Wondering if this is correct...I found a `69 Big Block 427/435hp corvette without power steering. Thoughts/opinions?

 

Nothing unusual to not order power steering...my 68 is so equipped....no power brake ither...No more tougher to steer than a 62....in fact easier than the 62..

 

My 68 BB doesn't have power steering, power brakes or A/C.

 

Yep, people who wanted HP in those days would buy cars without PS or PB. It was pretty common.

It's easy to convert to PS...and not that expensive. Without PS, my 68 SB was really hard to park, just trying to turn the steering wheel would lift me out of the driver's seat. What was the decisive situation, was that pulling into parking spots, if my tire hit a parking curve concrete block, the steering wheel would instantaneously snap forward or backward and the steering wheel spokes would smack my thumbs on the steering wheel. The pain! It was an easy decision to get rid of that SOB manual steering. But...be warned...the GM PS of the late 60's and early 70's is your father's PS. Absolutely no road feedback at the steering wheel. Steering wheel pressure is almost non-existnent at freeway speeds..for sure..you can turn the steering wheel when parking with your little finger. A BB without PS must be a beast to park.

PB: Converting to PB gets more involved. You have to modify the hole in the firewall..no big deal, but a nuisance. This is to fit the Power Steering vacuum canister. You have to adjust a brake thrust rod that runs from the clutch/brake bar assembly to the vacuum canister. It's really difficult to work in the small spaces..it's best to remove the steering wheel column to get the new rod from the vacuum canister to the brake pedal shaft.

Done all of the above.

 

My '69 427/435 is without power steering and came that way according to the window sticker and sales invoice for the car. It's not too bad without the power assist...just takes some yanking on the steering wheel when maneuvering at slow speeds.

 

My 69 427/435 also did not have power steering but it came with Tilt, power windows , rear defrost, side exhaust, but I guess he couldn't afford $35.00 for power steering. My car had 255's on the front and it wasn't to bad to drive. My 72 has power steering and I love it.

 

They are a bitch to park without PS not pleasurable to drive ether. Unless you're the NCRS type, I would add it, its only a couple hundred bucks for the kit and worth every penny IMO. Install can be tricky but its not that complicated.

 

Hi ST,
In 69 about 16,000 cars were produced without power steering.
Too bad there aren't statistics for how bb/sb and horsepower entered into that figure.
Regards,
Alan

 

my 69 doesn't have either (427-435) ps or pb and it's really not an issue my idea of what a sports car should be.

 

Another little factoid: The 68 cars had 16 inch steering wheels. The 69 and up had 15 inch steering wheels. If you didn't have power steering, the 68's gave you a little bit of mechanical advantage turning the wheel!!

Really interesting that the 68 has a few items of commonality with the 67 that subsequent years do not!!

 

my first vette, 67 427/435 coupe had power brakes but no power steering, but headrest seats and side exhaust and speed minder. my first 70 had both ps and pb, windows, air, leather, tilt.

 

So far I've only driven my '68 project/no P.S./no P.B. in & out of the garage (90 degree turn into garage)......

I'm only 5'8"...but still had no trouble making the turn in/out of the garage each time I needed to move the car.

 

A 90 degree into the garage must suck for your clutch and at 5'8" and no PS you will have forearms like Popeye.

 

Hah, you beat me to it! As I was reading these posts the first thing that came to mind was that the upside to no PS is that if you drive it enough you will have "Popeye forearms". I remember back in the day the GM full size cars that had manual steering were not that hard to steer and the good thing was you had a great feel of the road. As 68/70 mentioned above, the early GM cars with PS felt like the steering wheel wasn't even connected to anything.

 

With stock size tires (225/70-15) and a normal alignment, about 1-1.5 degrees caster, these cars are not hard to steer without P/S.

 

Have my Pop's '68 427 L71 in the garage..No PS or PB.

 

My 68 L79 has factory air, power brakes, posi, M21 transmission, am-fm STEREO radio, power windows and MANUAL STEERING.

Most high performance buyers back then did not want power steering....it was NOT a $$$$ thing...manual steering gave you a true feel of the road and better control of the car.

I am getting up there age wise...after all I have had my 68 over 40 years and my car steers nice and yes...it takes a little bit of effort to park the car but would NOT put power steering on it....I am in the mountains and I love feeling the curves with its manual steering.

My car was orignally ordered by an engineer.

 

I spent my younger years without power steering or a/c in my daily drivers and service trucks. just my opinion , but I want to enjoy driving not get a work out, I will not consider buying anything that does not have either one.

 

The only time a non-PS car is difficult to steer is when you try to turn the wheels with the car stopped. As long as the car is moving, even very slowly, you should have no problem. I've had many non-PS cars back in the day and that's a trick you learn real quick.

 

That's exactly what I'm after! My 79's power steering is too heavy for me. Is getting that lighter power steering as simple as changing the pump to a 69 version?