Manual Steering Box

[day1]

I'm thinking of removing the power steering from my 74 C10, but I wanted to get opinions from folks currently running a manual steering gear on the difficulty or ease of driving a manaul steering gear square body?
Secondly
Besides a manual steering gear, what do I need to convert? Pitman arm? Anything else?

Jp

[Captkaos]

you don't want to do this on a daily driver.

[day1]

Well, she is technically my only vehicle, but not exactly a DD. I drive it at most once a week.


Is it a ***** to drive? Just a bicth to park? Please expound...

[Captkaos]

when the truck is moving, it is fine.
Paralell parking is a nightmare, any slow moving turning is a pain.

Why are you wanting to go to manual?

BTW, this has been discussed SEVERAL times in the past, might want to do a search on it.

[day1]

I did do a search, but wasn't coming up with much...
I do have to admit I thought the Google search was the only one for the site, so that is what I used.
After you stated the above I went back and looked and saw the forum "search"

My apologies.

Why would I convert you ask?
I'm a minimalist, less under the hood is good
My PS lines need replaced
I could say parasitic loss
I could say weight
Mainly I like to clean things up and that is one thing that isn’t neccasary. Most of my past projects have all had no PS, but small cars compared to a truck… bit of a difference.

[6977chev]

i have manual steering and brakes in my 78, the brakes fine. the steering is fine if your going down the road at a decent speed, but like said parallel parking and navigating around parking lots is a pain. and you gotta turn it more times and faster than with power. you gotta put both hands on the wheel and giver er hell. people think im nuts, but i like it. may old man just laughs when he watches me negotiate around parking lots. you'll also be able to tell when the road is slick because it will turn way easier than normal.

[Mr79C10]

Manual steering here:
Like Captkaos said,,,"Paralell parking is a nightmare, any slow moving turning is a pain."
Thats why I got a power box, pump and the brackets for my ST8 6 banger to swap out,,, need to get the lines and a belt,, Then life will be good!

[D13]

My 81 3/4 ton l6 has manwel steerin. My father bought this a s a farm truck, and his only regret was the manual steering. It wouldn't be so bad with a bigger wheel, but the standard wheel makes it a nightmare on concrete, especially with tires over 205 wide.

Unless you're drag racing the truck the swap is the wrong thing, and you won't be happy.

[SSC's76]

Well I will not own somthing without power steering my wifes Apollo is getting it before the 383 swap is done. Alot of guys over at thirdgen.org went with the manual steering with the same thing in mind 99% of them went back to power steering even with thier drag cars.

[day1]

Thank you for the input...

[Pyrotechnic]

It's not to hard to get a power steering system back in order on one of these trucks. Remanufactured pumps, new lines, steering boxes, etc are all readily available. If you need a bracket, Alan Grove components makes some really nice brackets for a good price. They look much cleaner than stock and are easy to adjust.

You said you just need new lines ? It's a fairly easy job to do if everything else in the system is working. Go down to you local parts store and get the news lines and put them on.

[72C203503ONTHETREE]

If you go manual you will at least get plenty of upper body exercise and build up your pecs and arm muscles, will look like Arnold after a few years, lol.

[78 Big10 454]

My two cents worth - Don't do it!!! My cousin has a C-10 identical to mine, except it is a total non-powered Custom Deluxe. He has been *****in' for almost 31 years about the lack of P/S and the hassle of parking and turning his truck. Of course, his forearms would put Popeye to shame!

[78 Chevyrado]

If you want to know what it will be like with no PS, turn the steering wheel back and forth with the engine OFF, that's what it will be like anytime you're driveing slow, but it is a bit harder at most speeds.