Does anyone know the stock ratio for the steering gear box on a 66 with power steering? [sm=smiley25.gif]

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16 to 1

 

Yeah, it a 16:1 if the tag number is HCC-AW 388 or ASMB-B. Most likely it is. How about upgrading to a rack and pinion?

 

Dang I was wanting to perhaps switch to manual steering and get the flaming river 16:1 gear box. But if its stock 16:1 then the FR gearbox won’t give me any advantage. As it is now, it takes about 60+ pounds of force to turn the wheel at slow speed with the belt removed from the PS pump. If i switch to a manual steering setup I would expect the same amount of force required to turn the wheel right? Or does the manual steering conversion somewhat reduce the amount of steering force required?

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R&P would be nice but its like 1800 just to start and then it sounds like an additional 500+ in extras just to unf@*! all the inherent flaws in the systems such as fit issues and bump steer problems [>:]

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See if this helps. Take a read......
http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2...x/index2.shtml

 

HUmmmmm
That sounded a lot like what I wanted to hear. Same ratio but due to the new tech it takes less (sounded like much less) steering effort.

Thanks for that link Soaring

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I replaced my '65 stock box with a Flaming River along with a new drag link, idler arm, and ball studs. It's like night and day. So smooth and responsive you'd swear I had R&P.

 

I think freshing it all up a bit is in your best interest, as well as getting the alignment checked and installing the manual steering drag link.

I run the FR 16:1 box with 245 40 17 on the front. Its hard when the car is sitting still, but still possible to turn the wheels with less than 60 plus pounds. I did add a roller bearing idler arm recently which also has a positive impact. I would also want to know what steering wheel you have. If you have a little 13-14 inch aftermarket wheel in the car, put in the stock wheel, or an after market 15 inch (I have a grant one in my car).

 

Its a momo wheel a few " smaller than stock. With this set up the steering effort sounds reasonable, as long as the car is moving just a bit should be okay. No one here has yet said "I got FR box and MS setup and took it out because it was ungodly difficult to steer"

I think ill be all right


One other question It says in the link that Soaring gave me that the steering shaft must come out with the old gear box for 1966 mustang. How come the shaft won’t separate from the box when you pull remove the box from the car and move it foward? Isn’t that steering shaft attached with splines, its not part of the steering box is it?

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