Going from power to manual steering questions
 

I have done some searching and couldn't find a lot of info. I have some questions

1. Does going to manual box gain you noticeable room for headers?
2. Do you need more then a manual pitman arm, manual box, and rag joint?
3. Are there any other modifications when converting?

Those 3 modifications should be all you need. The 1st gen pitman arms are hard to find. I did a similiar swap in a friends 71 nova. In his case he had to ding the header for more clearance, of course that is with a sbc. Good luck! you want to call your favorite guy for headers and ask if they make a specific header for that application. What year is your firebird?

I'm kinda cheating. I have a 74 ventura, but the front sub frame, steering and brakes are the same as 67-69 firebird. Thanks for the info.

There is a difference between 67-8 and 69 Firebird steering. My friend has a 74 GTO and the steering set up is the same as my 69 Bird.

I have a 74 GTO and I got a Pitman arm off of a 68 Firebird years ago when I swapped from power to manual steering. I am not sure what the difference is between 67-8 and 69 (but I have heard there is a difference as mentioned above), but the 68 Pitman arm fits my car.
Importsmasher

+1 on the original question about going to manual and getting better header clearance?

Does going to manual steering give better header clearance? Isn't the pitman arm for the manual straight and for the power steering curved/banana shaped?

thanks!

The manual pitman arm I put on my 74 GTO is curved. It took me a while to find one. The curved arm does not have a "ball joint" in it. the ball joint is on the center link so the pitman arm has a hole in it. I found a Buick Apollo with manual steering, and it had a straight arm, but the ball joint was on the arm, and the center link had the hole. I have not seen a straight pitman arm that just had the hole in it (although that doesn't mean they don't exist!!!!).

As for the header clearance, I had headers (cheap 3 tube headers) on the car when I did the swap originally, and I didn't find much of a difference (it is my understanding that the first gen F body uses the same subframe as the early 70s Venturas). I am running long branch exhaust manifolds now, though.

Importsmasher

My pitman arm are straight and with a hole in it. Ball joint is in the centerlink. The pitman arm came with the flaming river conversion kit I got for my 69 firebird.

I am able to put my 1 3/4 headers on and off with out jacking up the engine any. I have manual steering on my 68.

BIG B---i have a 69 firebird, it was P-S, when i converted my to manual, i found a company that makes a manual gear box that let me use the same p/s pitman arm, another solution, find a gear box, and pitman arm complete from a donor car, as far as clearance, i never had problems using my headers with both manual and power steering boxes....hope this helps

P/S to Manual Steering
 

69FIREBIRD.....I'm going to be be doing a swap shortly, but before I take this leap...Can you tell us the name of the company regarding the manual box and the P/S pitman arm? That would be some good info that probably a few others may also be interested in.

Thanks,
Lou

P/S TO MANUAL SWAP
 

[QUOTE=jlm69;4491544]69FIREBIRD.....I'm going to be be doing a swap shortly, but before I take this leap...Can you tell us the name of the company regarding the manual box and the P/S pitman arm? That would be some good info that probably a few others may also be interested in.

ThanKS
SORRY BUT I DONT HAVE THAT INFO--I CHECK THE ORIGINAL BOX THAT IT CAME WITH, I CALL PHONE NUMBER ON THE BOX, THEY SAID THEY NEVER GO TO CARSHOWS OR SWAPMEETS, WHAT I CAN DO IS NEXT TIME ILL GO TO THE CAR SHOW AND I WILL TRY TO GET A BUSINESS CARD AND GET THAT INFO AND PRICE FOR YOU GUYS, I KNOW I PAID LESS THAN 200 FOR MINE.....I WILL POST A THREAD ON THIS INFO. CAUSE I KNOW I WENT THRU ALOT OF TROUBLE TRYING TO FIGURE THIS ONE OUT...

i read another thread, it saids try chevy s10...manual box and pitman arm...

Okay - I just went through this on my 69 Firebird.
Just switched from power to manual steering this past May.

As far as the header question is concerned, I didn't have any clearance issues with either steering setup. No noticeable difference either way. Manual or Power.

Finding the correct pitman arm for the 69 was a serious PITA!!!
I finally found a board member here that had the setup but, the arm was still attached to the steering box. I already had a box but, he wouldn't separate them for me.
So, I ended up buying the setup and have an extra box laying on the shelf.
Should've just went with a freakin rack setup...

Anyway, the correct 69 pitman arm is curved with a hole to receive the pin from the center link.
I do know guys that changed out the whole setup on their 69 with a 68 due to parts being more available. 69's seem to be a 1 off.
I do believe that Bob here at PY (our sponsors) is working on (or finished) a complete manual setup swap for the 69's using 68 parts. I think he was working on a package deal that would include all the necessary parts.

The only other item you need to be aware of is the idler arm. I don't think the power setup is the same length as the manual setup. Need to change that out to keep the steering true.

Sorry about the long winded post. Hope that helps a bit.

joe

This maybe a dumb question,but why would you want manual steering? I'm changing to power steering from manual. I picked up a steering box today from a 79 Camaro.

Many early Birds are built for street/strip or strip only use and power steering is not needed. Swapping from factory p/s to manual also saves nearly 30 lbs.

65GPnoob, what car are you changing it on? Someone might be interested in your manual box and pitman arm depending on the car it came off of (If it's the 65 GP in your username, I might be interested....)
Importsmasher

Its from a 69 Firebird. I sold the GP just last month.

I changed to manual from power due to drag racing.
Wanted the weight savings plus, my new build should put me well into the 10's so, wanted the manual steering.

For the little time I spend on the street with the car, it's not that big a deal.
Man up... :D

joe

Mine is worn out. You move the wheel a half a turn before the wheels move. So why keep the manual box. I don't plan on doing any racing.