would you run manual steering or power

i havnt tightned the gear box yet. was gonna try that later this week. i can work on her for a few hours then have to take 2-3 days to recoup.

 

My 69.5 has manual steering with 215/60 15s on the front. It is as easy as any to steer. I was working on it at work the other day and I let one of the guys pull it out of the bay. He has a Civic with manual steering that he drives every day and when he came back in from parking it he said it was easier to steer than his rack and pinion was. I love it. Manual all the way!
I am using a power rack in my 72 Grabber project though. The thing there will be that I am going to use an adjustable valve that goes in the lines http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Adjustable-Power-Steering-Valve,14895.html. This should be the ticket to getting the best performance and feel out of the system.

 

My thoughts

I prefer to use a good power sterring box on a manual steering setup. It gives you less turns lock to lock. Hey, these cars are light, I see no need for power steering.

 

i have manual powersteering in mine, i'm actually thinking going back to power, i find it a pain in the butt at slow speeds, specially with a spool in the back.

 

I prefer manual. in the past few years mine will not hold ps fluid either. I was trailing it up and down the driveway. You could see were I went around town. So I have just let it go. there is enough in there to keep in from making noise, but it is like a manual now. I don't feel the swimming any more. I have had 2 other cars with manual and I survived driving them daily. I think it is all personal preference.

 

Dang, I didn't think about that .. I now have that but not driven yet.

 

I had power steering with new everything for the first 2 years, couldn't keep the leaks away and couldn't keep the header drop bracket attached to the frame, kept breaking off even after welding. I took it off the power steering and haven't missed it in the last 15 years. Still have the power box in it. I have had a manual box to swap in but after driving my 70 with factory manual steering I didn't like the feel so am sticking with manual steering with the power box. I have 215/55/r16 tires up front and its a little tough to turn when stopped but as long as it rolling its not too bad.

 

I have manual steering with the quick steer kit (different idler arm, pitman arm)out of a mustang. I like it alot, a little hard in parking lots but fun when you are going down the road.

 

I have manual steering on mine. No problems whatsoever. I don't really notice any additional effort being needed versus my late model everyday driver.

I would stay away from the power steering for a lot of reasons. The main reason being the power steering pump is an additional unwarranted drag on your motor, reducing horsepower available. Aside from the loss of HP, there is quite a bit of additional weight with the bracketry, pump, fluid, and lines. This is doing nothing but slowing your car down.

I'd run the manual steering and never look back.

 

i myself like manuel.they are easy to steer and no messes.

 

I like my manual steering with a power steering box, parking is the only bad part about it and its not that bad.

 

is there any differance in effort between the power steering box and the manual box besides the lock to lock distance

 

The manual box has more turns lock to lock because of its numerically higher gear ratio. It has provides less effort but more turns. The opposite is true for the power steering box. So yes, there is an effort difference.

 

Yes manual box will be easier to steer. reducing caster will make it easier to steer with the power box but the wheel wont self center and will be harder to keep straight

 

I'm running the stock power steering stuff except for the pump which is the later model CII Ford pump. After repairing all of the factory equipped leaks, I haven't had any issues. It does wander all over the place at HWY speeds due to that control valve design tho. It takes getting used to. I drive my wife's Expedition and I have to relearn how to compensate for the loose feel at higher speeds in the Maverick.