[Woodchuck]

Just replaced tie rod ends ('66 200 engine manual steering) - and the specs call for 1/4" toe in - so that's what I set it at. I know there's some reason for this - but why does any amount of toe in make sense - wouldn't you theoretially want front wheels to be perfectly straight ? (i.e NO toe in or toe out). Thnx.

That's correct..... for original-type bias-ply tires and caster/camber adjustments. For radial tires you want closer to 1/8" toe IN.

The reason for toe-in is the wheel and tire's natural tendency to want to roll outward from the axle/spindle and the toe-in counteracts this.

 

[Woodchuck]

Off hand I forget which one is set on the looser side. What is the purpose in theory and which uses the looser setting?

The P/S box is set-up with less bearing/mesh preload as it doesn't have to handle as much input/output force with the slave cylinder doing most of the work.

 

[Woodchuck]

The

If I remember correctly, '67-'70, the steering box on power steering cars had a quicker 16-1 ratio as well. Manual was 20-1, but I have seen manual boxes advertised as 16-1.

Power-steering boxes (HCC-AX and -AW) and manual-steering boxes (HCC-AT) with the PIO ("GT") and maybe the Competition Suspension packages were 16:1. "Standard" manual-steering boxes were 19.9:1.