Anyone running with manual steering?

From the factory.


Steve

not on the bird, did on my 57 Studebaker

Actually, power steering is about my only option. I was always surprised though, how good those manual brakes work.

Mine had PS, but once while take'n off the trailer at the track, couldnt get it the pressure line to stop leaking at the gear.
Been manual ever since.

I am. My 68 did not have it. Good work out for my arms.

Anyone actually hate their manual steering?

I have been thinking about going manual break, manual steering and even manual transmission for my 2nd FB. Keep it real simple. Something about the thought of all manual appeals to me but then again with no actaual experience behind the wheel of a car like that it makes me wonder if I would end up hating it. But if I do I can easily change back to power accessories.

in my Stude, only time I had 'some' issue with manual steering was parallel parking or such ,when you need to steer and have almost no speed....once car is moving ...its NO problem

I like it better.
P/S back then feels to "floaty-?" compared to manual.
Removed the brake booster also.
That took more time get'n used too.

Power steering manual disc brakes on the bird, like it. Manual both on the GTO, like the manual steering on the highway hate it parking.
Al.

I drove a 69 cougar that my friend was thinking of buying. It had manual steering and was terrible to drive. I much prefer my over boosted 60's era power steering.

All manual on mine and I love it. ( and I mean all manual.. breaks, steering, trans, top, windows, locks and mirror) It suits the car. But then again it's the only Firebird I ever driven...

It adds to the experience of driving the car. If you car is all stock I would leave it stock. It is fun to let go of the wheel when backing up and watch the wheel whip around.

I switched to a Flaming River (Vega-style) manual box years ago. Cost a lot of money, it worked well, but I went back to p/s. One thing that was cool is that Ames Perf reproduces the manual steering alternator bracket, which drops the alternator down MUCH lower on the engine. Looked very strange seeing so much of the intake manifold, and the drivers side valve cover. I loved the look.

However, I can give you a warning here! If you have wider than stock tires up front, or radials, the car is nearly impossible to park or turn around, which is embarrassing at a cruise night. With skinny bias plies up front, or pizza cutters, it's not too bad driving around, but with slightly fatter radials or fatter bias-plys, it was just miserable to drive.

We had a 1988 Hyundai (back in 1988) with manual steering, and with those tiny 13" skinny radials, it was no problem getting around. In fact, it was my wife's car, and she's 5' 2". Her old car was a 1972 Opel with manual steering, so she was used to the manual steering. And honestly, that Hyundai didn't feel much different than a 1990's Bonneville power steering, which Pontiac designed in a alot of 'road feel'.

But with bigger/fatter tires, well there's a reason why p/s was mandatory on the Trans Am! Also factor in the size of your steering wheel. The little Formula wheel takes a LOT more effort to turn manual steering than a giant wood wheel.

I put P245/R14's all around, and with the Formula wheel, I could barely get out of the driveway without pulling a muscle. With a larger wood wheel, it was much better, but still a chore.

For the negligible amount of horsepower you may be saving, it's not worth having a car that's no fun to drive. It's like taking the heater out to save 5 lbs, then freezing your butt off at every at cruise night. Just not worth it...

Heater, whats a heater?
A/C P/B P/S....spoiled brats...

Nah, just a Frickin' Old Guy. Just speakin' for myself, but my hair is whiter than my headlights.

I have a manual steer and brakes car. As long as the car is moving steering was no problem. Always remember to cut your wheel before you stop to back up. Almost like your setting up a semi to back up. Think a step ahead of your next move because it's not easy to get that wheel to move stopped. Oh I love the whole manual thing......

A/C is for old people.......... LMAO

/w no power windows!

I like telling the wife to turn on the AC when we are cruising , she looks at me like i'm crazy because we don't have AC in the car.She then says what! And i say ROLL YOUR WINDOW DOWN ! LOL

Thank you for all the responses.

I'm interested in the Ames Perf reproduced manual steering alternator bracket. Do you have a part number?

I think the tough part would be finding the correct single pulley system.

I'm thinking it might be cool having a pusher fan too, hidden on the outside of the radiator.

I pulled out my videos a few monthes back when I started tearing my convertible apart and this was a manual break car. I was surprised how much of the firewall and engine I could see with just the booster out of the way.


Found it.
RPE189 1969-70 RA WATER PUMP PULLEY, w/o PS & AC....$55.00/ea

PYE11 1967-81 ALTERNATOR MOUNTING KIT, w/o PS............$39.00

Glad you found those part #'s!

I found one pic of my engine with the manual steering alternator bracket. I know I have more, but I'd have to scan them in.

Again, the biggest problem I found was that running P225 or P235 radials up front makes it VERY hard to steer at slow speeds. You really do need to calculate out your turns, and as long as the car is rolling, it's not TOO bad, but if you get stuck at a cruise night or car show and HAVE to turn the wheel without moving, it's an absolute bear. You do need a larger steering wheel than the Formula wheel, preferably the factory wood wheel, I think those are larger diameter than the regular Pontiac plastic wheel.

In my opinion though, it's just not worth the 'cool' factor as much anymore as it used to be. Back in the 80's or even 90's, manual steering, manual brakes, heater delete, etc. were all great little things to show off the 'dinosaur' or barbaric Musclecar, brute strength-brawny look, but these little items make very little difference as far as weight savings, and they make the car much less enjoyable to drive.

If you do go manual steering though, be forewarned you need the manual steering pitman arm for the box. When I did the conversion, I found out the hard way that 1969 manual steering arm was unique. And typical, Flaming River (the makers of the Vega box) and other vendors lumped 1967-1969 together, but the 1969 arm is different. Without it, you will run into clearance problems with the #1 exhaust manifold tube or header.

If you want an idea how bad it is, disconnect the return hose at the gear, and loop the pressure hose back to it.
Dont worry about loosing alot of fluid. Hose needs to be empty for it to work.

you guys are talking me out of it pretty fast, especialy since I planned on using a 17x8 rim/tire combo.

If you're running that tire, then I'm assuming you're planning on improving the handling.

Along those lines, that means dialing in as much positive caster for highway stability with radial tires, as possible. Increased caster, means more steering effort. As does negative steering camber. So couple that with the wider performance tires, and low speed steering is not going to be easy.

That's how mine is and I wouldn't have it any other way.....well maybe front disc would be nice.

I have manual steering on my 69. Parking is a PITA.

I occasionally go to the track and wanted to be sure that if I let go of the steering wheel, the car would continue to go straight