It's my understanding that both my power steering pump and the gearbox need to be replaced. Is this a big job, or something I could do over a nice chunk of my weekend? I'm sick of paying labor on things I could probably do, so I figured I'd explore my options here. Also, where is the best place to get the parts I need? Thanks in advance for your replies.

By the way, it's on a '70 Dart Custom with a 225

I've never replaced either, but at least it's on the "good" side of the engine to work on. If it were me, I'd give it a shot. Just do your research first...

VM

This is definitely a weekend project. The only tricky part will be separating the pittman arm from the drag link, but there are tools for that. Make sure you have either a tie-rod separator or a gear puller (the preferred method).

If I were in your place I would take this oportunity to scout the local boneyard for a junked Mopar Cop car and grab that steering gearbox. It will bolt right it (you have to use your original pittman arm) but it will be a "firm feel" or "fast ratio" steering gearbox.

The pump and gearbox just bolt right on and are simple to swap and exchange.

H'mmm. What are the symptoms, and how do you conclude that both the pump and the box require replacement?

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

if it was mine, i'd switch it to manual steering. unless my girlfriend was going to drive it.

but i just like the idea of really simple engine compartments.

sb

He's working on a '70, which has a smaller output shaft (where the Pitman arm connects) than the cop car boxes used. The cop car boxes will bolt into a '73-'76 A-body, but the interchange for his '70 is '62-'72 A and B body. The cop box would probably work if a '73-'76 A-body pitman arm were used, but there may be other differences in the steering linkage geometry that I'm not aware of that would complicate this swap.
The ratio on all the Mopar RWD passenger car power steering boxes is the same, 16:1 (3-1/2 turns lock-to-lock). The difference between the cop "Firm Feel" boxes and the regular ones is the thickness of the reaction rings, not the ratio.

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

HEAR HEAR! Definitely my preferred fix, too.

See thread Here.

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

Whoops! Thats what I get for responding without double checking my five year old memories of research!

If you are going to swap over from power steering to manual, then you will have to find a steering column from a manual, and at least steal the center shaft from it. The shaft on a power steering unit is about 3 inches shorter due to the valve body that is incorporated into the power steering unit.

An adapter is available from Flaming River and probably others too.

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David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.