Manual Steering to Power Steering
Man wish we where closer I have a 74 dart I'm converting from power steering to manual. we could swap columns.
I know this is an old thread but I hope I can get some help here.
I guess the first question I have is - Why do you guys want to get rid of your power steering ? Room for headers, more engine power, or what ?
Now my situation - I'm new to A-bodies and I am restoring a 1966 Dodge Dart GT 4-speed on the floor V-8 (273 HI-PO) Convertible. Doing a 4-bbl carb and probably keeping the cast iron exhaust manifolds (since I hear so many nightmares about fitting headers and of course the high price!) It has Manual steering and I actually would prefer to have Power steering (unless someone here talks me out of it :)
So what can I use in this vehicle as far as the power steering gear box and column goes? Of course it needs to be a column from a "floor shift" vehicle, no shift lever,flasher button, & no ignition on column - just blinkers (I guess that is stating the obvious).
1 - Steering Columns -I understand that anything after 1973(?) will have a larger diameter shaft so I need to stick with something older then that- but even so -what year did they start putting the ignition switch on the column (and/or can that piece be removed/covered up) ? I'm guessing I can only "get away with" using a column from maybe a 1962-1969 A-body car or is my pickens even slimmer then that? Are columns the same length/style in other car bodies ?
2 - Steering gear box - I've read that a "firm feel" gear box (#3643 375) is the way to go but not sure if it will fit or how to find one. Also - will I need to change out the Pitman Arm depending on which one I use ?
I pulled some info from a re-builder's site - I hope it's accurate - The following vehicles all use the same power steering gear box:
1968-1972-Plymouth -Road Runner
1962-1970-Plymouth -Belvedere
1962-1964-Plymouth -Fury
1964-1972-Plymouth -Barracuda
1973-1976-Plymouth -Duster
1982 (only ?)-Plymouth -Caravelle
1971-1972-Plymouth -Scamp
1963-1969-Dodge -Dart
1965-1972-Dodge -Coronet
3 - Power Steering Pump and brackets - I'm hoping this is the simplest thing on my list. I'm not being hard-core about being OEM so can any brand or "style" pump (Federal, Saginaw, ATSCO, Borg, Cardone, etc.) be used and can any brackets from a small block be used for mounting to my 273?
I hope I did not ask too much here (or too little!).
Thanks to all that read and/or respond.
Tim in NJ
