Should I keep my power steering

-

doopdoop67

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2015
Messages
288
Reaction score
92
Location
pacifica california
Hey guys I’m getting ready to do a bunch of work on my 67 dart. I have all the drivetrain from a 72 dart so it has the power steering from a 72 318 car. I am considering throwing a manual gear in the car because the power steering sucks. Has anyone done this and recommend doing it? I know I need an adapter or a manual steering column like this one https://www.jegs.com/i/Mopar+Perfor...tA0wTA7SmVz5cGQU-uSMp5LlRoYCCDVAaAtk6EALw_wcB
 
Only you can answer that honestly. Ask 10 people and get 10 different answers.

What's so wrong with the setup currently?

JW
 
Only you can answer that honestly. Ask 10 people and get 10 different answers.

What's so wrong with the setup currently?

JW
It feels to loose for me. I don’t like the power steering pump bracket seems very flimsy to me. I like firm steering and the mopar power steering doesn’t feel right to me. Maybe I’m doing something wrong though
 
My 67 cuda had power steering when I bought it. It leaked really bad so I had to decide to fix that or go to manual steering. There are pro's and con's to both for sure. I do like how the car drives better now with the manual box, more road feel, but the stop and turn/slow moving steering is a bear after a while. I also like the small foot print the manual box is inside the engine bay. I'm swapping my 273 for a 340 now and the 340 will have headers so the smaller steering box should help with fitment. If you plan on driving it a lot then its really something to think about. If it's seldom then manual isn't to bad overall. I think my box is a 16 to 1 ratio.
 
It feels to loose for me. I don’t like the power steering pump bracket seems very flimsy to me. I like firm steering and the mopar power steering doesn’t feel right to me. Maybe I’m doing something wrong though
That was the other reason for me to go to manual, the power steering felt over powered and just kind of loose because of that I think. Other folks have mentioned the over powered, powering steering and there are fixes for that somewhere on this forum if you go that route.
 
First determine if something is wrong or worn or loose on all steering related parts. If your car has a saginaw PS pump, it can be shimmed to reduce pressure.
 
Mine drove a little wild when I got it, figured out the bolts that hold the power steering box to the frame were loose.
 
The power steering box can be modded several ways and end up feeling similar to a manual box, but with faster steering.
If the box is in good shape,then the looseness or vagueness is not coming from the box. The looseness you feel with the engine turned off, is the way it works, but you can change that. In any case most of it goes away after the engine is running. Some of it has to be there to operate the valve. If you set it up too tight, you will be chasing the car all over the road.
I agree they are from the factory, over-boosted; this is easy to fix.
But, you'll have to swap the Federal pump out, in favor of a Saginaw. The Federal cannot keep up in fast left/ right maneuvers or when doing figure-8 donuts.
I installed a 13" steering wheel, with a big fat foam rim, and now I'm happy.
Brakes are also over-boosted.... which too is fixable.
 
The power steering box can be modded several ways and end up feeling similar to a manual box, but with faster steering.
If the box is in good shape,then the looseness or vagueness is not coming from the box. The looseness you feel with the engine turned off, is the way it works, but you can change that. In any case most of it goes away after the engine is running. Some of it has to be there to operate the valve. If you set it up too tight, you will be chasing the car all over the road.
I agree they are from the factory, over-boosted; this is easy to fix.
But, you'll have to swap the Federal pump out, in favor of a Saginaw. The Federal cannot keep up in fast left/ right maneuvers or when doing figure-8 donuts.
I installed a 13" steering wheel, with a big fat foam rim, and now I'm happy.
Brakes are also over-boosted.... which too is fixable.
I have a Chrysler pump. I know thag my gear or worn out which is why I’m considering just switching over to manual. Is the Chrysler pump bracket capable of holding a Saginaw pump?
 
My 67 cuda had power steering when I bought it. It leaked really bad so I had to decide to fix that or go to manual steering. There are pro's and con's to both for sure. I do like how the car drives better now with the manual box, more road feel, but the stop and turn/slow moving steering is a bear after a while. I also like the small foot print the manual box is inside the engine bay. I'm swapping my 273 for a 340 now and the 340 will have headers so the smaller steering box should help with fitment. If you plan on driving it a lot then its really something to think about. If it's seldom then manual isn't to bad overall. I think my box is a 16 to 1 ratio.
I had a really bad leak from the pump so I replaced the pump and the only pump I could find leaked too (crappy Chinese rebuild) so orileys found me another pump and this ones is super noisy. I think mopar a engineers missed on the power steering system I have lol. Sometimes I think a simple manual gear would be better
 
I had a really bad leak from the pump so I replaced the pump and the only pump I could find leaked too (crappy Chinese rebuild) so orileys found me another pump and this ones is super noisy. I think mopar a engineers missed on the power steering system I have lol. Sometimes I think a simple manual gear would be better
There is a lot to be said for the simplicity of manual brakes and steering. Car stalls, no biggy, it drives the same. No belts, pumps or power steering fluid level to worry about. The 340 I'm putting in won't make a lot of vacuum at idle and that's no issue since I have manual brakes. Just less to brake so more dependable to some degree.
But are their times I'd like power steering still..for sure.
 
67 dart with stock manual steering. I
have no issues. I can palm steer most of the time, parking is a hand over hand operation but no big deal.
 
Last edited:
There is a lot to be said for the simplicity of manual brakes and steering. Car stalls, no biggy, it drives the same. No belts, pumps or power steering fluid level to worry about. The 340 I'm putting in won't make a lot of vacuum at idle and that's no issue since I have manual brakes. Just less to brake so more dependable to some degree.
But are their times I'd like power steering still..for sure.
I run manual discs up front and have zero complaints. Stops good and the pedal isn’t hard compared to the 65 el Camino me and my dad have that has vacuum brakes
 
I've never seen the point to power steering on cars as small and light as A bodies.
 
Hey guys I’m getting ready to do a bunch of work on my 67 dart. I have all the drivetrain from a 72 dart so it has the power steering from a 72 318 car. I am considering throwing a manual gear in the car because the power steering sucks. Has anyone done this and recommend doing it? I know I need an adapter or a manual steering column like this one Mopar Performance P4510637: Manual Steering Adapter Fits: A/B/E-Body | JEGS
Should be able to find those adapters for power steering column going to manual box for about 130.00 on ebay.
They work great.
 
Me too. But I learned to drive on a 8N Ford.........
The biggest thing with manual steering is to at least have the car slightly moving as you are turning the wheel, then they are great.

Dead Stopped steering wheel turning, not so much . . .
 
No power steering ? One less thing leaking oil all over your garage floor. Nice clean look of the engine too without them.

A simple V8 sitting in the engine bay look so cool when there are no added accessories on it.

A little more power to the ground at the rear wheels too.
 
-
Back
Top