Anyone still running manual steering? by choice

[davidh]

Is anyone still running manual steering with no plans to change it? I was just wondering if in new condtion, front end or if anyone who had one of these trucks new remembers how it was navigating one of these. I've got several trucks but they all need front end work so I cant get a good objective. One has a manual steering box that is shot. The ratio is about 4 complete turns of the wheel.
I say this and question it because I drove a guys 55 chevy with manual steering that had just been rebuilt with a V8 and it wasn't that bad to steer even with the small steering wheel. I was suprised.

[Bad Dog]

Yeah I'm currently running manual steering and it really BLOWS Oh, and did I mention that I even have non power assisted 4 wheel DRUM brakes. It takes me two feet to stop quickly.
Bad Dog

[jc]

mine is nice in tight in my 67 ans no way in hell will i convert
i like to keep em original as posible
its just a little tricky trying to paralell park with a hot cup of coffee and 3 on the tree
but i love it
it makes it fun to drive

but it could really use a sway bar!!

[davidh]

Post some pics of that 67. Only 37K I bet the front end is still tight.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Yeah, I have the stock manual Saginaw box on my '68 C/10 Stepside. I love it. No drips. No squeels. No freaky hoses to find rotted out and be a b!itch to change. No having to bleed same. And it turns on a dime.
Set up is an L6 292, SM 465 tranny, shortwheel base, one-piece propshaft. [Original configuration.]
Steering box was NOS from Ed at Mothertruckers' a couple of years ago. Tires are new Dunlap 235/85R16LTs. [Tall and skinny]. L6s are a couple hundred pounds lighter in the nose than V8s -- and that helps. Stops OK on drum brakes too.
I tried converting from manual steering to power on my '67 K/10 Suburban [w/454]. It was a disaster. Bad turning radius. Bump steer. Broken bolts. Fluid leaks. I had to change back to manual, but it was not as good as before. '67 was a wierd year. They used ram-assisted manual steering. Swapping in a '69 power steering gearbox was not wise. My solution will be to convert to a '77 vintage Dana 44 with disc brakes and power steering. But that truck's just a pipe dream project for now.
My other runner is a '71 Jimmy. I was lucky this summer -- I had P/S problems, but it turned out to be the hi-pressure hose. I R&R'ed both hoses and flushed the box repeatedly until it bled clear -- and it was good. It also handled a lot better once I junked the PO's pimp Grant wheel [12"] and replaced the stock 17" wheel .

[jc]

sure, it was a farm truck up here but must have retired early
2nd owner baught it from his neighbor 15 years ago put it in a barn and it got covered with pigeon poop ,than that guy died and his wife sold it to a guy at at a garage who imediatly ebayed it and thats were a came in.
no rust ever. no i need a garage to put her in being shes not mint show truck i drive it a little bit more tan the 48,000 mile 71 in the garage.

[davidh]

Intresting. Your 67 has the chrome head light rings and grille trim but a white bumper. Did you change that out or was it original. I've got a blue truck like that , farm truck too. IT has many more dents down the driver's side. As he got older he would hit the side of the shed as he pulled in, .

[Tx Firefighter]

I've had plenty of these trucks with each, so I've seen both sides of the fence.

It doesn't make me much difference either way.

I converted my current truck back to manual steering a few weeks ago. It drives just fine. I run a stock late model truck 4 spoke wheel.

[67shortie]

I just converted mine from manual steering to power and what a difference

Before it was a chore in parking lots etc, but on the open road it was fine like others have said. After the conversion, after many parts store trips, the later 72 3/4 ton box has a much quicker ratio, parking is a breeze and going around normal corners is a pleasure. I get to enjoy my ECE 4/6 drop and 1-1/8 inch front sway bar as well now

I don't regret any of it.

[Jerry Jones]

I have a '68 C10 with power nothing and a 4-speed, just a work truck, had it for years. I also have a '71 C20 p/s p/b. I love 'em both, sometimes it is good to drive the '68 around to remind me that I still have some upper body strength .

I think as long as everything is good and tight, you have good rubber on the road, and you have a original sized steering wheel... things work pretty well.

[jc]

i havnt dont any thing to the 67 except get rid or the custom bed rails, adjust timing and swap wheels . the nylon corded tires where just a little scary around the bends and wobbled like crzy over 45mph

Originally Posted by davidh

Intresting. Your 67 has the chrome head light rings and grille trim but a white bumper. Did you change that out or was it original. I've got a blue truck like that , farm truck too. IT has many more dents down the driver's side. As he got older he would hit the side of the shed as he pulled in, .

[boundstaffpress]

I have manual steering in my 67 k10 4 spd. It is the full 4 turns lock to lock, and can be exciting trying to get in to my carport. I don't mind it for driving, but wouldn't want to do much paralell parking.

[HeavyD]

I have manual steering on my GMC and I hate it even worse than the 3 spd standard. With 255/70/15 tires on front turning the wheel is a real workout, and gets old fast.

[67ChevyRedneck]

I completely rebuilt my front end and was lucky to have a fairly tight steering box that came with my 71 disk brake suspension I put on my '67. I have no problem driving it. It would be nice to have power, but I don't think I need it. I don't park near other cars anyway, so I have an easy time parking it.

[oldgold70c10]

Yes, but my steering box is badly worn too. I am in the process of buying the parts to rebuild my front end, and will put a new steering box in too, but not power steering. My manual drums seem to work good too, stops quickly. The big steering wheel makes manual steering easy, plus I like the exercise!

[carl609]

I have manual steering and 245/60s. I cant afford a gym membership so i think i will keep it.

[71chevytruckguy]

i have manual on my '69 with 275/60/15 on all for corners. real easy to turn. maybe cause it's 6 turns lock to lock! i don't wanna put p/s on it cause i need every mile per gallon i get. i got a p/s box that 4.5 lock to lock and was think about putting that on with out a pump so i could get a quicker ratio. chris.

[LUV2XCLR8]

"GQ" w/ the 35's has PS, the "ROADSTER" project will NOT