Power steering questions

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zigs

zigs

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Going to add power steering to the Dart this fall. 400 stroker , same as 383 so should be straight for ward? Between Saginaw and Federal who prefers what. I'd like some ideas.
Oreilly's has a Federal lookalike that I hear is close to Moog for $57. steering gear for $105 + the core charges. Will I have to change the Pitman arm. In other words what do I need to go Federal or Saginaw . Can I mix match. 1968 Dart
 
The Oval-neck Saginaw, if you want to do figure8 donuts
The Federal can't keep up during the transition from left to right and back.
I really wanted to use the Federal, cuz mechanically IMO,it is a better pump. It uses rollers do do the work and theoretically could last a billion years. Yet they are easy to rebuild.
The Saginaw is a lower quality unit,IMO, and harder to rebuild. But personal experience has shown that, that is not a downside, cuz my car still does fine Figure8s 16 years later, never having been opened.
So That is my experience.
Oh, and they look to be a tad smaller, so probably lighter.
I did have a little trouble getting a pressure hose with the right bends, to steer around the headers and things, but with a very helpful jobber, who let me peruse his stock, I did find one.
 
Up until a later year model ( I forget ) the pitman shaft was the same small diameter so no you wont need to change the pitman arm.
The different pumps require different brackets and pulleys so I would definately find those first.
Several years ago I bought a complete pump assembly off ebay ( oval neck Saginaw ) that was junk yard yellow paint pen marked 68 a-body 383. I found it to be identical to my 67 273 assembly in every way, Go figure. We certainly can't go by what somebody wrote on it though. I wouldn't want to "steer" you wrong.
 
I believe 73 is the year for the different pitman arm. Also the steering coupler on the steering shaft is a different size between power and manual where it slides on the box, if you didn't already know.
 
340doc said:
I believe 73 is the year for the different pitman arm. Also the steering coupler on the steering shaft is a different size between power and manual where it slides on the box, if you didn't already know.
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I can't confirm or deny that difference in these early steering gears ( my memory fails ).
The column shaft will need to be approx' 3 inches shorter. Many have simply defeated the sheer pins inside the column shaft to shorten it. While not proper, it works.
 
I'm basing my comment on my experience with converting our 70 Dart to power. The manual coupling was much larger dia. on the splined shaft. Thankfully I had the other coupling with the power box! Others experience may vary.
 
340doc said:
I'm basing my comment on my experience with converting our 70 Dart to power. The manual coupling was much larger dia. on the splined shaft. Thankfully I had the other coupling with the power box! Others experience may vary.
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Understood. My most recent was a few years back. Went from column shift manual steering to floor shift power steering, column, shaft and all, so I wouldn't have even noticed a difference there. Bolted right in. Good luck to all.
 
RedFish said:
Understood. My most recent was a few years back. Went from column shift manual steering to floor shift power steering, column, shaft and all, so I wouldn't have even noticed a difference there. Bolted right in. Good luck to all.
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67 was the odd ball year for pitman and gear box , then 73 up for larger out put. I'm not worried about shaft size (don't take that wrong)it was hacked when I had my 354 in so I'm using a Borgeson coupler. As far as pumps I'm also finding same pumps were used for 273 up to 440, the bracket would be the difference . I think I'm leaning toward the Federal pump.
 
I'm not worried about shaft ....LOL . I cut the shaft when I had my 354 in so I can adapt to pretty much anything
 
I think the Federal went to a 3/8 o-ring on the pump side and 5/16 o-ring on the steering gear side in 1973. Some guru will correct if I'm wrong. Some of the federal defiantly have the o-ring. It took me awhile to find a hose adapter that I used on a non-abody custom steering build. If your using a stock steering gear, then the correct hose can be bought at your favorite parts store.
 
my5thmopar said:
I think the Federal went to a 3/8 o-ring on the pump side and 5/16 o-ring on the steering gear side in 1973. Some guru will correct if I'm wrong. Some of the federal defiantly have the o-ring. It took me awhile to find a hose adapter that I used on a non-abody custom steering build. If your using a stock steering gear, then the correct hose can be bought at your favorite parts store.
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I think I'm going Saginaw after all. O'Reillys has them and use a 68 power box.
 
Make sure you get one with the correct shaft. Some were keyed with a nut, others press on with a special tool. Saginaw.
 
Hands down Saginaw. The most durable, cheap and easy to tune pump ever. The federal belongs in the trash with the original power steering boxes!
 
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