Removing power steering

I had a '61 Cruiser without power steering and I couldn't see the need for it. So, I ordered my '64 Daytona Wagonaire without p/s. Big mistake. It was much harder to steer than the Cruiser so I found a donor car and put p/s on it and this was back in the bias-ply tires days. Radials make it even harder to steer. A friend of mine took the p/s steering off his '63 Avanti some years ago. He put it back on a couple years ago because he said the additional strain of turning is much harder on the gearbox without p/s. I trust his information. He was the senior craftsman for White Post Restorations for a number of years and has virtually built some vehicles from scratch. Paul Johnson

Non power steering cars had different steering boxes ratio-wise.

My original Avanti R-1 had manual steering and it was quite a challenge to find the correct box as it needed replacing. Other than that, I never missed not having power steering.

Just my 2¢ worth...

JT

Very true about the different boxes. My Wagonaire had the slowest of all boxes being ordered as a manual steering car, something like 5 1/4 turns lock to lock. With power steering you can spin the wheel like they isn't anything attached. I have a set of quick steer arms that I will put on it sometime. One '63 Avanti I had was equipped with the fast manual steering option (16-1). I think it may have been just the regular power steering box less the power, but it had an option number. It was a handling fool rolling, but, parking... Paul Johnson

A manual steering Studebakers steering box takes a lot of abusive suspension shock as compared to one with the Bendix power assist because the hydraulic cyllinder up front absorbs a lot of the road shock.. Not only that. A steering wheel on a non power steering Stude is subject to stress cracks more than age or deteirotating cracks. Especially stressfull are parking manuvers. jimmijim my 2 cents.

Many moons ago 1977 I removed the leaking power steering unit in my 60 Lark replacing the control valve assembly with a manual gear reach rod. No leaks but it was a bear to park even though all the suspension components were up to snuff in fine greased condition. Ross cam follower gear type for V8 it was. 1980 replaced steering column, wheel, and box from a 64 power steering car but without the power pieces. What a difference with the Saginaw recirculating ball type. Less turns lock to lock and less effort.Without using the power hydraulic cyllinder and control valve assembly and of course pump though relegates all the road shock that the suspension picks up and transmits it to the steering box innards and causes it to wear significantly as opposed to having the power assist absorbing the shock VIA the hydraulic assist cyllinder. When parking without power steering a lot of force is exerted upon the steering wheel and in time will cause the wheel to suffer fatigue cracks. Avantis with non power steering.included. I prefer the P.S. set up. I ain't lyin. jimmijim

Yes parking can be a problem for the heavier cars without the proper skills. Obvious secret is to make sure that vehicle is "moving" while steering. This is a skill where wimmin fail quite often...

Speakin' of station wagons, there is one available, ('55 Champion two door), about ten miles from here. He wants $2500 for it which is way too steep for me though.

OTOH, I'd trade my yet-to-be-finished '55 Prez sedan project in a minute!

JT

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Oops... Just noticed that he lowered the price to $1,800.