okay here we go:

In Mopar Action i have seen a company advertise a manual steering box (16:1 ratio) Brand new box with everything except pitman arm. I have a '66 slant with power steering, dont want the PS, want MS.

should I find a used in a junked car? get the new and if so, what will i need? will it effect header location or angle? any input would be awesome

thanks in advance

Caesar

It is possible that the new box has the same diameter shaft as the P/S pitman arm out of your car. If so, all you will need is the adapter from Firm Feel that will hook your P/S column to the manual box. It is kinda salty at $125 for the adapter, but finding a decent manual column for a '66 may not be so easy either.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

I did the used box, rebuilt by F/F with a 20:1 gear thing a few years ago. Not happy. Wish I could've waited for that new box. Live and learn the expensive way.

Why aren't you happy with the Firm Feel box?

There's like six or eight inches of play in the wheel.

The 24 to 1 box just has a lot of turns to get through. (5.9 turns lock to lock)
For a while, Mopar offered a "medium ratio" manual steering box at 20 to 1 ratio. (4.9 turns) I have found a few of these over the years and they work pretty good in a heaver car with wide tires.
And then there is the 16 to 1 "fast ratio" box, (3.9 turns) like the new F.R. unit. I like those also but only for road cars or lighter weight vehicles. Around town or in a parking lot, a 16 to 1 box take a good amount of effort to turn. If you want to get an idea on how much effort, just take the belt off your current power steering set-up and go for a drive, a PS box is 3.2 turns lock to lock, a little over 15 1/2 to 1 ratio without the power assist.
DD

Yea, I know, 5.9 turns. I can grab the collar just above the box and swing it.

24:1 is the normal ratio (possibly earlier boxes were 26:1). These are the 5.9 turn ones. 20:1 is the faster ratio (about 4.7 turns lock-lock), and 16:1 is fastest ratio (about 3.7 turns lock-lock).

If there is that much play in the box, it is not necessarily the ratio, but the backlash may be off or the bearings may be worn. A real 20:1 box should feel snappier than stock steering. It may be worth examining your front end for excessive play.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Okay, 5.9, 4.7 - whatever. I knew it was going to be more than the power box I took off. The whole front end is new - idler, pittman, 11/16 tie-rods - all Moog. I've cranked down on that adjuster on top of the box til the screwhead is down even with its nut. I'm saying I can turn the wheel like three inches either way before the car starts to turn. I'm guessing it's those bearings, see I mentioned this to FF before I sent it out there and was told it wouldn't be a problem. FF did suggest I send it back, but for what? Guest asked if the brandy new box was worth the bucks, I'd say yes. Considering, how many low-mileage man. boxes are you likely to find? I understand the bearing (bushing?) in the /6 box is (what is the Mopar word for " no longer available"? NS1?). Look, I didn't mean to cop this thread and I'll certainly deal with Firm Feel again but if Flaming River went through the trouble to build it, and if E-booger likes it, I'm goin' for the new one.

OK, it looks like FF should have replaced those bearings. I thought that would be a standard part of their overhaul procedure. Don't know about parts availability...

I am leaning towards buying one of those Flaming River boxes myself.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

To adjust a manual steering box you need to set the bearing pre-load before you adjust the sector / cross shaft mesh. (the top screw and nut)
Basically you need to back-off the top adjustment, then loosen the big stamped steel lock nut on the steering box where the steering shaft goes in. Next, you tighten the worm shaft adjuster, just inside of the lock nut.
Once you have the worm shaft bearing pre-load set, then adjust the mesh with the top screw.
The procedure is covered well in the service manual, you may want to give that a try.
DD

I'm thinking of trying another approach to get some feel back into my car's steering. MP still offers the 20:1 gear and ball set (P4007612) that can be bought for a little over $100. I'm looking for a 24:1 V8 box with good bearings that I can build into a 20:1. I'm also going to use the Moog problem solver a-arm bushings to crank some caster back into the front end settings. Everything else on my car is fresh so I'm betting that will make it steer at least as well as my old '65 V100 wagon did. Right now it's sloopy loose.

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"Former Owner" of '65 Barracuda, 225, Auto, MP 2bbl intake, MP cam, Dutra Duals. Presently Moparless.