hudman

I been told to stay away from a BB without power steering.

I am looking at one now without power steering. Is it bearable to drive without it?

Is it a "nice to have" or a "need to have"?

daniel77350

can't answer your question directly, but food for thought:

those that have it, love it, those that don't deal with it.

I would think the only time you would have big problems would be when you are at slower speeds(ie. a parking lot)...

my power steering went out for like a month once, I had to find "pull through" spots or else my car wouldn't be lined up...I had to lean into it...but of corse this is a powersteering car with busted power steering, I think a non-power steering car would have been easier then that.

Daniel

SBR

I have a 69BB without PS and I do not miss it. It is nice to have but I would say it is not a must have and besides the PS on the older cars are overboosted.

je68

I am not sure that I would want the old power steering as their is very little road feel and with that much power it is nice to have feed back.

Smokehouse69

Unless you are exceptionally puny, don't worry about it. I never had a car with powersteering until 1979. Personally I hate the powersteering in my 69 SB. Like one of the other guys said, it is way overboosted and you loose so much of the road feel.

Larry B.

I had a 73 SB without P/S. No problem... I kinda liked it. If you paralell park a lot and have wide tires on the car it may be a little tougher.

68shark

I know the BB adds about 150 lbs, but my '68 SB doesn't have PS and is fine to drive without it. I have driven an old shark with PS and didn't like the feel at all. If your driving includes a lot of slow traffic, parking, three point turns and the like, you may miss the PS, but if it's a weekend warrior, out for cruises and the like, I would try to avoid PS. Just my opinion....

Alwyn678

I had a 67 Firebird with no power steering 400 4speed....and I felt like Popye after parking it in my garage!!

63Banshee

PS? We don't need no stinking PS.

68shark

Alwyn678...bet you wish you still had that one!! I had a '69 convt, 350HO, 4spd, many years ago and rue the day I sold it!!!Wish I could find it or one like it again!!

Alwyn678

Not really It had too much rust....Plus I sold it 7 months ago to get the VETTE!!!! I like the vette much better......But it was a cool car

topless68

:yesnod: :yesnod:

You won't miss it at all. Plus if the rest of your steering is working properly...you won't notice.

:seeya

WESCH

Hi
I bought my 68 big block from a guy who owned also a 73 SB with power steering. He liked the 68 much more, but because his better half ( wife ) couldn't manage to park it, he kept the 73.
I presently only have 215 tires on the front and parking is already a job and a half. Once you drive, you don't realize the difference.
Why don't you just try it out B4 you make your mind up ?
I'd buy it , BB are fun.
Gunther :seeya

Bob Jenkins

I don't think powersteering is a "must have" on a big block Vette. If you have wide tires all around, then sterring at slow speeds will be more difficult. Also, having the correct airpressure helps too. Without ps, my s/b car gets hard to turn when the tires get low after storage...... :smash: :smash: :smash:

ZD75blue

i'm thinking about yanking mine... 75 l-48... to many leaks to fix...

I think i have it worked out... install a line lock, light up the rear tires... turn the wheel... there you go tight turn :jester

73Ken73

I added power steering to my car after about 5 years of no power. I did like the road feel of the non-power steering. Parking was difficult but not impossible. At the time I went to the gym three times a week. If I ever have problems with my power steering I will put the manual back on . BTW I have 255s on the front.

Flareside

I don't have power steering in my BB, and it's not really a problem. I do prefer the lighter effort of power steering, but it's not a huge difference. No way would it keep me from buying the car I want (obviously, it didn't:)).

I'm giving serious though to the newly available rack and pinion set up that a few members are installing.

BB68Vett

I have owned my BB with no PS and I like the road feel. I have 235's all the way around. Dry steering, like in a parking lot, takes a little effort but I wouldn't base my buying decision on it.

Smokehouse69

Ken,
What did you have to do to remove the PS and convert it to manual? I've got my engine torn down, so the pumps already unbolted. I'd sure like to dump it and build up my forearms again, and get rid of the slow seep it puts out now!

bamavettes

It's no bid deal. Real men don't need it. The 68 has a larger steering wheel that helps.

The '68 below does not have it. Gives you a good feel of the road. If you need power steering, buy a C5.

Don't take this wrong. I have just been driving these old beast for a long time.