Steering question

[Glide]

Had this 73 Cuda (340 auto) about a year now and I'm ready to address some of its issues. First, the steering. I've replaced shocks and tires. Alignment with max caster. It steers alright but I'm not a fan of the stock steering. Too light! Rack and pinion or Borgeson? Is frame stiffening a priority?

Other issues are the stock AC blows. The motor is doing about 4k rpm at 70, mileage sucks! So do I need Vintage Air and an overdrive transmission? Thoughts?

Thanks!

[Katfish]

OD was the best thing I've done, makes the car so much more enjoyable to drive.  I'd hold off on the Borg, I did it and wasn't the greatest.  Wished I'd spent the $1k elsewhere.
Do the shim trick on your stock pump, makes a big difference.

[EV2RTSE]

Attached is the article about the power steering pump shims.

Firm Feel can rebuild and upgrade your original steering box, go with the Stage 3 which is the firmest level.
https://www.firmfeel.com/e_body_mopar_power_steering_box_rebuild.html

Also consider getting fast ratio pitman and idler arms to reduce the number of lock-to-lock turns of the steering wheel.

The stock a/c can work well but yeah it may be easier just to get a Sanden compressor kit with new lines and modern condenser.

[Cudajason]

I have done the shim trick, its works but if the box is worn out, Its still worn out.

Have you rebuilt tithe front suspension or just replaceed the shocks?

Teh max caster may also not be the ideal alignment.  If you are running radials, try alignment specs for a 2000(?) mustang.

I am planning on a new Firm feel, well likely Steer and Gear box, stage 3 or rally this winter.

I have also done OD, I went with an A500 because that is what I could find.  I agree best upgrade I have made. Here is my very long thread on here my install.  https://forum.e-bodies.org/engine-transmission-and-rear-end/4/rh-transmission-the-result/12648/

[HP2]

For steering you can shim the stock pump, change to a modern pump and reservoir, swap the box to a Firm Feel or Borgeson or a combination of all of these.  There are no bolt in R&P set ups that are compatible with the stock suspension. All require an entire conversion to coil overs and new suspension layout.

IMO, frame stiffening is always needed on these. They are 50+ year old cars that have probably been driven hard most of their life and are only held together with a few thousand spot welds. Will that help with steering feel, no, but it will possibly make it a slight bit more responsive as the car body is removed from the suspension equation.

No clue on a/c. I think a conversion would be best but I think that some make the old units work.

OD transmissions are helpful and very much needed, IMO. Various options here are available.

[EV2RTSE]

It can be like opening a can of worms but there's definitely lots of room for improvement with the stock components and a lot of things that can be upgraded. Bigger torsion bars, reinforced lower control arms, Moog offset upper control arm bushings or tubular upper control arms, new front end kit with oversized C-Body tie rods, adding a rear sway bar if there isn't one and upgrading to a larger than stock front sway bar are all things that can help a great deal. And yes chassis reinforcements as well as quality shocks like Bilstein, etc.

Oh and oversized strut rods, too.

[Brads70]

also T/A idler and pitman to speed up the steering ratio.....