Maverick Power Steering

I am using a 1976 Maverick for an ice racing car. It has manual steering right now I would like to go to power steering. Any ideas on how to do this would be much appreciated. I'm thinking maybe adding a power cervo unless there is a power steering box available that will bolt up. Thanks in advance.
Scott Owen

 

There are no bolt on power steering boxes. A power steering set up shouldnt be too hard to come by since all Mavericks and Comets 70-77 are the same. The power was in a ram down on the control linkage, They are prone to leaking so it might make your track slippery.

 

I have the setup minus the pump... can get a pump at a parts store.
Trade you for yours, as I want manual steering.
Not much difference in the pieces, I think just pitman arm and something else.
I'll gladly trade you.

 

all i can say is why ?? if it steers hard might need some front end work they don't turn hard at all to me .....will make it a little harder to turn but your on ice if you wan't to add faster turning use a gear box from a power steering car faster ratio think its like 3 or 4 turns lock to lock unlike the man unit is like 6 or 8

 

Im changing mine to manual because it will be 90% drag car 10% street and I dont have a pump. I dont want the "loss of horsepower" either. I know its not much, but I dont really want to run 2 belts, and have the front end cluttered up just for a dragcar.
Plus, I will most likely be using an electric water pump and will need that space.
if he wants to trade I'll trade him
As for on the ice... either one would work fine, but Im sure he has his reasons for the power steering

 

i swaped the 72 grabber to manual ...for headers ...don't need the drop down bracket ...the 69 1/2 is manual already ...the 71 grabber has power steering will keep it on ..not putting headers on it

 

My car has headers and it has the power steering setup minus the pump... what would be the problem with this?

 

not sure but if your slave cylinder is still in place it can make the car steer funny like want to pull one way and harder to turn and make the steering jump around from left to right could be dangerous with out fluid the slave cylinder could lockup on a turn
i would remove the slave cylinder .... do you have a drop bracket??? makes left turns a pain wheels don't cut as far to the left ...on mine i had to add more space made it even turn less on the left turn

 

I'll have to check. Havent drove this car at all honestly.
I know the slave cylinder is still in place (if thats it on the left of that pic)
The lines are still in place and spliced together, and im assuming there is fluid in the lines. If not I will add fluid until I can get the manual steering parts.

 

yeah thats it you can get a Power Steering Adapter to do away with it might find it cheaper at other ford or mustang places
http://www.autokrafters.com/tpls/Detail.tpl?command=search&db=Catalog.db&eqskudata=RP27483&cart=110425144471

 

A bit more than I was wanting to spend. I was told you can just replace the pitman arm, and something else and it works just fine.... no?

 

all you need is a manual center link and the pitman arm the manual center link are getting harder to get and the price are going up on them

 

I wonder if that guy is going to reply or not.
Because I'd swap him straight across... we both get what we want

 

The problem with keeping the power linkage and no pump is the ball link that goes from the pitman arm, into the linkage is actually a switch. It is what directs the pressure flow to give boost in the direction you need for easy steering. When you steer in one direction, the ball actuates valves in the linkage to put pressure on the correct side of the ram. Consequently, There is more movement in that ball link to give the valving action. This is one reason power steering on these cars feels so sloppy. Now, other than the extra slop, it really wont matter if you dont have a pump but at least remove the ram so your not creating extra effort.

 

Ok call me stupid but..... if i remove the ram, do I have to replace it with anything?
I'll deal w/ the "manual" power steering w/o a pump for a while
but if I can make it easier now I will.
Seems to turn fine when being rolled but if I can make it safer and easier w/ very little work, I'm all for it