I was trying to decide to keep manual steering,or go power? I never drove the car so i don't know how how hard it is to steer.I have 68 camaro big block.(manual steering) Thanks in advance Dewayne.

Do you're self a favor, go for power.

Stay manual and feel the road.

I have a manual steer BB car. It's a non-A/C car with alum heads and intake and it's great. I had my steering box rebuilt and the linkage is mostly new and I love the way feels,..nice and tight. The only time I feel a need for power steer is when turning sharp at very slow speeds.

....and no ugly power steering pump under the hood .

If you stay with manual steering, invest in a good front end alignment and check the tire pressures often. :>)

I was originaly manual.. Switched over to power, but now I think Im going to switch it back to manual when my car comes back together.. its really a pretty close call.. manual--- simple and easy, pain to steer at crawl speeds.. power---- belts, power robber, leaky, but nice to turn with the flick of your finger... 2 and one half dozen of the other...... its a toss up..

Go manual.

In my 68 I went from manual to fast ratio PS, and I'll never go back. You can't beat 6-1/2 turns lock to lock vs. 2-1/8 now, this with the long pitman arm.:thumbsup:

d's 68
you should create a poll on this one , it would be interesting to see how many prefer manual or power steering.:)

I'm with ORENCH, the fast ratio power box is unbeatable for feel and comfort.

I FINALLY installed a third generation Camaro quick ratio, power steering box in my 68. It has great road feel and turns like a slot car. It's the second best upgrade I made, after the Tremec 5 speed.

Mike

Thanks guys for all the replys,I believe I will stick with manual steering.I want the engine bay clean as possible! Dewayne

Power Steering for sure!

I'm with the power steering crowd....

I would start a poll if I knew how! I'm for power(steering that is)

I'll start a poll.
Here ya go! (http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=86692)

I went from manual to power also, and I love it! Like Orench said: 2 1/8 with long pitman arm. Sweet.

My 68 L78/M22 and 69 L34/M21 had power disk and manual steering as original equipment. After looking like an idiot when I would load the cars on a trailer or back into an assigned spot at a car show they now have fast ratio power steering. I'm too old for that stuff anymore! I put the manual box and pitman arm in a box on the shelf for my wifes next husband to concern himself with LOL.

My Z was manual and it was an absolute PITA drive. You'd only look at parallel parking spots. I purchased all the correct components, including the deep groove pulleys, and it drives 100% better. Sure you give up some steering feel, but I don't thinks it worth the extra work for parking. I kept the manual box and all the original parts in case I wanted to go back. After 3+ years, all of the parts remain upstairs in the attic tucked away for what looks like a long storage period.

I've had several first gens and I prefer the manual. IMO better feel of the road when going down the highway, plus the engine compartment looks much cleaner without the PS pump and you can mount the alternator where the PS pump would normally go for an even better look, if you like that sort of thing.

Even NASCAR runs power steering!!! For a driver, power steering makes all the difference in the world!

The guy who I bought my '67 from had a small chrome wheel on it when I bought it. I got my fingers caught in the stamped circles in it while doing a u turn. When the Manual steering snaped back, I sprianed my wrist. Sounds stupid I know, but after that experience, and trying to park the darn thing, I will be going 3rd gen power.

The guy who I bought my '67 from had a small chrome wheel on it when I bought it. I got my fingers caught in the stamped circles in it while doing a u turn. When the Manual steering snaped back, I sprianed my wrist. Sounds stupid I know, but after that experience, and trying to park the darn thing, I will be going 3rd gen power.

ouch :eek:

When I got my 68 SS it had the original manual box and it was well worn out so I bought a used pump with the brackets and a good used box and it made all the difference in the world. Now I am going to upgrade to either a Lares 972 or a Third Gen box

can anyone tell me what i would need to change, when i go from powersteering to man. is it just a matter of changing the steering box , and pitman arm ? ( 67 camaro) does it all bolt up the same?

The guy who I bought my '67 from had a small chrome wheel on it when I bought it. I got my fingers caught in the stamped circles in it while doing a u turn. When the Manual steering snaped back, I sprianed my wrist. Sounds stupid I know, but after that experience, and trying to park the darn thing, I will be going 3rd gen power.

That's nothing...a buddy of mine one broke his wrist in the long,sharp spoke of a '71 LT-1 Corvette coupe when his tire bumped into a curb.

That being said,I wouldn't change the manual steering box in my '69 for anything...oh wait,I just did...I added a 2 1/2 turn lock-to-lock box and it drives like a dream.Feels like a real race car too.My '70 Z was originally a manual-steering car too but someone changed it over before I bought it.

Power steering is for wuzzies and dating...

Dewayne I'd suggest try driving the car with the manual first, if you're happy with it......leave it and spend your cash on other things. If you can't stand it, it isn't much trouble to change it later. I've had both and prefer the manual. I run the large diameter stock steering wheels, not the little after market wheels, it does make a huge difference. It takes a little more effort, but it isn't bad and once moving I think it's much more enjoyable than PS. This is really a subjective question and everyone has a different opinion, I really think you need to experience both and decide which YOU prefer. Personally I'll never go power, but then I don't like 350 motors, auto trans, A/C, convertibles, NASCAR (it was pointed out previously that if NASCAR uses it it's got to be good, 3 things in life that are worthless, #1 Redwing round 2 playoff tickets, #2 Sunday afternoon spent watching NASCAR, #3 watching someone else fish or golf on TV) or many of the other mainstream options that so many others feel so passionate about. I don't talk on the cell when driving and I don't put on make up in traffic, so both my hands are free to steer when I'm not shifting gears. I'm also not looking to make driving the car "easier", I want to capture the feeling I had in college when I first started driving them because they were just cheap used cars at that time. Everyone is different and that's what makes going to a show fun, seeing all the variations of the same car. I can understand why some feel PS is necessary and I can understand why some wouldn't want to go power. You're not out anything to try out the manual first, then decide if you can live with it.

PS: nobody should take the 3 things that are worthless to heart, it was meant as a joke, except for the Redwing round 2 tickets, those will continue to have no face value.

can anyone tell me what i would need to change, when i go from powersteering to man. is it just a matter of changing the steering box , and pitman arm ? ( 67 camaro) does it all bolt up the same?

Steering box
Pitman arm
Rag joint

Rag joints and pitman arms are specific for wheather it is a manual or power box.. ie... you cant take your pitman off your power box and use it on the manual.. rag joints have a different dia shafts.

oh.. you should take the pump, belts and hoses off from the power steering too.. ;)

A few years ago I bought a 68 RSS396 Auto Air PS Car minus engine and trans. The front end was apart as was the sheetmetal. It was a drum brake car and I found a 69 Z28 front suspension with disc brakes and quick ratio manual steering. Now Im wondering if I'll miss that ps.
Michael

Power steering, manual steering sucks for low speeds. Of course I'm running manual steering with a power steering gearbox that is worn out :(