Manual to power steering best approach?

[Fish Tale]

hello,
I have a 71 Cuda project that came with manual steering.  I eventually want to upgrade it to power steering as the car will be somewhat of a restomod.  What is the best approach?  What is out there in terms of OEM and aftermarket?

[Chryco Psycho]

Well you will need the shorter steering shaft for the column or you can break the pins that allow the column to collapse & shorten it that way . I would use a Frim Feel box , Mancinis have the mount kit & you can use the later 71up  Saginaw type pump

[CUDA JAS]

Well you will need the shorter steering shaft for the column or you can break the pins that allow the column to collapse & shorten it that way . I would use a Frim Feel box , Mancinis have the mount kit & you can use the later 71up  Saginaw type pump

Of course if you want to keep factory peices in it, I have an extra power sterring shaft that I woudl be willing to trade for a manual shaft!!!  Mine is Fubar and I have been looking for a replacement for a while.

Jason

[dodj]

Like CP said, it uses a shorter steering column shaft so take the opportunity to restore the column. You have to completely disassemble it anyway. TopCat has a good pdf file on the work involved. If you ask nicely he may even send you a copy
I think the power steering pump brackets only cost about $50 and there are loads of pumps in salvage yards.
You'll want to find an old steering gear unit to turn in for a core to Firm Feel or Steer 'n' Gear whichever way you go. Look for a the larger sector shaft piece. '73 & '74 I think. Maybe '72 as well. 

[Fish Tale]

Of course if you want to keep factory peices in it, I have an extra power sterring shaft that I woudl be willing to trade for a manual shaft!!!  Mine is Fubar and I have been looking for a replacement for a while.

Jason

I may not get to it very soon though.

[Fish Tale]

Like CP said, it uses a shorter steering column shaft so take the opportunity to restore the column. You have to completely disassemble it anyway. TopCat has a good pdf file on the work involved. If you ask nicely he may even send you a copy
I think the power steering pump brackets only cost about $50 and there are loads of pumps in salvage yards.
You'll want to find an old steering gear unit to turn in for a core to Firm Feel or Steer 'n' Gear whichever way you go. Look for a the larger sector shaft piece. '73 & '74 I think. Maybe '72 as well. 

For the column, I might be better off just getting an aftermarket tilt column wouldn't I?

Also when you say "steering gear unit" you mean steering box, correct?  I just need to find an old one at a bone yard as a core?  Does it matter what model '73 or '74 it's out of?

[heminut]

You will probably have to change the coupler too. On mine the splined shaft on the steering gear box was a different size.

[Aussie Challenger]

The later have the more common pitman arm and usually the reconditioner want the same box in exchange. Have you driven an E body with power steering? I am going to remove mine because I want some road feel, firm feel have boxes that can give you some road feel but the steering is still very vague IMO.   

[Cuda54]

I just found on the net that the steering shaft adjust by the plastic pins that go threw it. You can get little plastic bolts to put back in so it will still collapse in an impact. Going from manual to power you just need the end to fit the power or manual steering box. The shaft will work on ether. I searched for a long time to find a power shat to change mine over CUDA JAS hooked me up with his spare. At the time I did not know they would adjust to fit ether one. This winter mine will be go power steering. So we need to spread the word on the shaft.

[dodj]

For the column, I might be better off just getting an aftermarket tilt column wouldn't I?

It's not difficult to recondition the original, but aftermarket is always an option. More expensive though.

Also when you say "steering gear unit" you mean steering box, correct? 

Correct.
If you order a large sector shaft steering box, they will want the same for a core exchange. Or if you don't have a core, they charge an extra $150 or $175

[CUDA JAS]

I just found on the net that the steering shaft adjust by the plastic pins that go threw it. You can get little plastic bolts to put back in so it will still collapse in an impact. Going from manual to power you just need the end to fit the power or manual steering box. The shaft will work on ether. I searched for a long time to find a power shat to change mine over CUDA JAS hooked me up with his spare. At the time I did not know they would adjust to fit ether one. This winter mine will be go power steering. So we need to spread the word on the shaft.

While I will agree that you can pull the main shaft apart and adjust the legnth to match your need, I have been advised on several occasions by more than one knowledgeble person, that it is not advisable to lengthen the shaft in order to convert from power to standard.  If you do, the two halves of the shaft will only have a minimal amount of overlap. The shaft can't go anywhere once installed, buy it will lose some strength in the shaft.  Once you see the main shaft out of the column this becomes more clear.

I am just not comfortable doing that, so I am still looking for a good standard main shaft. 

I am not sure if you can shorten the shaft when going from standard to power.  There do seem to be a number of power columns availabel for a reasonable price, so it should be realtivly easy to find the correct parts.

If you need a copy of the deatiled rebuild procedures feel free to PM me your email and I will send you a copy.

Jason

[Fish Tale]

Has anyone installed an aftermarket tilt column?  If so, how is it and where did you get it?

[Topcat]

Like CP said, it uses a shorter steering column shaft so take the opportunity to restore the column. You have to completely disassemble it anyway.

TopCat has a good pdf file on the work involved. If you ask nicely he may even send you a copy

Send me a PM with an e-mail if interested!!