[Jack21]

If the only thing you changed were the control arms, there shouldn't be much difference in steering effort. Dumb, I know, but you did grease the new balljoints?

Front end alignment has a lot to do with this, however. Even more pronounced with manual steering, and a big block.

The caster settings for the MII suspension, depending on year and model, can vary. If you didn't tell the shop what settings to use, anything is possible. The less caster (the amount the wheels tilt backwards to self center) the more the car will tend to wander, but steering effort will be easier. The factory setting could be as little as 3/4 of a degreee. The more caster, the more the car will track straight, and return to center from a turn, but the harder it will be to steer. The factory setting could be as much as 3 1/2 degrees, and some cars like more. Check an old Motors Manual for Pinto & Mustang II, '74 - '78, all models and you'll see the variation.

Somewhere in there is you're happy medium for your car and driving style.

Take it back to the alignment shop, find out what you have now and adjust it to the minimum caster spec.

Another problem with MII suspensions, and you might never have known this. The inner, upper control arm bolts hold the control arm to the frame with bolt tension, and metal to metal contact between arm and frame. This adjustment will slip, allowing the control arm to bottom out against the inner frame slot end. Caster and camber go out, and the car may actually be easier to steer. When realigned, the car steers as it's supposed to.

Bethania garage has control arm brackets that allow the alignment to be set with shims, and it stays put afterward.