power steering to manual steering?

[mike smock]

so my 1969 roadrunner steering box is leaking. going with firm feel this winter. my question is has anybody changed to manual steering from power steering? if so what ratio did you get from firm feel? do you miss the power steering? any input will be good.

 

[Michael_]

I missed the power steering on our 71 cutlass when it broke while there was a festival with lots of drunk people on the street.

Why would you want to "downgrade" to manual steering?
To improve steering/handling? Otherwise or if you dont need that i would not do it.

You wont miss PS all that much when cruising around but it will be pretty hard to steer when moving slow.

 

[dadsbee]

Downgrade.. give your head a shake..

 

[mike smock]

I missed the power steering on our 71 cutlass when it broke while there was a festival with lots of drunk people on the street.

Why would you want to "downgrade" to manual steering?
To improve steering/handling? Otherwise or if you dont need that i would not do it.

You wont miss PS all that much when crusing around but it will be pretty hard to steer when moving slow.

yea i hear you guys shaking your heads......i had a roadrunner before with manual steering and yes moving slow kinda sucks. but my duster 340 is manual and isnt that bad. so this being said what version of firm fill 1-2 or 3?

 

[gkent]

All you need to do is pick up a ps box and associated gear and then pick up a manual box ... suddenly things become clear !!

 

[gooser]

i think they have a 24to1 & a 16to1 i am thinking about doing the same just to take off another 15 or so pounds off the front end

 

[#41]

I converted one of my Charger's to manual steering starting with 24:1 .... it took too long to crank the wheel. 16:1 is hard to manooover in a heavy car at low speed. I ended up using a 20:1 chuck and I'm very happy with it. I don't know if they are still available?

By the time you also get rid of the PS pump, brackets, and hoses, the real weight savings is something closer to 50 lbs!

 

[hunt2elk]

I prefer manual steering on my cars over power also. I run 24:1 in my B-bodies, and 16:1 in my Duster. I agree with the above post that a 20:1 would be ideal. None were available when I was putting my cars together, but maybe that has changed now?

 

[70rcode]

You either want a Cadillac load of girly old man bargemobile nuisance in the way pump's & belts or the Original RR's young family dude's affordable relatively lite factory "Beep-beep" hotrod ! Badged hood buldge go, good 'nough stop, radio & a tight squeeze hugging .......what more ya need......Beep-beep !! .....tom.

 

[Nate S]

Going the other way myself. If I want super fast I’ll buy a new car. Tired of the parking lot nonsense and turning the wheel 180 degrees on a curvy road. I never minded the “arms injected with Novocain” power steering. Hoping I don’t regret it but suspecting that I won’t.

 

[mike smock]

so i read somewhere the steering colum shaft is different from power to manual steering anybody know?

 

[hunt2elk]

Yep, different lengths. Manual shafts are longer.

 

[Cranky]

I modified an E body shaft to fit a manual box and it worked well. I just cut a shaft at a wrecking yard (yeah, years ago) from a manual car above the weld. Was surprised they were also splined once the weld was ground off. If you have a manual shaft and don't want to totally dissemble your power steering shaft and have to resources to weld it back together, this might be an option. Don't know why I saved it but this piece is the old PS end.....the manual looks the same but is just longer.

 

[hunt2elk]

Should mention also that the exterior tubes are different lengths between the 2 as well. That part will work, but a guy can easily tell if you didn't swap it out when making the conversion. If that matters to you...

 

[dodgedifferent2]

I am in the process of converting my dart from a leaking power steering box to a 16:1 manual box but working on adapting an electric power steering from a nissan cube. This way I can stuff a big block and also get the BIG headers for a 512 build.

 

[Cranky]

I am in the process of converting my dart from a leaking power steering box to a 16:1 manual box but working on adapting an electric power steering from a nissan cube. This way I can stuff a big block and also get the BIG headers for a 512 build.

What year Dart?

 

[dodgedifferent2]

What year Dart?

67

 

[Commando66]

I plan on doing the power to manual steering on my 67 Belvedere this winter. I’ve got a long-owned new Firm Feel 20:1. I think it’s the Goldie Locks on steering ratios...just right!

 

[SeabeckRedneck]

#41- I recognize that car! I was just looking up switching my car to manual steering. Did you go with Firm Feel or a stock box?

 

[#41]

#41- I recognize that car! I was just looking up switching my car to manual steering. Did you go with Firm Feel or a stock box?

Firm Feel 20:1 sector kit self-installed on a good used box. First and only steering box rebuild I have done.