Searching the archieves for information on doing a quick steering conversion only netted some older threads. Can this be done using early years Mustang parts. There seems to be some conflicting ideas on whether or not the steering parts from '69-'70 or '71-'73 Mustangs is the same as the Maverick. I see on Ebay that there are Mustang idlers with provisions for standard as well as quick steering. If I am able to use this idler would I need a corresponding quick pitman arm?
I am not looking for power steering. I have power steering and I am going to swap in manual steering when I do my six to 302 engine exchange. I have many years of playing with Chevrolet Corvairs. There steering set up is different from the Maverick, where one can change out the steering arms at the steering knuckle, quite easily done. I know that the Ford steering is a little different. Searching Ebay I have found Mustang "quick" or should I say faster steering idler arms. This piece would decrease the amount of steering wheel movement needed to go from right lock to left lock, hence quickening the steering. I used the forum search function above and every post that had either the word steering or quick in it was displayed. I don't have a particular thread to cite, just accumulated information. The big question is whether or not Mustang parts will work for this application and which years? Thanks for responding.
I understand now - sounds like the quick arms that you are looking for will be shorter so the sweep from left to right will not take as many turns - I learn something new here every day
Well it's no doubt interesting but since the Pittman & idler arms locate the steering linkage, using shorter arms would create a angle in the tie rods that couldn't be good... I'd think would need a matching spindle that straightened that angle... AFAIK Mustang idlers are different but still may be close enough to be used(have a offset mount vs straight on Mav)... Mustang & Torino spindles are basically same from '68-'71(Torino) and up to '73 for Stang... Bearing size changed from '69 to '70, as well as pin size for the tie rods increased from 3/4" to 13/16"... The early Mav used the '69 parts...
If you want to make it quicker, put a steering speeder in the system. http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Howe-...g-Quickener-151-3-4-Inch-36-Spline,24447.html Just have to figure out how to get it between the steering wheel and the steering box input shaft some place. Word of warning, quicker steering is harder steering. When we speed up steering rates on circle track cars, we also crank up power steering pump pressures to match. Manual quick steering is hard to turn. SPark
For a Mustang, the quicker steering option was called manual steering with competition handling. Basically it was the 16:1 power steering box with the manual steering Pitman arm installed. The manual steering box was 19.9:1.
yep.. that's it. Also called the Shelby Arm by some. As far as I can remember back.. it seems that some guys were able to use the setups on power sterring cars too but there was concern for breakage with the inherent geometry issues created when mish-mashing parts that were never designed to be used together. Also, IIRC the drag link needs to be swapped out to better match the quicker ratio idler. Google is your friend. PS. not to be the debbie downer here.. but I doubt that it(the wider drag link) will fit this narrower track width. Many more would already be doing it if it did and there would be some threads.
Reading all this sounds like craziness. If you have power steering already you are part way there. From a manual steering car you need the pitman arm, and center link. The power steering box is the 16:1 and the manual is 19:1 as stated previously so you already have the quicker steering this is just going to make it manual. You don't need to change anything else, unless you have worn parts. The tie rods you have will bolt right up to that center link. Remove troublesome power assist components and you have quicker manual steering.
The idler arm and pitman are longer for quicker steering.The mustang set up did not need a change in spindles.
Good to know. I think I might'a read that around here before. Also just makes me want to swap over to an early Mustang front clip all the more too. Me thinks major surgery is required.
It's been quite a while.. but I don't beleive you can simply just unplug the pressure line and call it a manual setup. In my experiences through the years with old Fords and similar designs.. is that a non-functioning power setup is noticably harder to steer than a basic manual setup. And though I can't seak from experience(I was always forced to fix them eventually).. I've been lead to beleive that the power boxs can also be damaged when run for prolonged periods without fluids due to the design. Have you done this swap before, Ward? Or maybe have links to others who have used the Mustangs wider drag link?
What Ward is saying is the power steering box can be used but you have to change the power steering drag link and power steering pitman arm to a manual steering drag link and a manual steering pitman arm. The power steering gear box has no hyd. lines going to it they all go to the steering ram as this is really just a power assist steering set up not true power steering. The one problem you run into when you do this conversion is trying to find a crank pulley that is a single groove so you can run your water pump and have adjustment on the belt
