69 Road Runner PS conversion

[gloiacano]

Looking at changing from Manual to Power Steering. Can find all the parts but have question on if the manual column shaft will work with a PS gearbox. Is there a coupler needed to make the switch or does the steering column shaft have to be changed?
thanks

 

[HawkRod]

Do some searches on threads here on the site - you will find extensive discussions on the topic.

In short, the shaft needs to be shortened. I am doing this conversion and I feel the shaft needs to be cut. There are some here who feel you can hammer the column shaft in since it is made to telescope. I have heard that limits or destroys the columns safety in a crash, and it makes sense to me - otherwise Chrysler would have saved a ton of money and used the same part for both power and manual systems.

If you cut the column, then you can drill it and use a stock Chrysler power steering coupler.

Hope this helps.

Hawk

 

[gloiacano]

Thanks Hawk! I'll do some thread searching but agree hammering anything just doesn't sem right.

 

[Rustyiron]

I had to swap column shafts on mine when I installed PS.

 

[PurpleBeeper]

Hey Gloiacano, I just did this swap about a year ago on my '70. Besides the key on the side of the column I believe they are basically the same. The only part in the column I had to change was the center shaft itself. I have a 4spd manual steering car. I found a automatic power steering column, disassembled them both and put the p/s shaft into my m/s column. It's a good time to check out the bearings & seals in the column since they're pretty cheap. Not "too" tough of a job. Good Luck!

 

[dsd1967]

I would recommend cutting back the shaft and redrilling, or just changing the shaft in the column.....it's not that bad of a job. You will also need a different coupler on the steering box. The manual box coupler has a larger spline.

The advantage of changing out the shaft is that there are a lot of people looking to go to manual steering. The flaming river adapter coupling to extend a PS shaft to adapt to a MS box is really expensive, so you could probably get some decent money out of your manual steering shaft, coupler and box.

 

[gloiacano]

Hey Gloiacano, I just did this swap about a year ago on my '70. Besides the key on the side of the column I believe they are basically the same. The only part in the column I had to change was the center shaft itself. I have a 4spd manual steering car. I found a automatic power steering column, disassembled them both and put the p/s shaft into my m/s column. It's a good time to check out the bearings & seals in the column since they're pretty cheap. Not "too" tough of a job. Good Luck!

Thank you. Sounds like best way to go is change shafta and coupler and be done.