Tubo wrote:

IIRC the Shelby quick steer linkage (is PS linkage?) isn't stand alone, is ment to be used with the 16:1 box. 

Didn't the Shelby's come with manual steering?

Last edited by ponyboy66 (7/23/2013 7:23 PM)

I am  saying, "If I Remember Correctly" the Shelby quick steer linkage IS PS linkage. Ya gotta remember Ole Shel didn't have stuff made up special, He used OTS when ever he could.
However I have been to sleep several times since I heard or read of that, and it could have been a dream.


Tubo

I've heard that when you install the shelby pitman & idler the steering no longer centers its self when you let go of the wheel..

From what I've read you can't use the quick steer pitman/idler on the factory PS cars because the longer arms move the center link forward far enough that the ball pivot at the centerlink end of the ram doesn't have enough travel range to accomodate the increased angle between the ram and centerlink. I suppose if the mounting point for the ram at the frame end could be moved forward you could make it work.

To the original question - the quick steer kit with the 19:1 box would pretty much get you to the same overall ratio as the 16:1 box with stock pitman/idler (see the the following quote that I found on another site that explains why the 16:1 and 19:1 are often referred to as 22:1 and 27:1 respectively).

The 16:1 box should be about 3 3/4 turns LtoL (typically cited as 4) and the 19:1 about 4 5/8 (typically cited as 5).

Quote:

The boxes have either a 16:1 (Power steering, manual with handling package) or a 19:1 (standard) ratio, so one turn of the steering wheel turns the pitman arm shaft 1/16th of a turn. The standard pitman arm is about 5" long and the Shelby version about an inch longer, while the steering arm on the spindles is about 7", so there's another 7:5 or (7:6) ratio, making the overall ratio range from 19 x 7/5 = 27:1 (standard) to 16 x 7/6= 19:1 and the GT and power steering cars in between at 22:1 (with the quick steering box, but the short pitman & idler arms).

I have the Shelby steering arms with a bearing in the idler arm, which really makes a difference in steering effort. I found the stock rubber bushing to be so stiff, that it didn't twist but instead the teeth on the inner sleeve were chewing away the washer that holds in in place, which I think explained my somewhat erratic straight ahead steering (sometimes it pulled a little to the left and sometimes to the right...)

The main improvement I made to the steering system though, was pumping the box full of grease, which probably cut steering effort in half. See www.stangerssite.com for instructions. The steering is now a pleasure, instead of being very heavy without any precision or feel as it used to be.

Using the formulas above your overall ratio with the 19:1 box and quick steer kit would be about 22:1 vs. 19:1 with the 16:1 box and quick steer kit which is a pretty good improvement over your current setup at 27:1 overall ratio so maybe that'll get you to where you want to be without having to replace the box.

Thanks McStang! This is exactly what I wanted to find out. I can keep my rebuilt 19:1 box add the Shelby quick steer and end up with a 16:1 steering ratio, perfect. My steering effort is fine now so this change should work for the street as well.

boomyal, the Shelby steering arm will work with a manual 16:1 steering box, but you better have ripped forarms to park the car. I believe that is the combo Shelby used on his 65 and 66 cars

boomyal wrote:

ponyboy66 wrote:

   .......boomyal, the Shelby steering arm will work with a manual 16:1 steering box, but you better have ripped forarms to park the car. I believe that is the combo Shelby used on his 65 and 66 cars

What I failed to say is "will it work with a 16:1 box that has factory powersteering?"

 
According to what McStang said, no.

McStang wrote:

boomyal wrote:

ponyboy66 wrote:

   .......boomyal, the Shelby steering arm will work with a manual 16:1 steering box, but you better have ripped forarms to park the car. I believe that is the combo Shelby used on his 65 and 66 cars

What I failed to say is "will it work with a 16:1 box that has factory powersteering?"

Hey Boom,

When you put the longer quick steer pitman & idler arms on the car the result is that the whole center/draglink is moved an inch forward (towards the oil pan). From what I've read, this means that the power ram angle in relation to the centerlink is increased as the mounting point for the other end of the ram at the framerail hasn't moved forward. Apparently the issue is that the range of travel that the pivot at the centerlink end of the ram has isn't enough with the increased angle to prevent binding of the pivot against the ram body when you turn the wheels all the way to the right (when the ram is the shortest) and the pivot can/will break. Bad stuff there.

Stands to reason then that if you were able to move the frame mount for the ram forward (don't know if it would need to be the full inch or not) to reduce the angle between the ram and centerlink that it would work fine. Seems like a well made custom bracket for the frame end of the ram would be a doable thing and not too tricky.

I'll have to study up next time I have the car up in the air.  IMHO, the 16:1 w/ factory power is unnecessarily over powered.  I think that with a slightly smaller steering wheel AND the increased ratio, all would be quite comfortable.