Im trying to decide if it is worth the trouble to install the power steering assembly from a '74 into my '71. I have dealt with the manual steering for years. Other then when I try to parallel park, I don’t mind it. I’m looking to upgrade from the 250 to a 302 with shorty headers and an original floor shifter. I'm concerned about the added weight of the engine with the manual steering and the clearance issues with the headers with power steering. Is it worth the grief?
If you ask me....yes, it is worth it. Now others on here will say it is not, that they leak, no road feel, etc. It all boils down to a personal preference.
If you ask me No....No, it is not worth it. They leak, no road feel, etc. It all boils down to a personal preference. Guess thats my preference. If it was in the car already I would probably keep it in there. Would I go through the work of installing it? No way.
I prefer manual. Remember too, the power steering gear box has a closer ratio and if you remove all the PS stuff, it will make parking lot maneuvering a little harder to turn the wheel vs the manual gear box.
Hey I love my power steering setup, it doesnt leak, I have a super tight turning radius. I dont have any of the ground clearance issues fabbing a rack and pinion onto our cars can have, and i dont have the reduced turning radius that the rack an pinion units suffer. And whats even better I dont even have too use that retarded drop down bracket anymore too clear my long tube headers.:bananaman My car has excellent road feel and it turns easy enough my wife complains that her 2000 mustang with a rack and pinion setup doesnt turn as well as my car does. So yes if you ask I think my power steering setup was well worth it. And at this point in time if I bought another maverick and it didnt have power steering I would do another one of these setups in a heartbeat.
Go power if you like the wandering steering wheel look. It's like your really driving to go straight.
My 74 Maverick has the original power steering, and I like it! A lot of folks have expressed road feel and wandering issues. I don't have this problem so I guess I'm one of the privledged few! I would want to repair my power assist if it needed work, but depending on the cost of replacing expensive parts, I might have to settle for a control valve eliminator. In answer to your question, if you have power assist and can afford to rebuild it, I'd keep it! If your car doesn't already have power assist, I wouldn't try to install it!
Mine doesnt wander at all, it goes right where i tell it too... (I guess i should point this out http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=85596 )
Im one who thinks it's worth it. Like some have expressed, it's a personal preference ... Im keeping mine. I do plan on upgrading to the Borgensen setup sometime in future. It's kind of pricey, but that's pretty much the case in upgrading old cars ... IMO. Markso125 did the upgrade and say's it's worth the money. At present, my steering is not leaking, when I need to repair something like the control valve it's going to be upgraded to the Borgensen setup. The only time I have a problem w/ wondering is at highway speed on windy days. In that case I slow down to abt 60 and keep on truckin. This is a hobby car and not on the highway for more than an hour cept for a few distant trips.... So it's not big deal. I talked to some guys who did conversions on Mustangs and they say it's a great improvement.
My '72 wanders so bad you can turn the wheel 6 inches before the tires move. I had it examined and the mechanic said there was NOTHING wrong with the gear box... I checked the whole system for leaks and could find nothing wrong. It's crazy. my '74 has manual steering and its amazing. It turns honestly just as smooth as the power steering without any of the slop. I don't even notice it's manual. Then again I'm stronger than your average guy.
If u don't notice it's manual, then pwr steering is not an issue for you. I am the average guy and not strong enough to remove my ps. I wud think u must have problem w/ something in the steering sys if the car wanders as bad as u've stated. I don't seem to have a problem unless it's quite windy. Of course, it don't track like the newer cars but not bad for a 40 yrs old.
My 70 has manual "arm strong" steering and it drives great but is a little more difficult to park or correct when drifting through a burn out. I did not think anything of it until I drove the 71 Grabber that was for sale in Ohio which had power steering. I left wishing that I had the option on my car.
If you have wide tires up front and a heavy engine like I do, power steering is great. Skinnies up front and an engine bay that isn't crammed with AC and an iron headed Windsor, maybe not...
