sooner or later. I would love to see some pics of that 70 convert now though btw let's see some pics of yours while were at it Runner. What color combo do you a have?

 

[Runner 68]

I think what I've already said was pretty clear ... I daily drove two cars splitting time between them so I had plenty of lead in my britches I guess, whatever the hell that means. I loved the 68 but it was less than ideal if not moving or moving very slowly esp with the 4 speed. The cop car steering feeling is similar to the manual and not as big a pain to turn or maneuver at slow speeds. And Cranky is right tire size and I'm sure proper alignment definitely made a difference and an RB over the front end did too.

Lighthorseman has already said he's going to do it so we'll see what his opinion is sooner or later. I would love to see some pics of that 70 convert now though btw let's see some pics of yours while were at it Runner. What color combo do you a have?

Geese, who pissed in your Cheerios this morning TH?

It's pretty much in the same state and will go back to the original color combo as described here. Perhaps blue pearl in the WW1.
http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?48952-68-RM23-Roadrunner-The-rebuild-of-an-old-friend&p=909854360#post909854360

Trying to get the shop fully finalized before I put it back together. Need to hang a little more rock and install cabinets. Between kids and other firedrills tough to find time. Still need a fender.

 

[tallhair]

I left you a present over there

 

[71_Duster]

I would like to know what your alignment specs are, tire size and PSI that you run....

Alignment specs I don't remember but it was set by a reputable Mopar shop and the camber was set as per a manual steering car. -Less positive for manual easier to steer but less stable at higher speeds and vice versa- Tire pressure is 35 psi and tire size is 225/70/15 on the Belvedere and 205/75/14 that I had on the Duster. Again these are street cars that see highway time so running supper skinny little front tires wasn't something I wanted not that these are really anything much bigger then factory.

 

[ilm65]

Hey, I have a 64 Polara that had manual steering, changed it over to power. The car is heavy, big steering wheel and me being a senior citizen the power steering made the car much more pleasant to drive. My 2cents, keep the power steering. And I have to agree with Dennis H. use the Firm Feel. Bink

My 65 Satellite originally had PS--could park with one finger and had NO road-feel. I converted to manual and after one year (and a torn rotator cuff (I'm 68 years old)) found the Firm Feel and Steer & Gear websites and went back to a Stage 2 firm power steering. Can park at shows, etc. with one hand (not finger light) and have GREAT road feel. Hard to tell from this picture, but going with the Saginaw pump with hoses and fittings from Bouchillon Performance looks good in the engine bay. Your choice, but I really prefer the firm power assist.

 

[71_Duster]

My 65 Satellite originally had PS--could park with one finger and had NO road-feel. I converted to manual and after one year (and a torn rotator cuff (I'm 68 years old)) found the Firm Feel and Steer & Gear websites and went back to a Stage 2 firm power steering. Can park at shows, etc. with one hand (not finger light) and have GREAT road feel. Hard to tell from this picture, but going with the Saginaw pump with hoses and fittings from Bouchillon Performance looks good in the engine bay. Your choice, but I really prefer the firm power assist.

Need to see some more pics of your car. Under hood shots look great

 

[ilm65]

Greetings 71_Duster and thanks for the nice comment. Trying not to clutter up this post with pics of my Satellite, it's probably best if you click on the photo line in my i.d. box where it says: "View photos by ilm65". Again, not being rude, just trying not to taint this post with my pics.
All the best for a great holiday season!!!
Bob

 

[splicer]

My 64 Polara has a Borgeson rebuilt manual box, all new front end components, and is set at -.75 castor and + 3.0 camber with stock size radial tires...
Car is a street/strip setup and weighs 3550 with me in it. I'm 62...

Car originally had stock mushy power steering and I like the manual setup way better...Yes ...it's a bit of work at very low speeds but I need the exercise anyway...lol

Splicer

 

[Cranky]

Alignment specs I don't remember but it was set by a reputable Mopar shop and the camber was set as per a manual steering car. -Less positive for manual easier to steer but less stable at higher speeds and vice versa- Tire pressure is 35 psi and tire size is 225/70/15 on the Belvedere and 205/75/14 that I had on the Duster. Again these are street cars that see highway time so running supper skinny little front tires wasn't something I wanted not that these are really anything much bigger then factory.

Mine had 235-75-15 mounted on 15x7 cop wheels but had all the camber and caster I could dial in with the car sitting 2" lower than stock. It wasn't a heavy car weighing in at 2950 but it still had the AC on it. The car was solid at speed and handled pretty good for an old box with no sway bars and was still easy to steer at slow speeds but one handing it trying to park wasn't really in the cards but two handing it wasn't at all hard to do. A 'knob' would have made one handing doable.

 

[fatecaptured]

Had a Armstrong set up in my67 furd truck. To top it off the douche I bought the truck from put recaps in front. It wasn't too bad for me, but I was 23 at the time. I have driven a buddies 65 barracuda 273?/ manual. Not sure on small blocks.

My coronet is a power steering stock unit. I can relate to the mush "no road" feel. My plans are to run a firm feel or that new unit that everyone is doing articles on.

 

[fuely62]

Hoping someone could throw out some help - I'm doing an engine / tranny swap in my '70 Satellite convertible, going from a 383 auto to a 440 4 speed. I had been thinking about ditching the power steering in favour of manual steering, and since I have the engine bay all open, I guess now would be the best time to do it.

Here's my question - Has anyone out there done this, and are they happier with manual steering? Anyone have any pros and cons they could share?

Thanks in advance...

- Steve -

Now this becomes a matter of personal taste. Some say keep it some say ditch it. Now personally I changed my manual to P/S. and went with the Firm feel. For me it was a no brainer. So I suggest you go with your gut, Good Luck!

 

[RS23VOA]

I didn't read through all the replies here, but there's an article in Mopar Action a few years ago to reduce the "assist" of the power steering pump.

 

[Lighthorseman]

" I would love to see some pics of that 70 convert now though "...

Here's the latest shot I have of the car - taken just before winter hibernation and the yanking of the 383.

...And yes, I DO plan to go with a manual steering box. I'm going to keep the power steering setup just in case, but I suspect I'll be happier with manual. I actually preferred it on the other car, even though it was a dead power steering unit. Parallel parking and tight turns weren't too much of a big deal, I found. No way in hell would I go with manual brakes, though.