67 Dart - Converting Steering Column to manual?

[matthon]

Matt, I am thinking about doing exactly what you just recommended. If you don’t mind, can you disclose the cost of the column?

I don't mind, iirc it was roughly $600 shipped.
That was 2 years ago though.

It was big $ for me, but finding 67 parts was near impossible, and nothing on mine was salvageable.

Fully restored top to bottom, included everything except steering wheel, new turn switch, floor gasket, everything, may have had the bolts too.

 

[Mopar Fred]

I don't mind, iirc it was roughly $600 shipped.
That was 2 years ago though.

It was big $ for me, but finding 67 parts was near impossible, and nothing on mine was salvageable.

Fully restored top to bottom, included everything except steering wheel, new turn switch, floor gasket, everything, may have had the bolts too.

Thank you for the info

 

[Map63Vette]

I just have to ask....

Why do you need ANY form of power steering?

Our cars can be palm steered at just a slight crawl like in and out of a parking spot.

My car would disagree a little bit with that one. A 15 deg F morning with a 16:1 manual box and I can barely two arm my car out of my driveway without making it a 5 point turn or cranking on it. Otherwise I generally agree that it's not too bad. My main reason for finally pulling the trigger on attempting an EPAS install is for those moment when I may not have two hands readily available around a corner, like if I'm holding a drink and taking off from a stop light or something. I can steer it with one arm, but it does take a moderate amount of effort and if my hand were to slip it would not be great.

Another reason I'm wanting to do the EPAS setup is because it's easily adjustable. I don't plan to run mine in failsafe mode, but rather to emulate what the original controller was expecting with rpm and speed input. I can scale my speed input to get the power assist where I want it.

 

[Dana67Dart]

16:1 manual box

Last question as I recognize its always personal preference and I'm not knocking your choices. Why a 16:1 gear box?

 

[Map63Vette]

Last question as I recognize its always personal preference and I'm not knocking your choices. Why a 16:1 gear box?

Admittedly I waffled on this one a little bit. I originally swapped from power to the standard 24:1 manual box back when I did my 5.7 Hemi swap (not sure the Borgeson power box was out yet and didn't want to spend the money anyway). The main gripe I had with the 24:1 box is that I couldn't make a full 90 degree turn from a stop without having to go hand over hand, so it made one hand driving difficult unless I wanted to put a speed knob on the wheel. I have a plain smooth plastic wheel as well, so it's a bit slick and I don't think I would trust palm steering it. I would have to fold my wrist over right at the end of the turn to get that last little bit.

I considered the 20:1 box, but in looking at the math and the numbers I just didn't think it was going to be enough of an improvement. I think it only cut down the lock to lock by half a turn or something like that. I also always had the idea of moving to an EPAS setup, so it seemed like it made more sense to just buy the 16:1 box to start with and see how bad it was without any assist and decide if I still wanted EPAS or not.

I also just like more direct steering in general. My other primary car is a 2004 Viper that is probably only something like 2.5 turns lock to lock, so pretty quick ratio. I like it a little heavier to help hold center well and to get more feedback. The Viper isn't super heavy for being quick ratio since it's hydraulic powered, but I do like not having to do a full turn of the wheel just to go around a corner.

 

[Dana67Dart]

The main gripe I had with the 24:1 box is that I couldn't make a full 90 degree turn from a stop without having to go hand over hand, so it made one hand driving difficult

1st world problems Just a little fun at your expense

 

[Map63Vette]

1st world problems Just a little fun at your expense

Lol, all good. I was paying a little more attention to it this morning while driving and I think that really is the biggest thing for me. Not exactly the one handed driving as much as I really prefer being able to make all turns without having to reset my hands on the wheel. So basically getting enough steering out of ~180 degrees of rotation from center for 90%+ of the typical driving I do. Really even the 16:1 box is on the edge for that given the rest of the geometry in the system. I have seen the inline doublers or whatever you want to call them that could get me even more, but that would make for a pretty bulky steering column by the time I get EPAS installed as well. Might start running out of room to fit anything else.

 

[Dana67Dart]

I'm sure you already know but you could also go rack and pinion. Some front suspension kits replace the k frame and add rack and pinion. Might actually be cheaper / easier in the long run.

 

[Map63Vette]

I'm sure you already know but you could also go rack and pinion. Some front suspension kits replace the k frame and add rack and pinion. Might actually be cheaper / easier in the long run.

Yeah, I looked at that some in the past in the hopes that there was more of a retrofit kit, but sounds like using any of the stock suspension with a rack and pinion leads to some pretty bad geometry. Going with a full K frame replacement would certainly address that, but I wasn't sure I wanted to spend that kind of money. I think I only paid $4k for my car when I bought it, so putting a $4k suspension under it seemed overkill to me, lol.

I'm going the junkyard route for the EPAS system, so in theory it shouldn't cost me more than a few hundred (granted I technically got the parts for Christmas). I don't really need crazy autocross capability and modern suspension, I more just wanted quicker steering so I wasn't swinging my arms around so much.

 

[jeff ezell]

I don't mind, iirc it was roughly $600 shipped.
That was 2 years ago though.

It was big $ for me, but finding 67 parts was near impossible, and nothing on mine was salvageable.

Fully restored top to bottom, included everything except steering wheel, new turn switch, floor gasket, everything, may have had the bolts too.

I know I am a little late to this thread, but I found this for people who need to repair their 67 columns
https://www.classicindustries.com/p...gHV_a_0LypkEOjZ77icYDXsc8w9_XVUO4PLWI8j3DHkBM

 

[gdonovan]

I am rebuilding my 67 Dart, currently has automatic steering column. I plan to change the car to a floor shift instead. I have read thru a number of threads where people are modifying the column to a manual (cutting/bondo, etc.) , but found conversion kit that makes that easier (Collar Conversion Kit). However, the kit states it is for 68-69 cars. Does anybody know if the 67 column parts will interchange with 68-69 cars? That would mean I can use the kit for my car. Otherwise, I will need to find a manual steering column that mates with manual steering (my car had PS).

Pity I have a '67 auto column with a manual steering shaft I'm listing for sale for $50 but shipping would be a bear to the west coast.

 

[BT67Dart]

All good, I was able to find one and rebuild it. Turns out the lower bearing was still good.

 

[Dana67Dart]

I know I am a little late to this thread, but I found this for people who need to repair their 67 columns

Nice find. I know there was a company making the lower bearing kit for 67. But I always have to dig their info out or FABO and the last time I did it seemed like the company in question was not reachable or out of business