rmchrgr
Well-Known Member
Pulling my hair out with power steering leaks. Regrettably, I have a bunch of money in my power steering system and only a few hundred miles on it. It's all new, modern stuff - Borgeson box, Borgeson "Saginaw" style pump, new "correct" Saginaw style repro pressure line and -AN fittings on the return hose. Does not seem to matter, might as well be worn-out 52 years old parts. Overall it works fine when under power but the leaks got me thinking about ditching it altogether and going to manual.
In my ongoing struggle with leaks, I've replaced hoses, made my own hoses, tightened fittings, re-tightened fittings, bled it 'till the cows came home, yada yada yada. Still leaks. It's basically a forgone conclusion that there's going to be a power steering fluid puddle under the car every time I drive it.
I've read where muscle cars shouldn't have power steering anyway but that's gearhead hyperbole. I do in fact have manual steering in my Ricky-Racer 3,000lb small block Duster which makes sense but going au naturel in a 3,800lb + street driven B barge is another story.
Yes, I know low speed maneuvers/parking with a manual box will take a little more effort but 98.6% of the time the car will be moving and once you're rolling over 3 mph, the increased effort is negligible.
Other benefits include ditching weight off the front and more room. Will have to get a power to manual adapter but that's no big deal, I may even have one somewhere. And unless I'm wrong, the pitman arm should be the same.
So has anyone else go from power assisted steering to manual in their big block equipped 68-70 B body and are glad they did it? Specifically looking at a Firm Feel 20:1 box.
Any input is appreciated.
Greg
In my ongoing struggle with leaks, I've replaced hoses, made my own hoses, tightened fittings, re-tightened fittings, bled it 'till the cows came home, yada yada yada. Still leaks. It's basically a forgone conclusion that there's going to be a power steering fluid puddle under the car every time I drive it.
I've read where muscle cars shouldn't have power steering anyway but that's gearhead hyperbole. I do in fact have manual steering in my Ricky-Racer 3,000lb small block Duster which makes sense but going au naturel in a 3,800lb + street driven B barge is another story.
Yes, I know low speed maneuvers/parking with a manual box will take a little more effort but 98.6% of the time the car will be moving and once you're rolling over 3 mph, the increased effort is negligible.
Other benefits include ditching weight off the front and more room. Will have to get a power to manual adapter but that's no big deal, I may even have one somewhere. And unless I'm wrong, the pitman arm should be the same.
So has anyone else go from power assisted steering to manual in their big block equipped 68-70 B body and are glad they did it? Specifically looking at a Firm Feel 20:1 box.
Any input is appreciated.
Greg
