69 Camaro Power to Manual Steering
 

I have a 69 Camaro with a power steering box. I'm interested in converting this to a Manuel steering setup. Can anyone help me with what is needed and suggest vendors who have quality parts? Thanks in advance....Jeff

Re: 69 Camaro Power to Manual Steering
 

Contact The "Lil" "Drummer Boy" :) Jerry MacNeish
Jerry forgot more about Camaro's than most know!

http://z28camaro.com/wp/contact-info

Re: 69 Camaro Power to Manual Steering
 

I did this with a Z28, which I had 10 years ago.
All I needed was a Standard Steering box, of which I had a couple on the shelf and a Quick Ratio Pitman Arm, which I found on E-Bay.

Check out this page,
http://www.camaros.org/suspen.shtml#steer

Hope this helps.

Re: 69 Camaro Power to Manual Steering
 

I have an additional question on the answer.
Do you need to find a correct corresponding idler arm to match the new pitman arm to keep center link level and centered?
Chris

Re: 69 Camaro Power to Manual Steering
 

It depends on what is in the car now.
If you are only changing from power to manual steering and are not changing from quick ratio to standard or vice versa, you do not need to change the idler arm.
That is why using the correct pitman arm is important.

Re: 69 Camaro Power to Manual Steering
 

I had a 69 Z that I did the change on. I pulled everything from a 1967 6 cyl Camaro. I took from spindle to spindle. The drag link was smaller diameter and the complete assy weighed less. I would think twice about the quick steering on a drag car. I always use the slower steering rack & pinions in cars I build. Think about it: Quicker steering might cause a driver to over correct during a problem run. I've see more crashes where drivers over correct than crashes where they don't correct enough. Just my .02 for free!

Re: 69 Camaro Power to Manual Steering
 

Thanks, guys. I emailed with Jerry as suggested. That, along with what I read here, says get the manual box and the pitman arm....if anyone else has anything to add please feel free to add! Thanks again, Jeff

Re: 69 Camaro Power to Manual Steering
 

Also, how much weight difference between the power and manual setups?

Re: 69 Camaro Power to Manual Steering
 

If you go to the Borgeson website it list the weight between the different steering boxes.