I drive the 63-66 A-bodies and much prefer manual steering. The box is MUCH lighter, the installation cleaner and the responsiveness is vastly superior. I run two stock 24:1 units and one 20:1 box - I have 13" steering wheels on all three vehicles. I can't see myself going to a 16:1 ratio (Oy Veh!) I don't understand why you would build a special power system just so it will mimic the great qualities of the rock solid manual one? Now I did have a 72 D100 with manual steering (not so good,) my 84 D150 has PS and I love it.

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. . . there was good sport at his making.

After a full rebuild of the steering and suspension on the manual system on my '62 Dart, It is is so easy to turn when rolling. I have the original alignment specs in the car which makes it reeeealy easy when going down the road. You have to get used to the 'little or no centering force' and take your fine steering feedback visually rather than by feel. You do have to be ready to shift into 'tractor steering mode' at low speed and in parking but I have been driving crew cab pickups for 30 years so that is not anything new.

I recall driving my dad's '69 Ford pickup truck and that manual steering was a bear at low speeds...but my sister's '65 dart was a breeze...

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https://tinyurl.com/yynpj4v2

Ha! I wish I would have read this before I pulled a PS gear and pump from a 64 Dart in a yard recently. I was thinking grass is greener, but now that my manual gear is sturdy and my front end parts and torsion bars are new, this car is a great handler.

Still, if I wanted to go power, at least I know I can. Got it for $90, so not like it broke the bank.

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63 Plymouth Valiant V200 Convertible.
225, HEI, Super Six with 38/38 Weber, Electric Fans, Scarebird discs, FirmFeel front swaybar.

But you also needed to grab the steering column.

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

I have the 16:1 in both my cudas. I'm a large American, so it suits me.

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/6 '67 Barracuda convertible, electronic ignition, 4-OD, street cam, SBP KH discs, 3.55 SG 7.25" 1" t-bars. Bilstein.
340 '67 fastback, Doug Nash 5-speed.
1988 Toyota pickup work truck

About the only thing I've ever hated about all the Darts and Valiant's I've had was the manual steering. I've yet to own one with power.

When I was a kid my Dad had a '63 Fury with P/S and it was to this day the best power steering I've ever drove, you could steer it with your pinky.

I'd love to upgrade the '63, but seeing how it's a manual column shifter I don't think I have an option.

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Manual 20:1 in the Valiant now. Still have a little sloppiness in the center to dial out. At this point I'm not sure if it's an adjustment or in need of TRE's.

Even with that I've no desire to go power.

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Thom

Cross-threaded is tighter than Lock-tite

regarding '63Valiant's comment, most folks don't like PS to be too easy. My '67 is PS and with the factory steering wheel it too would steer with my pinky, I like more feel than that. I have a 14" wheel and have tightened up the steering a bit so it has more road feel. Never be as good a road feel as manual, but in parking lots I like PS for sure.

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https://tinyurl.com/yynpj4v2

My Alfa Romeo buddy (an alfaholic) looked under my hood and said, "hey, you have power steering?!" In the foreign cars of the '60's and early '70's power steering was apparently pretty rare. Detroit was way ahead of them back then, PS, AC, turbocharging (early pontiacs), etc, etc.

brian

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https://tinyurl.com/yynpj4v2

AC in washington? LOL ya only need it for maybe a week or two....

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~Nic

I have been known to use my AC in December and January. That is one reason why I do not like climate control systems instead of straight AC- they only go down to 60 degrees.

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

A/C is great for sucking the condensation off the inside of a windshield. A/C in defrost mode with the temp set high is almost magic.....

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Thom

Cross-threaded is tighter than Lock-tite