As part of breathing some new life into my girl's Dart, I'm hoping I can talk her into upgrading the steering system on it. Her pump is old and worn, and leaks quite a bit. IIRC, it's a Saginaw, but I'd have to look again. Were there differences among Saginaw pumps that I need to be aware of, or will any Sag pump do?

Also, if there's even one available, I'd like to install a self-centering steering box for her. I let her drive my truck once, which has a self-centering box, and she loves it (she also damn near rolled the thing while coming off the freeway, oi). Our overall goal isn't "super quick" or overly sensitive steering, but just good handling. The closer we can get it to riding and handling like a compact, the better.

There will of course be major chassis maintenence done too as time and money permit, like new HD springs, poly bushings, B body torsion bars, disc brakes (eventually), and HD sway bars.

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'74 Duster w/ HEI ignition, beat to snot suspension, A904, 8.25" 3.55 SG rear, still being tuned up and gets 17 MPG

Know how they always build a better idiot? That's me

All ps boxes should self center to a degree. What has a large effect on the amount of self centering is how the suspension is aligned. More positive caster will increase steering feel and cause the wheel to return to center faster.

If the pump leaks when it isn't running I would suspect that you need to replace the big O-ring around the body of the pump or the little gasket/seal on the bolts in the back.

If you want it to handle like a compact you'll to change some stuff. Wider tires on wider rims, sway bars, stiffer springs and shocks. Of course the starting point would have to be having all steering parts in good order with no slop.

If you can somehow install b body torsion bars into a a body I will be impressed.

D'oh, I forgot B body bars are about 5" longer. In that case I'll just be looking for stiffer A body bars when I get around to it.

All the stuff you mentioned is on the list. The wider wheels and tires will come when the front end is upgraded for disc brakes and the rear is (hopefully sooner rather than later) swapped out for an 8 3/4".

I've seen tons and tons of different shocks available for A bodies. What would be the reccomended way to go here? With my truck I always go with OEM Toyota (which IIRC are made by Monroe), but I know the Ranchos and Bielsteins are good brands too. With an older, wide car I'm kind of in the dark though. Also, any reccomendations on a particular manufacturer of springs or aftermarket torsion bars (I had been planning on OEM Chrysler bars with a stiffer rating)?

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'74 Duster w/ HEI ignition, beat to snot suspension, A904, 8.25" 3.55 SG rear, still being tuned up and gets 17 MPG

Know how they always build a better idiot? That's me

Best bang for the buck shocks are KYB's

about $30 each (plus handling) about $130 total

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Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes