Manual steering question

Discussion in 'Technical' started by vvr210, Oct 30, 2013.

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  1. vvr210

    vvr210 Member

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    I want to get rid of the power steering and go with a manual steering setup. I have a 73 with p/s and I found someone with a 73 m/s. I was wondering what other parts will I need besides the drag link and pitman arm? Is there any change in the idler arm or inner/outer tie rods?I rebuilt my front end couple months ago and I used new tie rods and replaced the idler arm also so I was wondering if I could use them with a manual steering setup
     
    vvr210, Oct 30, 2013
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  2. Krazy Comet

    Krazy Comet Tom

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    AFAIK all pieces other than what you mentioned are same...

    Ratio of the steering boxes are different but they can be used with either setup... If you are judging effort on a factory manual setup, it's going to steer noticeably harder unless you also swap to the slower ratio M/S box as well(that's gonna feel like steering a ship)... You can retain the faster steering if you don't swap boxes but as I mentioned it well steer hard, pull your P/S belt and drive around a bit to see if that's what you really want...
     
    Krazy Comet, Oct 30, 2013
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  3. vvr210

    vvr210 Member

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    Do you know if moog makes a replacement pitman arm for manual steering? I found this pitman arm for a 73 but I'm not sure if its for m/s or p/s

    http://www.moog-suspension-parts.com/proddetail.asp?prod=MOOG-K8145

    I will pull the belt and test it out.Im just tired of having so much play in the steering wheel.Specially when I'm on the highway
     
    Last edited: Oct 30, 2013
    vvr210, Oct 30, 2013
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  4. 71gold

    71gold Frank Cooper Supporting Member

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    all I changed on mine was the...drag link and pitman arm...

    steering...hard...depends on the size of the tires on the front... 205s/215s ain't bad...:drive:
     
    71gold, Oct 30, 2013
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  5. Krazy Comet

    Krazy Comet Tom

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    That's defiantly a M/S arm, the P/S arms have a hole in each end(so nothing to wear out)...
     
    Krazy Comet, Oct 30, 2013
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  6. vvr210

    vvr210 Member

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    I have 225/60/15 up front
     
    vvr210, Oct 30, 2013
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  7. vvr210

    vvr210 Member

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    Do you guys preffer manual steering over p/s?
     
    vvr210, Oct 30, 2013
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  8. Krazy Comet

    Krazy Comet Tom

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    I've been driving a '69 428 Cobra Jet Fairlane for 40+ years that's never had P/S and at one time I'd have have argued with anyone it was the best driving car on the road, these days it drives like a field truck... I have parts to convert it to P/S and would have already happened if I wasn't working on the Comet and a 331 swap into a '88 T-Bird...
     
    Krazy Comet, Oct 30, 2013
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  9. vvr210

    vvr210 Member

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    I have never drove anything with manual steering but I think ill like it better than P/s
     
    vvr210, Oct 30, 2013
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  10. Krazy Comet

    Krazy Comet Tom

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    Then do as I said and remove the P/S belt, you'll get a taste of what it's like...
     
    Krazy Comet, Oct 30, 2013
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  11. 71gold

    71gold Frank Cooper Supporting Member

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    :hmmm:...I don't think that would be the same or safe.
     
    71gold, Oct 30, 2013
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  12. vvr210

    vvr210 Member

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    I will do so on Friday, I'm taking my son out for candy tomorrow night.Can I damage anything by doing so?
     
    vvr210, Oct 30, 2013
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  13. Krazy Comet

    Krazy Comet Tom

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    Why not??? Back in the day I've driven full size Fords with dead P/S, yeah they drove like a tank...

    Without the power cylinder operating there is no assist, "feel" is virtually same as switching to a manual drag link... Basically it's gonna steer like crap unless the manual sector is installed in place of the power unit...

    Probably be a good idea to make a short test prior to driving it any time without the P/S...
     
    Krazy Comet, Oct 30, 2013
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  14. Craig Selvey

    Craig Selvey Indiana State Rep - MCCI

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    My opinion....I think you will hate it.

    Your steering can be adjusted to remove the "slack". Don't ask me how....but it is in the service manuals.
     
    Craig Selvey, Oct 30, 2013
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  15. ESampson

    ESampson Member

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    i have been converting mine to manual steering the past couple weeks or so...hope i don't hate it lol...i kept the PS just incase...with my PS on the highway it floated a ton..on the track it floated as well as it blew fluid back out the dipstick.
     
    ESampson, Oct 30, 2013
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