Slant Six Forum :: steering swap

what do you mean "properly set-up" ?

my wife has a hard time turning the wheel when stopped.

How hard is it to take out the steering shaft?

tell me more about this 20:1 box? what it came on? how do I know one from the other?

You, uh, sure you want to make this swap? Properly set up A-bodies are a delight to drive with manual steering. Power steering adds weight, leaks, belt hassles, and unless you buy an expensive specially-built steering gearbox, takes away all the road feel.

Quote:

Dan, every time you bring this up I wish you'd mention the fact that you're a very "healthy" gentleman.

it's borderline insulting to those of us who HAVE driven manual steering a-bodies and wouldn't even consider driving one every day.

Must you always try and talk everyone out of power steering?

Quote:

How hard is it to take out the steering shaft?

Remove steering wheel from steering column; remove and set aside horn contact assembly

Remove clamp bolt or drive out roll pin holding steering shaft coupler to input shaft of steering gearbox, pry coupler rearward off input shaft

Remove steering column from car

Release snap ring at the top of steering column, shaft will slide downward out of column

Install shorter power-steer shaft from bottom of column, install snap ring

Install steering column in car

Install horn contact ring and steering wheel

So I have gathered from this post, that I can use the shaft from within the particularly unattractive manual steering column that I took from a donor car, and insert it into my power steering column as a means of converting to manual steering?(along with the gearbox, of course)

Author:	slnt6t4 [ Sat Jun 30, 2007 3:17 pm ]
Post subject:	steering swap
I have a 64 valiant that I would like to convert from manual to power steering. I know I'll need the brackets and pump from a slant motor but can I get the sector from any A-body? Do I have to change the steering column? Thanks

Author:	SlantSixDan [ Sat Jun 30, 2007 4:26 pm ]
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Steering gearbox interchange is '62-'72 A- and B-body. used ones that aren't worn out are hard to find these days; very well refurbished ones can be had from e.g. Firm Feel or Steer & Gear. Yes, you'll need to change at least the steering shaft, or the whole steering column assembly (your preference, no advantage either way), because the P/S shaft is several inches shorter than the nonpower shaft. You, uh, sure you want to make this swap? Properly set up A-bodies are a delight to drive with manual steering. Power steering adds weight, leaks, belt hassles, and unless you buy an expensive specially-built steering gearbox, takes away all the road feel.

Author:	slnt6t4 [ Sat Jun 30, 2007 5:05 pm ]
Post subject:
what do you mean "properly set-up" ? I don't disagree that it steers easy now, but my wife has a hard time turning the wheel when stopped. How hard is it to take out the steering shaft?

Author:	SlantSixDan [ Sat Jun 30, 2007 6:00 pm ]
Post subject:
Quote: what do you mean "properly set-up" ? Thoughtfully-picked steering box ratio, in good condition, properly lubed, both adjustments set correctly. My preference is the 20:1 manual steering box, which cuts steering wheel turns lock-to-lock from 5¾ to 4&#189 without materially increasing the steering wheel effort. The main nuisance with most nonpower steering cars is that it takes so many turns of the wheel to maneuver the car at low speeds (e.g. parking). The 20:1 box solves that. Quote: my wife has a hard time turning the wheel when stopped. We all do! When driving a car without power steering, you simply don't try to turn the wheel with the car stopped -- only when it's rolling. This isn't as awkward as it sounds; it takes only extremely low rolling speed before the steering wheel can be turned with ease. This is simply a matter of un-learning a bad habit that is easily picked up when driving power-steering cars (turning the wheel when stopped is very hard on the tires) . You may save yourself a great deal of time, effort and money if you try education and practise before going on to parts swapping. Quote: How hard is it to take out the steering shaft? Remove steering wheel from steering column; remove and set aside horn contact assembly Remove clamp bolt or drive out roll pin holding steering shaft coupler to input shaft of steering gearbox, pry coupler rearward off input shaft Remove steering column from car Release snap ring at the top of steering column, shaft will slide downward out of column Install shorter power-steer shaft from bottom of column, install snap ring Install steering column in car Install horn contact ring and steering wheel

Author:	Kidd [ Sat Jun 30, 2007 8:43 pm ]
Post subject:
If you are wanting all the parts, I will be swaping over to manual, and will have all the power stuff left over. Maybe you might want to do a swap? shoot me an email. Andrew/Kidd

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Author:	slnt6t4 [ Sat Jun 30, 2007 9:42 pm ]
Post subject:
tell me more about this 20:1 box? what it came on? how do I know one from the other?

Author:	Dusty Desks [ Sun Jul 01, 2007 12:28 am ]
Post subject:
It is possible to cut the manual steering shaft shorter and drill a hole in the end for the pin, to work in a power steering conversion, without having to find a power steering shaft, if you know exactly how much to shorten it. Anybody have dimensions for this? But then, you can't go back to manual steering without getting a new manual steering shaft.

