PS on mid 60's trucks and stuff

["Gann, Jeff " <jeff_gann@domain.elided>]

     Mike Bucher <mbucher@domain.elided> wrote:
     
     >Subject: PS on mid 60's trucks
     
     *Snip*
     >>I'd take a real close look at F$%* pickups from the late
60's/early 
     >>70's as I believe they used non-integral PS 'til '73 or so.  
     >I have this type steering on my 68 T'all 1200B.  My question to 
     >others is how tight can you get the steering?  I have a lot of
play, 
     >somewhere around 1/8 turn (maybe less) before the wheels respond.

     >The control valve doesn't start sending fluid quick enough.
Priced a 
     >rebuild kit for the valve assembly ($158).  Been wondering how
much 
     >it will improve.  Been driving it for 15 years this way.
     
     >Mike - I use all of the road
     
     My 67 1200B has this type of power steering, and while my steering 
     wheel doesn't quite have an 1/8 turn of play in it, it is close to 
     that much.  Mine drives down the road tracking pretty well, but
some 
     input is required to keep it going down the straight and narrow.  I

     use a good portion of the road, which for some reason causes me to 
     start humming "Green Acres is the place to be...." ;)  
     
     The rebuild kit price is a tad scary, but after inspecting all that
is 
     involved with this type of steering, it may be justified.  I
thought 
     that a good number of busses and larger trucks had this type of
power 
     steering.  I was kinda counting on these larger trucks for parts 
     donors when things start to wear out.  But after 30 years (only 67K

     miles though) nothing is leaking and it still works well.  
     
     I have question regarding exhaust.  Since I need to replace one of
my 
     exhaust manifolds on my 345, I was wondering if the addition of 
     headers on such a low rpm engine was worth the trouble.  If I can
get 
     a noticeable improvement in performance I may go this route, rather

     than the factory exhaust manifold.  The truck has dual exhaust that

     has glasspacks and exits just behind the cab. (The 42 gallon gas
tank 
     mounted between the frame rails in the back of the truck keeps it
from 
     being routed clear out the back)  I still think that I can get this

     elephant into double digit gas mileage. "I think I can, I think I
can, 
     I think I can."  I've been reading to my niece too much.....
     
     Jeff