I have power on my '66. It was rebuilt so it has a completely new system. When done right, it will have no leaks. I really like it. I drove a friends '65 6 cyl. that had manual steering and did not like it. My wife says no power, she will not drive it. These are not really a true power steering but more of a power assist. See if you can drive one before all the work. Come on down to Az. & I will let you both try out my '66.

 

There is no difference in an HCC-AX manual steering box and an HCC-AW power steering box. Both are 16:1 and will steer the same (other than differences in slop in each respective box. An HCC-AT box is 19:1 and will turn slightly easier at low speeds due to the ratio, otherwise you already know what a manual steering box will feel like...

 

If you decide to go with manual steering, I would definitely recommend the HCC-AT 19:1 ratio box for your daughters daily driver.

This box would also work well with the power assist added on. The car would be super easy to turn and slow down the steering a certain amount. But I think the HCC-AW 16:1 box is really perfect for power steering and would make the car easier to park and drive at low speed.

Don't worry about having the hydraulic system leak like a spinkler system - just make sure it is rebuilt correctly :biggrin:

 

IMO it's subjective. My 66 originally had PS. I had it rebuilt and it still leaked. I didn't like the lack of road feel or the on center or lack of feel. As you know there is a 16:1 manual box. I forget the code #'s for it. When I took my PS off I was wondering what the difference was between the 16:1 PS and the 16:1 manual box. About the only thing I could find different was the back lash adjustment. Otherwise from what I can tell, they're identical. Personally, I'm very happy with the manual set up that I have now. I drove's a friends manual steer (19:1) box equiped 65 around the block. I thought it steered very easy. But what I think is easy may be difficult to your daughter. IMO, I think you'd be better off going back to PS rather then switching boxes. I guessing you're around my age, so with that I'm sure you drove many manual steer cars and as you remember a key to driving manual steer is to keep the air pressure under a watchful eye and to always have the car moving just a little bit before turning the wheel as this makes it a lot easier.

 

Craig, we went through the same delima with my son's '65 when we built it. My son has always been small. When he was 16 and started driving the '65, he was less than 90 pounds and most people thought he was no where near driving age.

I was worried about how the manual steering would be for him, especially since he insisted on a 14" Grant Signature steering wheel.

The car, with the manual steering gear box, was so easy to turn, we quickly scrapped any and all ideas of converting it to power steering.

Me, personally, I prefer manual steering with the 16:1 PS box. That's what's in my '66 and it's my daily driver, but my daughter's '69 has always had power steering (although she likes driving my '66 almost as much).

 

U NO John?,
You are really not helping the issue. So what examples do you currently have in your corral? Wednesday Red is getting her new shoes and afterwards we are able to go on long distance trips such as Roseville. Knock, Knock....John are you up? Should we come and pay you a visit?

Yes it is long overdue...

 

Most of my cars are manual steering.I have swapped HCC AX or HCC AW Boxes into all of my cars because I like the tighter ratio.Personally I would leave the HCC AW box in there and maybe let your daughter try it with manual steering ,if she doesn't like it or has difficulty with it I would add the power steering.When it comes to manual steering in a v8 Mustang shes either going to like it or hate it regardless of which box is in there.My wifes vert has manual steering and she is fine with it,I'm going to add power anyway for the heck of it.Good luck