Power to manual steering?

Discussion in 'General Maverick/Comet' started by wolfheads, Nov 29, 2012.

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  1. wolfheads

    wolfheads MadMav

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    What all consists of changing power steering to manual steering? I'm getting aggrivated with the power steering control valve leaking and the cost of one is outragous, I have a 73 Mav 302. What besides the centerlink needs to be replaced? Also is there a idler pully I can buy with the braces that will take the place of the power steering pump? Just wondering if anyone has made this swap.

    Thanks
     
    wolfheads, Nov 29, 2012
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  2. Craig Selvey

    Craig Selvey Indiana State Rep - MCCI

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    To change over to manaul steering you will need to remove your center link, control valve, slave cylinder, hoses, idler arm, and pitman arm. You will then need to get a manual steering pitman arm, manual steering center link, and idler arm. The steering gear boxes are also different, but you don't necessarily need to swap them. The steering ratio is the only difference.

    I am not aware of any idler pulley you can add to your motor to eliminate the power steering pump.

    Hope this helps.
     
    Craig Selvey, Nov 29, 2012
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  3. 71gold

    71gold Frank Cooper Supporting Member

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    You will then need to get a manual steering pitman arm, manual steering center link...idler arm is the same...(y)
     
    71gold, Nov 29, 2012
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  4. ESampson

    ESampson Member

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    ESampson, Nov 30, 2012
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  5. wolfheads

    wolfheads MadMav

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    Thanks Craig.
    As far as the idler pully setup, I'm sure between me and my mechanic, we can fabricate something that will work as well as look normal. There's always a way.
     
    wolfheads, Nov 30, 2012
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  6. Craig Selvey

    Craig Selvey Indiana State Rep - MCCI

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    Craig Selvey, Nov 30, 2012
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  7. Krazy Comet

    Krazy Comet Tom

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    You can leave the pump in place and loop the pressure line back into the return...

    It's going to steer hard if you use the P/S box, I have one on my '69 CJ Fairlane and am in the process of adding P/S(came factory with manual)... Of course with the manual box steering will be slow, which is why I installed the P/S sector on my Fairlane some years back...
     
    Krazy Comet, Nov 30, 2012
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  8. 71gold

    71gold Frank Cooper Supporting Member

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    I and others have left the P/S box with no ...hard...steering...:yup:
     
    71gold, Nov 30, 2012
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  9. injectedmav

    injectedmav Member

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    You should be able to route the correct belt over just the water pump and alternator and crank pulleys. I swapped parts between several cars at one point trying to make different things work. It might just require changing the alternator mounting brackets.
     
    injectedmav, Nov 30, 2012
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  10. Krazy Comet

    Krazy Comet Tom

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    I suppose having a 428CJ setting over the front wheels makes a difference, but it was very noticeable when I swapped the P/S sector for the manual one...
     
    Krazy Comet, Dec 1, 2012
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  11. 71gold

    71gold Frank Cooper Supporting Member

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    w/stock suspension...:huh:
     
    71gold, Dec 1, 2012
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  12. wolfheads

    wolfheads MadMav

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    I was just looking for a way to save $$. I'm thinking about just buying a refab power steering pump and keeping it PS. Besides, I replaced the PS pump already and everything else associated with the power steering besides the PS control valve seems to be in good condition. $180.00 for the control valve vs all the costs of going manual.
    Thanks for the input guys.
     
    wolfheads, Dec 1, 2012
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  13. Krazy Comet

    Krazy Comet Tom

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    Yeah in a Fairlane...

    As someone mentioned about Mav/Comet, the steering boxes are externally same, just had to use the original manual arm... Now I'm tired of the extra effort, going to totally rebuild the front suspension and add P/S...
     
    Krazy Comet, Dec 1, 2012
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  14. Craig Selvey

    Craig Selvey Indiana State Rep - MCCI

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    Check out Rode's Restorations from Gallion, Ohio. They can rebuild what you have and you will have NO problems.
     
    Craig Selvey, Dec 1, 2012
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  15. wolfheads

    wolfheads MadMav

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    Well, so much for saving a few bucks. The reman control valves are out of stock at AutoZone. The one's at Advance are over $800 for a new one and over $600 for a reman. The one off my Mav was sent off for rebuilding at RockAuto and they're sending it back because they said they don't have the interal parts to rebuild it. I guess they wanted to just do a "quick fix" and send it back. (seals, gaskets, etc.) They didn't say it wasn't rebuildable...I guess I'm looking for the parts now to swap it to manual. Anyone have those for sale?
     
    wolfheads, Dec 1, 2012
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