This is a poll for anyone that has manual steering with a power steering gear box. Just those people please. My car is all manual but I do have an extra power steering gear box that I'm thinking about putting in to get a tighter ratio. My car is a floor shift manual so I will have 1 hand on the wheel at many times, if that makes a difference in opinions. ONLY ANSWER this poll if: (1) You have put in a power steering gear ratio steering box to your manual system or (2) You have removed all your power steering linkage but kept the power gear box. .
so what is the question? i don't want to be "polled" without knowing the question i have a power box converted to standard.(took off the cyl.)..frank...
I re-wrote the question for you Frank, to make it clearer. I'm looking for opinions on putting in the faster ratio steering gear box from a power steering car into a manual steering car.
Mines all manual with the power box. Smaller steering wheels will make it more of an effort than just the box.
Everyday driving the extra effort gets old after awhile. Long road trips make my forearms sore. Parking lots suck. Better responce? Yep! would I go back? nope. I guess it comes down to how offten you drive the car. If it is a daily driver, where you have to deal with lots of slow speed turns(under 5 mph) then I wouldn't have a power box with out assist. But for something that comes out on sunny days or just for fun, I would do it. My 73 is power and it is over assisted, but it is nice to drive when you tired and just want to relax. But when I'm driving my 74, that's what I'm doing... driving it. So I guess it's about equally bad, either too much assist or not enough in my opinion. Such is life. Russ
I got the adaptor to change my power steering to manual (leaving the power box) At first I thought I hated it, I couldn't hardly turn in parking lots. Then I checked my air pressure and upped it from 26 to 30. Or was it 32?. It steers great now, back to nearly one handed steering in parking lots. This is with a 351W. I really like the feel on the highway too.
wow, this poll couldn't have been posted at a better time. My pump is leaking bad, and I was thinking about going back to full manual steering, guess I'll leave me power box, put the manual linkage back in and trhow the pump in the trash any one need a control valve? Thanks Shaun
bah, it aint that hard, unless you do a lot of driving in town, parallel parking or small parking lots. Gave my computer nerd arms a bit more size... I spend my spare time working on something, loading trees to cut or just flat out building stuff. That being said, manual steering isn't a big deal, but you have to drive differently at low speeds and there are some things you just won't do without power steering, and that isn't necesarily a bad thing. It'll make you a better driver. Over about 10mph, no problem at all, but you won't let go of the wheel and let it center by itself anymore...
i still palm mine one hand ..unless im comp stoped then i use two ...thats with a small gt steering wheel........i have a manual setup ready for another mav.....depends on who i let drive it
I dumped my PS but kept the PS box... It was a little hard at first, but quickly got used to it. I don't think it was really that hard to steer, it was just a very noticable change to make over-night. The only time it is stiff is when the car is still or near still. When rolling, it is easy. Dave
THANK YOU to all that took the time to post or add to the poll. You have helped me to decide to switch to the power gear box and give it a try. I'll still have my old manual box to go back to if I find it is not the way I want it. Thanks again! Eric J
Yeah, guess I should have mentioned like others... I had a 13" Grant wheel, both before and after taking my pump off. Also, I never removed the slave cyl. Someone told me that it steers easier when you are not acting against the cylinder... makes sense.
am I right in thinking that I need to change my pitm,an arm while doing this swap, sure looks like it.
Yes, the pitman arm is different from a manual and power steering linkage. The shaft on the gear boxes is the same, so they will swap from one to the other.
