Author Topic: Do You Really "Feel" the Road Better With Manual?  (Read 15987 times)

lakeholme

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Do You Really "Feel" the Road Better With Manual?
« on: July 25, 2006, 08:33:06 AM »
I realize this is a fairly subjective question...  ;)

I've been watching a thread (and a poll) on Team Camaro about manual vs power steering with great interest.  My 68 has power steering and I'm not about to switch to manual... Haven't owned a car with maual steering since the 60s.  (Let's face it, at slow speeds or in a tight situation, it's like driving a bus.) But several of my classic car friends (and I noticed in this poll several folks who have maual steering) claim they can "feel" the road better.

Do you think you get a better feel with manual?  If so, how and why?  ??? ??? ???

(Thanks in advance!)  ;D
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rich69rs

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Re: Do You Really "Feel" the Road Better With Manual?
« Reply #1 on: July 25, 2006, 04:37:25 PM »
Feel it better only because of having to muscle the car around. 

Only advantage I can imagine is freeing up a few Hp by not driving a power steering pump.  If the car is balanced properly, the "feel" of the road should be just as good with power steering.  As an example, NASCAR takes full advantage of power steering - and for good reason.

Except for originality issues, I can't envision why you wouldn't want power steering - or power brakes.
« Last Edit: July 25, 2006, 04:43:37 PM by rich69rs »
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RamAirDave

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Re: Do You Really "Feel" the Road Better With Manual?
« Reply #2 on: July 26, 2006, 03:50:09 AM »
I guess there could be more "feel".  The original PS setup in these old cars is very numb and overboosted.

A while back, I drove a 70 Vette with manual steering and absolutely loved it.  But thats a pretty light car.  Every other manual steering car Ive driven you pretty much had to manhandle them around.

Throw manual brakes into the mix, and youre getting quite a workout.


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mr396

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Re: Do You Really "Feel" the Road Better With Manual?
« Reply #3 on: July 26, 2006, 04:59:47 AM »
Light?I owned a 70 vette with a 350,I put it on the scale and it was closed to 4000 lbs. :o
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RamAirDave

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Re: Do You Really "Feel" the Road Better With Manual?
« Reply #4 on: July 26, 2006, 05:09:08 AM »
Light?I owned a 70 vette with a 350,I put it on the scale and it was closed to 4000 lbs. :o

Wow, wouldnt figure it would weigh that much.  I'm by no means a vette guy or an expert on them.  I wouldve thought they would be in the lower 3K lbs.

I guess I should say that it "felt" like a much lighter car, even with manual steering.

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mr396

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Re: Do You Really "Feel" the Road Better With Manual?
« Reply #5 on: July 26, 2006, 05:15:47 AM »
I was surprised to. My camaro weighs 4000 lbs. But its a loaded 396 vert.
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lakeholme

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Re: Do You Really "Feel" the Road Better With Manual?
« Reply #6 on: July 26, 2006, 09:11:03 AM »
OK, so when someone says "feel" they mean "more work and sweat"?  :-\

Was the manual steering on a 70 vette the same system as a 1st gen Camaro?  ???

...Where are all these people who keep singing the praises of manual?  ::) ::) ::)
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JohnZ

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Re: Do You Really "Feel" the Road Better With Manual?
« Reply #7 on: July 27, 2006, 12:22:44 AM »
Was the manual steering on a 70 vette the same system as a 1st gen Camaro? ???

Nope - '63-'82 Corvettes used the "linkage-boosted" system with a power cylinder - same system the early Chevy II used.

Any '70 Corvette that weighs 4000# is carrying 700# of lead ballast - they weighed 3300# with a full tank of fuel - about the same as a '69 Camaro.
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lakeholme

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Re: Do You Really "Feel" the Road Better With Manual?
« Reply #8 on: July 27, 2006, 10:10:14 AM »
Thanks John!  I didn't think it was the same steering system.  I'm actually surprised it was the same as the early Chevy II.

I'd love to know whay you think about manual vs poer steering in 1st gen Camaros?  ???
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JohnZ

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Re: Do You Really "Feel" the Road Better With Manual?
« Reply #9 on: July 27, 2006, 02:44:33 PM »
I have power steering on my '69Z, and it works fine; it's over-boosted like all GM systems were in the 60's-70's, but that's the way it was back then. Mine was manual when I got it, but I tired of the low-speed steering effort and converted it to power using all factory parts.
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mr396

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Re: Do You Really "Feel" the Road Better With Manual?
« Reply #10 on: July 27, 2006, 06:32:44 PM »
Any '70 Corvette that weighs 4000# is carrying 700# of lead ballast - they weighed 3300# with a full tank of fuel - about the same as a '69 Camaro. Now that I think about it.(geez its been 30 yrs) It could have been another car. :-[ I'm fairly sure my camaro was #4000 lbs
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JohnZ

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Re: Do You Really "Feel" the Road Better With Manual?
« Reply #11 on: July 28, 2006, 02:19:40 PM »
Any '70 Corvette that weighs 4000# is carrying 700# of lead ballast - they weighed 3300# with a full tank of fuel - about the same as a '69 Camaro. Now that I think about it.(geez its been 30 yrs) It could have been another car. :-[ I'm fairly sure my camaro was #4000 lbs

Well, if your Camaro weighed 4000#, it was carrying ballast too. A '69 Camaro V-8 coupe weighed 3135#, and a V-8 convertible weighed 3385# (add 249# for a BB).
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dab67

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Re: Do You Really "Feel" the Road Better With Manual?
« Reply #12 on: July 28, 2006, 07:11:43 PM »
i have power in my 67 and my friend has no power. The thing I "feel" is the extra energy you exert to turn the car!!!!!!!  :D
I had want we called "quick ratio" steering on my '69 AMX. No power but it sure felt different than a normal no power steering system.

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mr396

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Re: Do You Really "Feel" the Road Better With Manual?
« Reply #13 on: July 29, 2006, 04:57:56 PM »
Well, if your Camaro weighed 4000#, it was carrying ballast too. A '69 Camaro V-8 coupe weighed 3135#, and a V-8 convertible weighed 3385# (add 249# for a BB).
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                                                                                                                      The camaro has a lot of heavy options. convertible,BB,a/c,fold down rear seat,delux int,console gauges,p/steering,p/disc brakes,RS,TH400,posi,am/fm,8-track stereo,p/top,f/r bumper guards,tilt wheel.

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lakeholme

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Re: Do You Really "Feel" the Road Better With Manual?
« Reply #14 on: July 31, 2006, 10:57:17 AM »
I guess all these over weight cars are also hard to steer?

I'd still love opinions about steering --manual or power...

(Thanks John and Dave!)
Phillip, HNR & NCR-AACA, Senior Master, Team Captain, Admin.,
Spring Southeastern Nationals chair, AACA National Director

 

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