Author:	dakight [ Sun Jul 01, 2007 6:15 am ]
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Actually, Flaming River sells an extension shaft to convert from power to manual steering.

Author:	SlantSixDan [ Sun Jul 01, 2007 6:44 am ]
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Quote: tell me more about this 20:1 box? what it came on? how do I know one from the other? The 20:1 box won't be found in wrecking yards. You can get a completely rebuilt one from Firm Feel (see here) .

Author:	vynn3 [ Sun Jul 01, 2007 10:02 am ]
Post subject:
Quote: You, uh, sure you want to make this swap? Properly set up A-bodies are a delight to drive with manual steering. Power steering adds weight, leaks, belt hassles, and unless you buy an expensive specially-built steering gearbox, takes away all the road feel. Dan, every time you bring this up I wish you'd mention the fact that you're a very "healthy" gentleman. I know there are lots of other guys who also prefer the road feel of manual steering and don't consider the effort that great, but it's borderline insulting to those of us who HAVE driven manual steering a-bodies and wouldn't even consider driving one every day. And let me assure you that my wife (and countless other women who have driven modern cars) would NEVER choose to drive a manual steering (or brake) car if there was another option, much less consider one a "delight to drive". I admit that the Mopar power steering is overboosted. I'll take overboosted to non-boosted any day. I feel that just because I choose to drive an old car doesn't mean it should be "work". This goes for manual brakes, too. One of the examples I cite is my brother's '67 disk brake/manual steering Barracuda. It's got a FABULOUS built-up 360 with TONS of power, but (economy aside) I'd take my rusty PS/PB Swinger over his to drive to work everyday without a second thought, because doing anything besides accelerating in his car is WORK. Must you always try and talk everyone out of power steering? Some of us "puny humans" wouldn't have it any other way.

Author:	SlantSixDan [ Sun Jul 01, 2007 11:26 am ]
Post subject:
Quote: Quote: You, uh, sure you want to make this swap? Properly set up A-bodies are a delight to drive with manual steering. Power steering adds weight, leaks, belt hassles, and unless you buy an expensive specially-built steering gearbox, takes away all the road feel. Dan, every time you bring this up I wish you'd mention the fact that you're a very "healthy" gentleman. Naw, I'm not. Believe me, I'm puny. I have no discernible arm or shoulder muscles and I'm physically lazy. Quote: it's borderline insulting to those of us who HAVE driven manual steering a-bodies and wouldn't even consider driving one every day. I would respectfully submit if you find it so difficult that you wouldn't even consider driving one, and the car hasn't got a monster heavy engine or extra-huge wide tires, there is probably something the matter with the car. Too much positive caster, friction in the steering system somewhere, rough bearings in the box...or, as I mentioned before, improper driving technique. Quote: Must you always try and talk everyone out of power steering? Just offering my opinion, $0.00 worth, same as you're doing. Anyone's free to do with it what he will (or won't). I told the OP to try reworking how he and his wife try to drive the car. They may go "Oh!" and find the problem obviated, or they may not.

Author:	sethmcneil [ Sun Jul 01, 2007 2:40 pm ]
Post subject:
Quote: Quote: How hard is it to take out the steering shaft? Remove steering wheel from steering column; remove and set aside horn contact assembly Remove clamp bolt or drive out roll pin holding steering shaft coupler to input shaft of steering gearbox, pry coupler rearward off input shaft Remove steering column from car Release snap ring at the top of steering column, shaft will slide downward out of column Install shorter power-steer shaft from bottom of column, install snap ring Install steering column in car Install horn contact ring and steering wheel So I have gathered from this post, that I can use the shaft from within the particularly unattractive manual steering column that I took from a donor car, and insert it into my power steering column as a means of converting to manual steering?(along with the gearbox, of course)

Author:	SlantSixDan [ Sun Jul 01, 2007 3:16 pm ]
Post subject:
Quote: So I have gathered from this post, that I can use the shaft from within the particularly unattractive manual steering column that I took from a donor car, and insert it into my power steering column as a means of converting to manual steering?(along with the gearbox, of course) Yep, as long as the two columns are of compatible year. What year is your car, and what year is the ugly donor-car column?

Author:	sethmcneil [ Sun Jul 01, 2007 5:34 pm ]
Post subject:
'73 and '74 respectavly(sp?) So I DO NOT need to change out any of the other pieces like pitman or idler arms?

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Author:	SlantSixDan [ Sun Jul 01, 2007 5:50 pm ]
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'73 and '74, yep, no problem there. No pitman arm or other swap needed.