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Expert
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Location: Muskego, WI | I have a 1960 Plymouth Belvedere that has manual steering and the steering gear will need new input and output seals at minimum, probably a rebuild. When I bought the car, the steering gear was completely empty. I refilled the housing only for it to empty out within hours. I have a 1966 Dodge 318 Poly in the car now, it came with a power steering pump and needed pulleys. It would be nice to have power steering. Is this a fairly simple conversion? Is there any difference in steering columns between power and manual cars? Or any of the other steering linkage components? If it's just a matter of replacing the steering gear and re-installing my power steering pump, I just might do so. Any information is appreciated. |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7393
Location: northern germany | crank pulley, pump/bracket, lines, ps box, ps column/bracket, ps steering wheel. firewall seal from manual should work. would also add a ps cooler. |
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Expert
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Location: Muskego, WI | Thanks Sid, so not as quick and easy as I had hoped. I'm thinking about buying this manual steering gear box off ebay, rebuilding it and then just swapping it in.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1960-61-DODGE-PLYMOUTH-DESOTO-MANUAL-STEERI... |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 9650
Location: So. Cal | You could have a local shop rebuild it for you. It should cost around $100. You can also do it through NAPA, and they will farm it out to some shop.
If you want power, then you could likely get a complete setup through John at BigM if you don't mind paying shipping for it. |
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Expert 5K+
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| I did mine on my 57 Dodge and I took it from a 57 Chrysler. I got the pump and everything, its a fair amount and I needed the seal for the 57 at the bottom.
I think my steering wheel will work though? |
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Expert
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Location: Muskego, WI | I appreciate all of the information everyone, but I'm not looking for a major project. If it was a matter of just re-installing the power steering pump and swapping a gear box, I would do it. I just want to keep this car on the road, so I plan to just repair the gearbox I have. |
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Expert 5K+
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Location: northern germany | actually living on the right side of the pond this is a one day operation and not too expensive, i've never driven a manual steering 60 so i don't know if its worth the trouble, but i do know that PS drains lots of horsepower. i have a 61 golden commando fury coupe with manual steering i think i will leave it manual.
Edited by 1960fury 2018-01-07 3:04 PM
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Expert
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Location: Muskego, WI | It's only a little annoying when the car isn't moving and I have to turn the wheel (now that the car is stick shift, anyway). Parallel parking would be much more convenient with power, for example. I'll put a suicide knob on the wheel and I'll be ok.
What is different between the manual and power steering columns? What is different between the gear boxes (other than power assist)? For example, is the power steering gear larger and therefore the power column is shorter?
Edited by jboymechanic 2018-01-07 11:20 PM
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1960 Plymouth manual to power steering - what's needed?
