How does an early T-bird drive with manual steering?

I am considering converting to manual steering in my '57 T-Bird when I put a VR57 supercharged engine in it.   I want to use the crank pulley grooves to turn the blower.

I noticed the T-bird engine sits back in the chassis further than in a passenger car, so there should not be as much weight on the front tires as on the full size Fords.

It currently has a Cavalier Rack on it with a 460 big block and it drives good, but it is a power unit, and will not look very original when I put a correct looking F-code motor in it.

I drive it every weekend, so it needs to be fairly comfortable.

Thanks for the opinions.

Pat Fleischman

Pat Fleischman

I have a 56 Bird with manual steering and I have no problems steering (better than my 54). If your doing paralell parking its somewhat of a strain. But you are likely to find a big difference as compared to the rack

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Hi Pat,

My '55 bird has manual steering and I have shortened the steerning arms a little to 'speed up' the steering.  The front tires I have are on 7" wheels. The wheel effort is pretty light and easy at any rolling speed.  Stopped or reversing it takes an effort that has become more noticable as I age.  You wont find it a problem for several more years.

Doug T

The Highlands, Louisville, Ky.

While I have not owned both types (no A-B 50s Ford comparison) and can't speak from experience, my impression has always been that early power steering is more vague than modern mechanisms (?). My original 55 manual steering gives a sensitive feedback that allows detection of minor problems that might not be obvious (or irritating) to those with power. Any hub/wheel/bearing misalignment/runout causes noticeable steering wheel oscillations, for example. I believe the 55 has faster steering geometry than an original 57 setup though, so my satisfaction might not translate in your case (I never feel any disadvantage in handling/control when switching to the Bird from my Acura with power steering). But, I also have heard that turning the wheels while stopped with manual steering could likely break the sector shaft if you have radial tires. Since I live in the sticks where parallel parking is infrequent, and still have adequate arm strength, I may be an exception.

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

Pat, I am interested in this topic as my bird has always had PS. And even though I have diligently changed, resealed, and repaired all the proper items associated with it, it has always leaked. Sometimes a lot, but always some. I may finally just remove it and go manual. I also run radials and don't have much call for parallel parking.

Althought my steers great, It does seem like too little effort some times and I might welcome the resistance on the hiway. Guess I'll find out.

       A  L  A  N   F  R  A  K  E  S   ~  Tulsa, OK    

No problems with manual steering on my 56 bird and actually like it better than powersteering being not having to clean up behind it all the time. I drive it everyday if the weather is good, steers great, no problems parking etc.

-Gary Burnette-

My '56 Bird has manual steering, original sized wheels and bias ply's and I really like the steering. It's actually quicker than I expected for a manual box. Just like any manual steering, the non-rolling effort is noticeable, but once rolling at all it drops significantlly. NO plans to change it, also because I like a simple and clean engine compartment. Also removing the orignal power booster for that reason.

My '60 F-100 has a Musang II set-up with a manual rack and a 500" Cadillac engine. The Cadillac is a feather weight compared to a 460" Ford, as it's just a bit heavier than a SBC. I kept the manual steering to maintain some of the old truck feel. It retains the large factory steering wheel, but effort is still less than the factory manual box I used for years. This truck has 235/75-15 tires on the front.

I think as long as your front tires aren't too wide, you'll be really happy with it.

Todd in Central California...about half way between Fresno and Sacramento

1956 Thunderbird - 1960 F-100 - 1961 Starliner - 1961 Imperial