swapping out power steering

[sam z]

Brought it up before that this car is going to become a manual
steering car, possibly a project this summer following Carlisle and what
I bring home from it. A few q's:

1. Is this job better left for when the engine comes out or no big
deal either way?
2. If I pick up an old manual box from carlisle should the whole thing
be torn down and rebuilt? Anyone done this? Anything I should really
be aware of?
3. I realize I need the over-priced adapter for my steering column. Any
other mechanical issues with the existing steering pieces?

thanks in advance,
-Sam

 

[Big John]

I'd do it with the engine out and try to find a manual column rather then use the adaptor. If you can't find the exact complete column, I believe the shafts all the same (check the parts book in the reference section) and you can get one with a column shift (easier and cheaper to find) and swap the parts as needed.