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Manual Vs. Power Steering in a 69 Rambler
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Sonic Silver View Drop Down
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Points: 7949 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sonic Silver Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Dec/30/2016 at 5:18pm
Originally posted by Ollie Ollie wrote:

Originally posted by azfletch azfletch wrote:


........ I recommend getting a quick ratio 16:1 AMX steering box and install it in place of the sloppy 20:1 ratio that is standard on the American.  It is a direct bolt in exchange.


How about some part numbers.........

Having AMC Fun,
Ollie
Go to Rock Auto. They list Lares 16:1 manual boxes. The only 16:1 box that I had was on a 70 AMX, and took a lot of effort at low speeds. I'm sure tire size makes a difference. 
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Looks like Lares #8899 on Rock Auto. Lists for $232 plus $75 core charge.
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Mark, I have read a little about the quick ratio box. I know it allows for less lock to lock turns. In your estimation does that make it harder to turn? What are the other advantages? Thanks.
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Originally posted by LakesideRamblin LakesideRamblin wrote:

Mark, I have read a little about the quick ratio box. I know it allows for less lock to lock turns. In your estimation does that make it harder to turn? What are the other advantages? Thanks.
AMC listed the quick ratio manual in the brochures as "recommend only for special performance/racing." They probably thought it was too much for the average person.
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Is it? I am only street driving, not racing. Thanks.
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Originally posted by LakesideRamblin LakesideRamblin wrote:

Is it? I am only street driving, not racing. Thanks.
I think it was recommended that way to keep the guy just riding around town from buying it, and being unhappy with the effort. It would be more responsive on the race track at speed. You can absolutely drive it on the street, just harder to steer. On a 6 cylinder car with narrow front tires, it would feel lighter. 

   I also had a 1975 4 cylinder Cosworth Vega that weighed about 2,700 pounds with a standard 16:1 manual steering gear and I think 185/70 series tires, and it was surprisingly hard to steer. Of course, the steering wheel was a smaller diameter (14 inch?) too. It was probably worse than the manual steering 1972 LT-1 Corvette (15 inch diameter steering wheel) that I had at the same time with 215/70-15's. The smaller steering wheel gives you less leverage. It makes a difference. That is why the old, old cars had huge steering wheels before power steering.

   Edit: I meant to add that all cars won't steer exactly the same due to different suspension geometry, so the Vega might be a totally different beast, but it was a bear, and I was a lot younger then.  In 1969, AMC offered a 24:1 ratio 6 turn lock to lock manual on Americans, except for a 20:1 ratio 5 turn on the SC/Rambler.


Edited by Sonic Silver - Dec/30/2016 at 10:18pm
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I have the quick ratio on the SC. It takes some effort at low speeds, but is not horrible.  The advantage is that while driving curvy roads i can drive one handed most of the time. with the other hand free to shift.
My 67 Rogue convertible has the 20:1 ratio and it takes two hands to turn on the same curvy road. as the wheel must go further in order to turn the wheels the same distance.
I have a used 16:1 box that I will update the convertible with in the future.
Both boxes take the same effort to park at low speeds.
Mark Fletcher
72 AMX 401 with 6K original miles.
70 Mark Donohue Javelin, 390 4 speed with 47K miles.
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67 Rogue Barbados Blue 290 225HP 4 speed convertible 71K miles.
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matt I still use the manuel in my 65 with a small 10 inch steering wheel and had no trouble at slow speeds or parking with the 290 in there
69 amx 290 auto
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I have manual on my 401/426 69 Rambler and would not convert to power. I did that years ago on my 77 hornet, went from manual to power and it was "OK", steered nice, but I reverted to manual eventually. IIRC there was about a 45 lb weight hit.

Some people think I'm nuts, but I prefer the manual. Cleans up the engine compartment, makes it easier to work on, and saves weight. What's not to like? I would not recommend the close ratio steering box for daily driving; a friend did that on his car and on that thing the steering effort is much higher and a pain in daily. But it all depends on what you like -he is a cornering guy and wanted the tighter steering.

Of course getting rid of the power brakes was wonderful!!

One thing to think of is front end weight. It's sort of a snowball, stock iron intake manifold, power brakes, accessories, and stuff adds more weight to the front and makes it harder to steer so you want power steering, which weighs more. On my car the battery is in the trunk, the engine went on a weight reduction plan, and I've dumped accessories I don't want and simplified things. There is probably close to 200 lbs off the front (it's still the 6 cyl springs and now the front is sitting a little to high) and it's very easy to steer.
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Points: 2837 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote vinny Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Dec/31/2016 at 9:08am
I say go for the power steering if you can. I did it on my truck but not before the steering wheel pretty well came apart. There is lots of epoxy holding it together and it still needs to be wrapped or replaced.

Some day the Rambler will also get done as that steering wheel is probably rare to replace and I don't want to see any more cracks in the somewhat nice original that is on it now. .
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