Mine has been powered by "ARMSTRONG" since high school! 
manual steering question
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 600
Likes: 6
From: Key West Florida
manual steering question
so i removed the power steering from my car, i put the correct center drag link in it, as well as pitman arm, and a 15" steering wheel, but it is still VERY difficult to turn, is there a different steering box to go to? ive herd about the different mounting locations on the steering knuckles but my 77 does not have the outer holes, any input would be great!
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 600
Likes: 6
From: Key West Florida
my chevelle had manual steering with a rose wood wheel, i think it was 16" tho, and it wasent that difficult to turn. do the outer holes really make that big of a difference? also do they sell a different steering box with a higher ratio to help out with it?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Yes, it makes a significant difference (BTDT), tho it will never be as easy to steer at parking lot speeds as is PoS. ...I mean PS.
IIRC the stock C2/C3 steering box is geared to 16.1:1, with overall effective steering ratios of either 20.2:1 ("slow") or 17.6:1 ("quick"). That translates into roughly 13% more effort, not to mention that due to steering wheel diameters. Most aftermarket boxes for the C3 seem to have even lower output ratios (read, "higher effort).
FWIW, bumpsteer blocks yield a ratio of ~18.9:1, tho the increase in Ackerman may nominally affect effort. And, front wheels with non-stock offsets will also affect effort due to changes of scrub radius.
Still, IMCO the benefits of manual steering outweigh the downside. YMMV
IIRC the stock C2/C3 steering box is geared to 16.1:1, with overall effective steering ratios of either 20.2:1 ("slow") or 17.6:1 ("quick"). That translates into roughly 13% more effort, not to mention that due to steering wheel diameters. Most aftermarket boxes for the C3 seem to have even lower output ratios (read, "higher effort).
FWIW, bumpsteer blocks yield a ratio of ~18.9:1, tho the increase in Ackerman may nominally affect effort. And, front wheels with non-stock offsets will also affect effort due to changes of scrub radius.
Still, IMCO the benefits of manual steering outweigh the downside. YMMV
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
Changing out the arm links attached to your front spindles that have the outer holes in them for the tie rods will help.
Best of luck in your search and modification.
DUB
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 45
From: Cameron Park CA
You MIGHT see some improvement by removing the steering box and having a QUALITY rebuild, that is have it blueprinted. The steering (input) shaft on the box I removed when the Borgeson went in is very hard to turn in the bench. I'm thinking it has been maladjusted. That could be part of your problem.
Mainly, you need to find older C3 or C2 spindles with the outer holes. That is how the General slowed down the system to make manual steering livable on the street. In the old days before everything had power steering, small women could drive non-p/s cars, even Corvettes, with no problems. I think most of us have gotten soft.
Pete
Mainly, you need to find older C3 or C2 spindles with the outer holes. That is how the General slowed down the system to make manual steering livable on the street. In the old days before everything had power steering, small women could drive non-p/s cars, even Corvettes, with no problems. I think most of us have gotten soft.
Pete
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 600
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From: Key West Florida
how it is now, i let my grandmother drive the car, TKO500 and all drive it, shes in her mid 70's and worked for a chevrolet dealership from the mid 60's to the early 80's and she drove the car fine, just commented on how it had been 45 years or so since she drove a car with no power steering..... i was just looking for alittle more assistance for slow speed usage.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,595
Likes: 7,043
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
I changed out the ever-leaking-squeeling-chattering P/S assembly on my '34/'92 SBC truck...(my other vehicles have trouble-free P/S)
It has 235 series tires & parking is a workout unless you can make a big radius turn into the parking spot....but I need the exercise!
Any speed over 10mph feels like P/S though...which is a good thing!
That sharp-looking 13 inch chrome/black Grant steering wheel doesn't help matters either...I should switch to a larger diameter steering wheel!
The Corvette project has the original manual steering...so I'll already be in shape to drive it...LOL
It has 235 series tires & parking is a workout unless you can make a big radius turn into the parking spot....but I need the exercise!
Any speed over 10mph feels like P/S though...which is a good thing!
That sharp-looking 13 inch chrome/black Grant steering wheel doesn't help matters either...I should switch to a larger diameter steering wheel!
The Corvette project has the original manual steering...so I'll already be in shape to drive it...LOL
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,655
Likes: 19
Guessing they eliminated the manual once all cars came with power steering.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Corvette-Original-Passenger-Side-RH-Steering-Knuckle-Arm-One-Hole-1968-1982-/161181159622?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3ACorvette&hash=item25872550c6&vxp=mtr
You could drill yours, but I'm guessing the tapered reamer would cost more than a pair of used arms.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CORVETTE-STEERING-KNUCKLES-R-OR-L-69-TO-82-USED-/290299534726?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4397335d86&vxp=mtr
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Corvette-Original-Passenger-Side-RH-Steering-Knuckle-Arm-One-Hole-1968-1982-/161181159622?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3ACorvette&hash=item25872550c6&vxp=mtr
You could drill yours, but I'm guessing the tapered reamer would cost more than a pair of used arms.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CORVETTE-STEERING-KNUCKLES-R-OR-L-69-TO-82-USED-/290299534726?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4397335d86&vxp=mtr
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,595
Likes: 7,043
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
truck.....if you don't mind turning the wheel 8 or 9 revolutions to make a 90* turn........LOL!
(I haven't checked the revolutions-to-turn on the Corvette project yet)