I need advice and info. I have a
1968 Dart with manual steering and
manual drum brakes. I want to upgrade to
power steering and power drum brakes.
What power steering box would work best
for my Dart? I have heard cop cars, and
Challenger T/As had a fast ratio box. Is that
true? If so, what is the ratio vs. a stock Dart
PS box? And also will a power booster and
master cylinder bolt up to the Dart firewall? If
not, what do I need to make this all happen?
All Mopar power steering boxes, from the
’50s through the last ones used in early‑’90s
B‑vans, were the same ratio: 15.7:1. That
includes your Dart and includes cop cars and
Challenger T/As. (Dodge pickups did not use
Chrysler power steering gears, they were
Saginaw equipped). There was no such thing
as a quick or fast‑ratio box, that’s an old
wives’ tale. The E‑body optional fast‑ratio
setup was simply a C‑body (large spline) box
with the stops relocated, so that a longer
pitman arm could be used to speed up the
overall ratio.
Your manual steering box is 24:1. The
optional fast ratio manual setup was 16:1.
This is reproduced by Firm Feel, Inc., who
also sells the old MP intermediate ratio of
20:1. You’ll find more than you need to know
about steering in “Mopars on Steeroids” on
page 76 of this issue.
A power brake setup, if you must, from
any ’67‑’76 A‑body would bolt right up. You’ll
need the booster, brackets, linkage, etc.
Why you’d wanna make either of these
downgrades is hard for me to understand.
My taste calls for manual drum brakes and
fast-ratio manual steering. Different strokes
for different folks, OK, but power drum
brakes? Ugh!