Power to Manual Steering Conversion...

Best way is to remove all the powersteering components, and replace the drag link with a manual one, along with a manual pitman arm. This is what I did on my 77 Comet. The drag link and pitman arm cost me $130. Completely forged 351, huh ? Where'd you find that forged block?

D.Hearne said:

Best way is to remove all the powersteering components, and replace the drag link with a manual one, along with a manual pitman arm. This is what I did on my 77 Comet. The drag link and pitman arm cost me $130. Completely forged 351, huh ? Where'd you find that forged block?

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+1

I just did this yesterday.

Some hints.

The pitman arm removal will require a socket that is 1 5/16 and I could only find it in 3/4 inch drive so get an adapter from 3/4 to 1/2 drive. You will need an impact wrench cause the torque spec is something like 150 to 200 ft pounds.

Leave the steering box in the car and linkage attached to the spindles. Turn the wheels as if you are making a left hand u-turn so the spindles are on the steering stops. If you crank on the steering box when trying to remove the pitman arm bolt you can over extend the internal mechanisms and wreck the box.

Rent or buy a pitman arm removal tool. Using pickle fork can damage the box as can banging on the pitman arm with a sledge.

basically you just remove all of the PS components. the adapter takes the place of the power valve. Your alternator will we running off of one belt.

The best way is to buy a manual pitman arm, manual centerlink, and a manual roller idler arm from OT. You would probably want to get the 19:1 ratio flaming river steering box since yours is probably the 16:1.

but you can run manual with the close ratio box.