This 3-speed trans is gonna have to go...

A lot of cars/trucks used to come with non-synchronized 1st gears. I didn't realize that went all the way up to '73 on these cars, but I guess on a 3 speed manual on the column car I shouldn't be surprised, that's an econo-box there. I started driving a '56 Ford truck not long after I learned to drive, that was a 3 on the tree with a non-synch 1st. That truck was a lot of fun. Learn to double clutch and drive accordingly. Or swap it for a 4 speed since you've already got the pedal set up. Real cars have 3 pedals.

Two hands to steer? Oh my gosh! How do you talk on the phone? :violent1:

Since its a '73, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that's a 24:1 manual steering box. Which means its about 25% easier to work than the 16:1 manual steering box I have in my Duster. And I'll further guess that you're not trying to turn a set of 275's up front either. Sooooo yeah. That '56 Ford truck would give my Duster a run for it's money on steering effort too. Like was already mentioned, learn how to make all your steering inputs while you're still rolling. Your steering components and tires will last longer too if you're not dry steering all the time (steering with the car at a standstill).

Too bad you're about a year late and a long ways from here, I swapped a /6 and 904 auto out of my Duster, power steering too. She's all manual now- manual steering, manual transmission, manual brakes. Heck it's like driving a real car.