I have been following Rick's thread about the upcoming Hyperpak exhaust manifolds and issues of clearance with Power Steering. I am just curious how many forum members actually have power steering on their cars? I don't, and never will. I use the original 16" steering wheel and 24:1 ratio steering gear.(may switch to 20:1 someday?)

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1964 Dart GT

Power steering all the way. I'm lazy and spoiled. I MUST have AC, power steering, and an automatic.

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

Manual 24:1 on a late heavy car is fine, 20:1 is a good choice on the Pre-72 cars... very reactive when you do all the suspension upgrades...Stock power steering is OK but tends to over react and is not fun when the belt or pump goes out...Next time I do a power steering car it will be with Firm Feel Stage 2 or better which may improve things.

Took power steering off my '66 when it wouldn't clear the turbo plumbing (it has a turbo where the battery used to be).

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"Mad Scientist" Matt Cramer
'66 Dart - turbocharged 225
My blog - Mad Scientist Matt's Lair

Power steering will remain on my 65 Dart wagon as the wife will not drive a manual steering car.

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65 Dart station wagon slant 6 - now under construction
47 Dodge Custom 4 Door sedan
87 D100 Short Bed slant 6

Retired USAF 1966-1986
Retired US Postal Service 2004-2014

Chrysler power steering was designed for little old ladies when parallel parking Imperials. Tell the wife, that manual steering will firm up the bust line. That should solve the problem.

Manual steering is OK...power is the way to go. You can take a 2 cent spring out of your PS unit and get better road feel (or have Firm Feel do it for much much more).

With my stock steering wheel (16"?) my power steering was indeed overkill, you could steer the car with your pinky...with a 14" wheel it's much better.

I like the fact that Chrysler was way ahead of the game back in the '60's. My alfa buddy has a '74 GTV; he looks under my hood and says, "you have power steering!?" I tell him Chrysler had PS, unibody, torsion bar suspension etc. etc. years and years before other companies. Simple design but well thought out.

Brian

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https://tinyurl.com/yynpj4v2

I'm with you Danarchy. That's one of the first things I did with my newer acquisition, convert to manual. The leaks are a PITA let alone the noodlesteering.

Duster has a 20:1 manual box with a small aftermarket wheel - maybe 13-14"? That one is a chore to drive in parking lots but so much fun otherwise. Demon's a stock manual stock wheel box.

I drove a friends big block 67 charger (plenty of more weight over the front wheels...) with firmfeel's stage 2 box. It still felt pretty noodle-like to me. Perhaps the stage 3 is better? He does use aluminum heads and intake, but still...

I recall someone using power steering with the 12:1 idler/pitman. Their opinion was that it felt like a modern car's steering. I have a feeling this is the only way to make power steering tolerable to us noodle haters.

Nope, at my age I can use the exercise.

Actually, I've never liked it. Nor power windows, power brakes, slush pumps, AC, radios, ad nauseum. I know I'm a bit of a freak for it, but I enjoy the visceral aspects of driving.

I do have a heater (just not the factory one) and a power rear window, both on the Toad. Guess those'll have to suffice as my concessions to luxury.

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Sex, drags, and rock & roll.
Dick, 225% crazy.
Hobby (cars, that is) Photos link

No, because race car. One less system to fail, more space under the hood, and (theoretically) more power.

As much as I'd like to upgrade the stock 24:1 box, I imagine 20:1 would be a bear to drive around the paddock with the 14" wheel I put in for ease of egress. Also, FirmFeel is really proud of their steering gears.

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Somehow I ended up owning three 1964 slant six A-bodies. I race one of them.
Escape Velocity Racing

A Firmfeel box, along with a front end and suspension rebuild, makes my Valiant feel like it has modern power steering.

I spent the first half of my life driving farm equipment and stripper cars and trucks with manual steering, and I make no apology for preferring power assist now. I dread the fact that the '56 I'm restoring will have manual steering.

I do not like the factory PS. I have driven a Dart or two with the "firm feel" box and was not really impressed with that either. OK, if you are not very strong or have a V8 maybe.

The Mopar manual steering is just so darn awesome, I doubt I will have another car with power... Maybe the electric assist conversion (Saturn unit) where you keep your stock manual system too? The precision and feedback of a well maintained factory manual system is better than nearly all newer cars I have driven, especially cars prior to about 2000. I like the 20:1 in a "non-fat" street car (3000 lbs or less), although the 16 and 24:1 have their places too (lighter/heavier car).

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Manual original ratio. Will upgrade to faster ratio at some point. Anyone selling one??

Neck and Neck! I thought it might be more lopsided?

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1964 Dart GT

LOL! She has no problem with the bust line!

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65 Dart station wagon slant 6 - now under construction
47 Dodge Custom 4 Door sedan
87 D100 Short Bed slant 6

Retired USAF 1966-1986
Retired US Postal Service 2004-2014