Can a simple mechanic (me) change from a manual steering to power steering without to much trouble? This would be on a 62 Valiant. I'm getting a parts car with PS and mine doesn't have that.
Also, does it improve steering enough or is the manual steering more desirable? Your thoughts appreciated!

Thanks,
Mike

_________________
60 Red V200 Valiant & 62 Green V200 Valiant

Power steering does not improve the steering. All it does is make the steering wheel easier to turn. Unless you buy an expensive custom-built steering gearbox, it will do so at the expense of road feel. It can get very tiring to keep the steering wheel centred on long trips because there's almost no feedback through the wheel. Drive such a vehicle for hours at a time and your shoulders will hurt a lot. Also, P/S adds a great deal of weight to the front of the car, and takes power to run the pump, and creates leak points, and adds extra clutter to the engine bay, and makes changing the fan belt a damnuisance.

Unless you are elderly or infirm, these lightweight early A-bodies really don't need P/S.

If you are trying to quicken the steering ratio so it takes fewer turns of the steering wheel to get from full left to full right, there are better ways of doing it. I put a 20:1 ratio manual steering box in my '62 and the steering puts a big smile on my face every time I take the car out.

_________________
一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.