I have a 71 Dodge Dart with stock power steering, 14" tires, 225, 904, 8 3/4 3.23 rear end, 5-leaf rear springs, and front Firm Feel swaybar.

On the freeway, my car sucks at staying straight. It has the 5 1/2 turn lock-to-lock (i think) power steering. Every-so-often the car will 'drift' around the lane, even when I don't move the steering wheel. My friend has a 66 Barracuda with manual steering, and it rocks, and my dad used to have a 64 Buick Skylark with manual steering and I loved it too.

If I recall a long time ago, Dan commented on how power steering was poor response, especially on the freeway trying to stay straight.

Has anyone had any luck with these Firm Feel manual steering boxes? If so, were they fairly compatible? Also, i'm not sure what ratio to choose... My car does a lot of freeway AND city miles.. is the 20:1 ratio enough? Or is that super hard to turn?

Dick from FirmFeel just called me today and said my 24:1 box is ready to go (I chose not to get a 20:1 with a 3500lb '76 car...a lighter 67-72 would be great with the 20:1 I think)...

They are highly recommended by quite a few enthusiasts in this area, but... you will need something else to change out if going from power steering to manual steering... (the power steering shaft is shorter)

1) Pay for their 'Power to Manual' steering coupler (a 3" splined adaptor to take up the length the power steering box)
2) Go to a junk yard and try to find a manual steering equipped A-Body and get the steering column (either swap it in, or disassemble your column and it and swap the steering shafts...)

good luck,

-D.Idiot

p.s. My low miler Duster had power steering and when 'newer' it was fine for driving, but didn't feel the road so well, and over corrected on some turns... I like manual on my A-body, thanks.
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Just tossing this out. If the steering is 51/2 turns that is a 24:1 manual box. Power steering boxes are 3 1/2 turns lock to lock. The wandering you describe could be due to incorrect caster in the alignment, loose wheel bearings, and/or worn balls joints, bushings, etc.

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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.

Also, a leaky O-ring in the control assembly atop your power steering box can cause symptoms like that.

My car (73 Swinger) used to wander a lot. Firm Feel rebuilt my power steering box, and I've been extremely happy with it.

I was going to change to a manual, but it would have cost about $200 more than just getting my power steering box rebuilt (the manual box is about $100 more than the power if going for 20:1, plus an extension is $100+). The extra $$$ could get you a nice sway bar and/or shocks. The front sway bar is very nice also.

I'm not saying you shouldn't go to manual, as most on this site seem to prefer it, but just posting on my good experience with the Firm Feel power steering and presenting another option.

EDIT: I see you have a sway bar already. BTW, the firm feel power steering boxes have much more road feel and almost no slop compared to the stock power steering.

The standard ratio on power steering boxes is 16:1 ( 3 1/2 turns, lock to lock.)

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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.

What are they charging to rebuild a PS box?

$300

http://www.firmfeel.com/

Surely you could find a good used manual steering box for nominal cost and save the difference in the $200.00 core charge.

Summmit racing sells the 20:1 gearset but if I recall correctly it's about $230.00.

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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.

You can try Steer and Gear. I've heard that they do good work, but I can't vouch for them, as I used Firm Feel.

http://www.steerandgear.com/

i had uber probems with mein dart but i scored a firm feel 2.01, +100.00 a pice shocks and kingstar heavy truck tires and rear dodge truck brakes.
and the probems you posted went away, i can easly peg my lame arse stock spedo w/o the problems i had. also a damn good alignmet and greese every part of that front end, lube her up good! and clean up the dirt and old greese really take a look and your front end. i did this and i went to seattle before @ 65mph with my car shaking apart, after i was done i went home @ a true 110mph avg. i had my girl way plus that!

now i break spedo cables.

i drove 200 miles with the problem u have ... not cool quite scarey!, also check your wheel berings, if they are loose and not solid there is a huge problem. take off your tire and pull on the drum or rotor.if if it has play fix it! if not get you tires balanced. but be safe!

cheers!

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"Marilyn" 64 Dart GT & "Stella" 64 Valiant V100 Sedan - 63 Norton Project