Straight ahead stability

[doubleload]

My 62 Bird requires a high degree of visual concentration to prevent it from wandering as it goes down the highway. If I look at anything other than the pavement for just a moment, there’s a slight directional drift. Steering requires only a very light touch and there is an absence of feedback through the steering wheel. It seems that there is little self centering feel to the steering. Caster alignment is 5 degrees positive which is supposed to improve self centering action. Camber is 1/2 degree negative. Tow in is 1/8”. Moving the steering wheel left and right causes the wheels to follow without any visible looseness.
Is this the steering box design?
If the steering box input shaft wasn’t exactly centered in its rotational position when the wheels were in the straight ahead position, what effect would result?

[Rusty57]

I agree that your alignment numbers look like it should be stable.

Do you have non-stock wheels and tires? Wheel offset can have a major impact on stability.

When did you last go through the full steering system to check for loose or worn parts?

When I say full steering system I mean to start at the steering wheel and end at the tire on the ground. There are lots of moving parts in that system.

[Alan H. Tast]

These almost sound like the classic symptoms of a '61-'62 T-bird power steering gear that needs rebuilding. Go to the thread linked below to learn more.

viewtopic.php?p=118399&hilit=1962+steering#p118399