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NEW GUY HERE- D200 converting to manual steering, any advice?

Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 11:30 am
by Tryggr
1969 D 200 project: are there any guys that have had success removing the power assist steering and going manual? Should i just muscle up and deal with all the problems or is it more doable to ditch all the gear and go manual? Thanks, I need some good advice from the brothers with experience!
I'm in Ojai, CA looking for some sweptline family!

Re: NEW GUY HERE- D200 converting to manual steering, any advice?

Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 12:32 pm
by dodgeboykim
Just a matter of removing PS Assist system and getting a new pitman arm and drag link to replace the parts removed. :thinking

Re: NEW GUY HERE- D200 converting to manual steering, any advice?

Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 12:33 pm
by PwrWgnDrvr
Easy-Peasy. Remove all the PS stuff, install a manual drag link and that's it, then sell it. There is also a shim under each leaf spring pack, as part of the system, that needs to be removed.
I've sold countless PS systems over the last 20 yrs. Market rate in the past for a complete system was $300, working or not.

Re: NEW GUY HERE- D200 converting to manual steering, any advice?

Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 12:34 pm
by PwrWgnDrvr
dodgeboykim wrote:
Thu Mar 09, 2023 12:32 pm
Just a matter of removing PS Assist system and getting a new pitman arm and drag link to replace the parts removed. :thinking
Are you sure the pitman arm is different?

Re: NEW GUY HERE- D200 converting to manual steering, any advice?

Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 2:17 pm
by dodgeboykim
PwrWgnDrvr wrote:
Thu Mar 09, 2023 12:34 pm
dodgeboykim wrote:
Thu Mar 09, 2023 12:32 pm
Just a matter of removing PS Assist system and getting a new pitman arm and drag link to replace the parts removed. :thinking
Are you sure the pitman arm is different?

That will be apparent when you get into it. If I'm wrong, No big deal.

Re: NEW GUY HERE- D200 converting to manual steering, any advice?

Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 2:23 pm
by PwrWgnDrvr
dodgeboykim wrote:
Thu Mar 09, 2023 2:17 pm
PwrWgnDrvr wrote:
Thu Mar 09, 2023 12:34 pm
dodgeboykim wrote:
Thu Mar 09, 2023 12:32 pm
Just a matter of removing PS Assist system and getting a new pitman arm and drag link to replace the parts removed. :thinking
Are you sure the pitman arm is different?
That will be apparent when you get into it. If I'm wrong, No big deal.
Well then, the answer is, you're not sure. Neither am I.

Re: NEW GUY HERE- D200 converting to manual steering, any advice?

Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 2:33 pm
by dodgeboykim
I have noticed that PS Assist pitman arms are curved in an S Shape. All the Non PS I have seen are straight or sometimes curved. Cant explain the reason for that.

. So hence my comment.

Re: NEW GUY HERE- D200 converting to manual steering, any advice?

Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 3:18 pm
by BigBlockTrucks
When a power assist system stops working don’t you have the same as manual steering anyway?

Re: NEW GUY HERE- D200 converting to manual steering, any advice?

Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 5:48 pm
by PwrWgnDrvr
BigBlockTrucks wrote:
Thu Mar 09, 2023 3:18 pm
When a power assist system stops working don’t you have the same as manual steering anyway?
No, because you would be moving the fluid in the assist ram back and forth thru the system yourself with significant effort.

Re: NEW GUY HERE- D200 converting to manual steering, any advice?

Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 6:08 pm
by 712edf
Ram assist or P/S box, no matter which, a non-functional one takes a lot more effort than a manual box.

Bucky

Re: NEW GUY HERE- D200 converting to manual steering, any advice?

Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 6:56 pm
by PwrWgnDrvr
If you were to unbolt the assist ram (clamp) from the tie rod and simply baling wire it up on the frame, then it would work like a manual system.

Re: NEW GUY HERE- D200 converting to manual steering, any advice?

Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 8:31 pm
by BigBlockTrucks
PwrWgnDrvr wrote:
Thu Mar 09, 2023 6:56 pm
If you were to unbolt the assist ram (clamp) from the tie rod and simply baling wire it up on the frame, then it would work like a manual system.
Plus one.
it is the same axle,the same steering box and same steering column.
What is different besides the assist?

Re: NEW GUY HERE- D200 converting to manual steering, any advice?

Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 9:01 pm
by PwrWgnDrvr
BigBlockTrucks wrote:
Thu Mar 09, 2023 8:31 pm
PwrWgnDrvr wrote:
Thu Mar 09, 2023 6:56 pm
If you were to unbolt the assist ram (clamp) from the tie rod and simply baling wire it up on the frame, then it would work like a manual system.
Plus one.
it is the same axle,the same steering box and same steering column.
What is different besides the assist?
The caster shims under the leaf springs do add some effort to the steering. The factory did that because the power assist was too responsive and needed to be toned down a bit.

Re: NEW GUY HERE- D200 converting to manual steering, any advice?

Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 9:28 pm
by nutz
want to add ps to my truck
so if you do remove it i'll buy ,even if i need to rebuild it
can pm me