Dear Tom and Ray:

I live right in New York. I've got a 1977 Ford Pinto Wagon that came from Florida. It's in very good shape (ugly green, though). To me, it's worth fixing, but to a limit. Right now I'm driving it with no power steering. The rack is leaking, and possibly the pump and lines. I want to switch to manual steering. Will the steering column fit, or will it need to be replaced? -- Don

Tom: What a perfect car for New York City! You should nominate this car for "official vehicle of the Big Apple," Don. Why? What car could possibly be any less desirable to thieves?

Ray: Well, several of my brother's cars come to mind. But the answer is that you ought to be able to switch to non-power steering pretty easily. You'll need a new steering rack, and I'd look first for one in a junkyard.

Tom: Most people don't realize that steering a car with broken power steering is a lot harder than steering a car that never had power steering to begin with. That's because, even when the power steering isn't working, you still have to move all the power steering-related valves and components in the rack, which is hard to do!

Ray: Once you get a manual rack for this car, you can just leave all the other power steering stuff in there and disconnect it (the pump, the lines, etc.). And then you can implement a slightly less intensive Pinto Urban Upper Body Building Program. Good luck, Don.

In their pamphlet "Should I Buy, Lease, or Steal My Next Car?" Tom and Ray break down the strategies for buying a car, so you can make the most of your money. To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1998 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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