66 Power Steering

uhoh5.0 · Mar 6, 2010

Hello all,
I just bought a "new" 66 I6 mustang that seems to be in great shape. One question I have though, is that this car was originally a powersteering car but the original owner did not like the way the system functioned so he removed it. Are there any specific parts to properly eliminate the power steering system v/s just removing it? I would assume some of the steering components might function slightly differently? Ratios & such?? Just wondering what the proper route to take is. Car seems to drive nicely and I plan on upgrading to the v8 components anyways in preparation for the v8 conversion.

2+2GT · Mar 6, 2010

His mechanic was probably one of those who can't figure out how to fix it. The 63-82 Corvette had the same steering as the 64-70 Mustang, and you don't hear much whining about how lousy Corvettes steer. If it was factory installed, you should have a 4-turn steering box, same as a GT. The steering linkage between the spindles was entirely different. All of it is available, I can give you leads if you want to go back to it.

uhoh5.0 · Mar 6, 2010

Based on my research, I am going to upgrade the steering link, tie rods, pitman arm, and idler arm in preparation of the V8 swap.. My concern though, is that if you have a car set up to run with power steering and you "disconnect" it. Is it all of the sudden a manual steering car, or should there be parts that you replace to safely do this. Would the car drive worse than a factory manual steering car as is???

2+2GT · Mar 6, 2010

uhoh5.0 said:
Based on my research, I am going to upgrade the steering link, tie rods, pitman arm, and idler arm in preparation of the V8 swap.. My concern though, is that if you have a car set up to run with power steering and you "disconnect" it. Is it all of the sudden a manual steering car, or should there be parts that you replace to safely do this. Would the car drive worse than a factory manual steering car as is???

I don't know how your car "is", because the prior owner messed with it.

You can't just "disconnect" the PS if you want to go manual. The spool valve assembly has about 1" of free play when there is no hydraulic pressure. The steering wheel will have about half a turn of "play". You will die.

If you are swapping to V8 (I wouldn't, but that's another thread) you will need the V8 spindles, center link, pittman, idler, and tie rod assemblies anyway, so get either the manual or power as you see fit, in your plan. The 4-turn gearbox on power steering was identical in every way to the 4-turn gearbox on the GT, except the bearing and sector gear preloads were different. Since these have probably not been adjusted since Johnson was president, you should be adjusting them anyway.

uhoh5.0 · Mar 6, 2010

I will ask the previos owner what he did to eliminate the power steering. He seemed very "handy". He had completely rebuilt the entire front end with upper & lower control arms, tie rods, etc., etc. Why do you think it best not to convert the car to a V8? Just curious what the disadvantage would be?

2+2GT · Mar 6, 2010

Well, for one thing the engine type is in the VIN, so it will never be worth as much as a comparable V8 car, and might end up worth less than a six car.

The 200, properly tuned, gets 25-30 mpg. Even with a tailwind and OD, the V8 won't do that.

And changing a 6 to a V8 in a 64-66 Mustang is a boatload of work. You have to replace everything but the body.

Of course, upgrades are available for the 6 cars just like the V8, such as disc brakes, cam upgrades, dual headers, even T5 5-speed conversion.

uhoh5.0 · Mar 7, 2010

Yea, I have been reading up on the aspect of "hot rodding" that 6 cylinder. I bought the book entitled "Falcon Performance" and it had a lot of interesting tips in it. What I have noticed though, is to build a nice 200 I6 would cost about the same or slightly more than building a "budget" 302. But the 302, would have a ton more power, close to double that of the I6. A lot of the parts I plan on rebuilding on my car anyways just for good measure. For instance, the rear end, just as easy to upgrade to the 8" and rebuild it v/s the stock I6 rear. Just things like that. What I am thinking is just driving the car and enjoying it for now, upgrading the front brakes, the steering components, and suspension shortly and then being ready for just a driveline swap of the engine, trans, and rear end sometime over the next year or so.

2+2GT · Mar 7, 2010

What I have noticed though, is to build a nice 200 I6 would cost about the same or slightly more than building a "budget" 302. But the 302, would have a ton more power, close to double that of the I6.
True, but you also have to factor in the cost of obtaining the 302, the 302 trans, the 302 axle, and the V8 front suspension just to get to the V8 starting point. Now it's starting to add up.

A lot of the parts I plan on rebuilding on my car anyways just for good measure. For instance, the rear end, just as easy to upgrade to the 8" and rebuild it v/s the stock I6 rear. Just things like that. What I am thinking is just driving the car and enjoying it for now, upgrading the front brakes, the steering components, and suspension shortly and then being ready for just a driveline swap of the engine, trans, and rear end sometime over the next year or so.
The six cylinder disc brakes have nothing in common with the V8 disc brakes, so you'll be buying the disc kit twice, or driving around with 5-bolt front wheels and 4-bolt rear wheels.

What's your goal with this car, I mean, what are you going to do with it, what kind of driving?

uhoh5.0 · Mar 7, 2010

"The six cylinder disc brakes have nothing in common with the V8 disc brakes, so you'll be buying the disc kit twice, or driving around with 5-bolt front wheels and 4-bolt rear wheels"

Lol, that is exactly what I am going to do for awhile. I plan on doing the Granada front disc brake conversion along with the heavier duty V-8 steering components and suspension. I also plan on swapping to an 8" rear end. I think I may just be able to switch bellhousings on the C4 I already have if I get it rebuilt right in terms of durability. I'm not completely sure about that though???It might be awhile before there is actually a V-8 between the fenders, but like you said alot of the parts I am going to upgrade are either V-8 or I6 specific. Like the disc brake set-up. I figure I might as well go with the V-8 stuff v/s having to do it twice if I end up going with a V-8.

2+2GT · Mar 7, 2010

Well, my question still stands.

What's your goal with this car, I mean, what are you going to do with it, what kind of driving?

uhoh5.0 · Mar 7, 2010

Well, I will drive it to work probably at least a few times per month. I will use it to run to the local grocery store and to "cruise" on the weekend, and I will probably run it at the local drag strip on "test and tune" nights at least a couple of times per year. I'm not going to cut it up or do anything to take away from good driveability, as I have made that mistake before.

2+2GT · Mar 7, 2010

OK, that last part will require the durability of a smallblock drive train.

66 Power Steering

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