Power to manual steering swap options

[MoparMatt383]

OK I have always been toying with the idea of swaping my 73 barracuda to manual steering, but have always thought driving the car with manual steering would be a pain especially in NYC.  That changed yesterday when I got to drive my friends 71 challenger yesterday with manual steering.  It was an all original 383 RT with 60 thousand miles on it.  I thought the manual steering was completely bearable and I even backed it into a tight spot.  So my questions are:

What kind of ratio steering box would this challenger have had (Stock 71 383 RT challenger) ?
Does the ratio of the box make a difference in how hard it is to turn at low speeds?
I have a manual steering column so would the longer shaft swap into my PS column that is already in the car?

Thanks,

Matt

[vinb]

IMO , don't like the power steering. it's not safe at higher speeds. You can't feel the road..

[Moparal]

The standard steering shaft will fit right in your column with ease. The box connection is a larger spline. For the most part, unless it's a special steering box, the ratio's are close to the same amongst the same 5 or 6 yr spread of a e and b bodies. The pitman arm splines are a bit differnt on the 70 e bodies I think. Maybe chryco can add to this. It only takes a long afternoon to do the swap if your familar with suspentions and have the tools.

[Chryco Psycho]

I forget what the ratio is 20:! or 24 :1 maybe
I agre with Vin though I do not like the feel of power , my cars are manual
Al is correct the shaft will fit your column 

[MoparMatt383]

Thanks for the info.  How does the ratio affect the driving at low speeds?  Such as is the quick ratio box from say flaming river harder to turn at low speeds then say a stock 20:1 box?

Matt

[ksierens]

Firm feel offers a firmer power steering box.

http://www.firmfeel.com/powerst_abe.htm

[HP2]

The stock mopar power steering boxes are mush. I can't stand them after going to a firm feel box. I'll use manual steering in my drag cars because I'm not too worried about steering effort there. In a street or road car I prefer the firm feel power unit. The change in power assist feels like late model car and the power assist allows you to run lots of positive caster, which really helps with the high speed stability and road feel. The same positive caster in a manual steering car will require popeye arms to manipulate at low speed. Typically manual steering has negative caster. So, alignment specs will have a big impact on how a manual car feels compared to a power car that doesn't have the mush box in it. The ratio only tells the wheels how far to move relative to the steering wheel input.

[ksierens]

Which "stage" did you go with for the Firm Feel steering box?

[HP2]

I've used 1 and 2. I prefer the 2, but the stage 1 set up is so much better than the oem mopar stuff, it isn't even funny.

[Chryco Psycho]

with any manual box the quicker the ratio the harder it will be to turn