Author Topic: Converting the Z28 to Manual steering - Your thoughts, please ! (Read 2546 times)

Roadkill · « **on:** September 03, 2008, 01:53:13 pm »

As per the title.

I'm considering replacing the (new

) power steering box with one out of an S10 pick-up and losing the associated gubbings.

So.

PRO's

i) Power steering pump, idler pulley and belt tensioner pulley can ALL go.
ii) Thus the huge, cast, bracket they all mount on can go.
iii) The alternator can then be mounted much lower on the block (lower C.o.G)
iv) I won't have to worry about leaks as there'll be NO P/S pipes anywhere in the engine bay.
v) There'll be no need for a reservoir.
vi) Less and better distributed weight.
vii) Tidier engine bay.
viii) Theoretically more HP.
ix) More space in the engine bay for future power-adders.
x) Serp belt will be more direct and ALOT shorter.

There could be more.

CON's

i) Heavier steering (and, yes, I have driven cars without P/S before).
ii) Minor costs involved (alterator re-loc bracket and steering box).
iii) Very minor mods to make box fit.

So.

Whatcha reckon ?

Pod · « **Reply #1 on:** September 03, 2008, 02:12:37 pm »

Quoting: Roadkill

i) Heavier steering (and, yes, I have driven cars without P/S before).

I've kind of been thinking of doing the same to my car. It's either a new PS rack or a manual one. I've never driven anything with manual steering and I need my car to be practical every day, so I was heading in the direction of PS.

Getting rid of everything would have benefits, like you say.

Roadkill · « **Reply #2 on:** September 03, 2008, 03:02:45 pm »

My old '57 Humber Hawk (google it) had manual steering and I drove that everyday - rain or shine.

You get used to it . . . that had X-plys on it but I'll be putting fairly skinny (probably 195's) on the front, anyway.

Incursus · « **Reply #3 on:** September 03, 2008, 03:16:21 pm »

depends how wide your front wheels are gonna be. the duster was a bitch until I swaped the fronts for narrower tyres

and ofc you steering wheel will be smaller

Roadkill · « **Reply #4 on:** September 03, 2008, 03:17:14 pm »

Quoting: Incursus

depends how wide your front wheels are gonna

Quoting: Roadkill

I'll be putting fairly skinny (probably 195's) on the front

Incursus · « **Reply #5 on:** September 03, 2008, 03:20:34 pm »

Quoting: Roadkill

Quoting: Incursus
depends how wide your front wheels are gonna

Quoting: Roadkill
I'll be putting fairly skinny (probably 195's) on the front

should be fine then. not planning on cornering much then?

Motorama · « **Reply #6 on:** September 03, 2008, 03:36:47 pm »

I think the first time you drive it without you'll wish you still had it

Big Mouse · « **Reply #7 on:** September 03, 2008, 03:56:36 pm »

I obviously had to dump the power steering on the camaro when we chopped it and installed a Madman manual rack as space was a bit of a premium.

The car still weighs 3300lb and drives fine; pushing the car is hard but thats more to do with the spool rear end and big tyres than the steering.

Parallel parking is the only time you'll really notice its not there

Roadkill · « **Reply #8 on:** September 03, 2008, 04:07:29 pm »

Quoting: Big Mouse

Parallel parking is the only time you'll really notice its not there

I was kinda thinking that.

It will be very light compared to standard third gens, too.

Quoting: Motorama

I think the first time you drive it without you'll wish you still had it

I'll certainly be keeping ALL the gubbings should I decide to re-install at a later date.

Especially as I've just painted it all !

Roadkill · « **Reply #9 on:** September 03, 2008, 04:14:56 pm »

TBH, if it was the non-LT1 lay-out I wouldn't mind too much . . .

Here was my '92 305ci which to which I modified the belt-run . .

The LT1's set-up, on the other hand, sits much higher and is much bulkier.

This shows just the bracket -

And this just some of the crap on it -

F Body · « **Reply #10 on:** September 03, 2008, 04:30:09 pm »

Quoting: Motorama

I think the first time you drive it without you'll wish you still had it

I would have agreed with Andy, the Chavscort was a beatch to park

Quoting: Big Mouse

Parallel parking is the only time you'll really notice its not there

But if you get the right rack may be it won't be a problem

Roadkill · « **Reply #11 on:** September 03, 2008, 04:58:52 pm »

Quoting: F Body

the Chavscort was a beatch to park

You woman !

My Chavscort was fine.

Quoting: F Body

But if you get the right rack may be it won't be a problem

The "rack" stays the same - box changes.

Titsy · « **Reply #12 on:** September 03, 2008, 05:25:56 pm »

Quoting: Roadkill

The LT1's set-up, on the other hand, sits much higher

I don't believe it does.... it probably just looks that way because you have no top end on the engine...

The alternator looks to sit at about the same hight in both cases...

F Body · « **Reply #13 on:** September 03, 2008, 05:36:35 pm »

Quoting: Roadkill

My Chavscort was fine.

Well before you owned it I had the pleasure of one weeks ownership and it was a beach to maneuver into a tight space, it was OK once you were rolling

Give me PS any day

philoldsmobile · « **Reply #14 on:** September 03, 2008, 05:45:48 pm »

i'd agree with martyn, the chavscort badly needed power steering..

for the ammount of weight you'd save, and the saving in the real world, i'd stay with power.

remember ray runs very different front tyres to you, and they have a curved shape to the carcass, resulting in a much smaller front contact patch.

Flip Martian · « **Reply #15 on:** September 03, 2008, 06:23:20 pm »

you'd probably have to put it all back if you ever came to sell it on...

HardRockCamaro · « **Reply #16 on:** September 03, 2008, 06:40:54 pm »

Fit the high effort rack from an IROC.

Roadkill · « **Reply #17 on:** September 04, 2008, 08:13:55 am »

Quoting: F Body

Well before you owned it I had the pleasure of one weeks ownership and it was a beach to maneuver into a tight space, it was OK once you were rolling

Woman !

I thought you were Iron Man at your gym ?

Must be a bunch of weedies down there.

Quoting: Flip Martian

you'd probably have to put it all back if you ever came to sell it on...

Believe me. If you know the car, that's the least of my concerns.

F Body · « **Reply #18 on:** September 04, 2008, 11:50:37 am »

Quoting: Roadkill

I thought you were Iron Man at your gym ?

Must be a bunch of weedies down there.

I'm just lazy &

Wonder how much weight you would save if you took the starter motor out and bump started it

Roadkill · « **Reply #19 on:** September 04, 2008, 11:56:09 am »

It's not just the weight saving - it's also the distribution and extra space gained, too.

Plus the thought of not having P/S leaks is appealing . . .

F Body · « **Reply #20 on:** September 04, 2008, 12:03:34 pm »

Quoting: Roadkill

Plus the thought of not having P/S leaks is appealing . .

Why should it leak unless the pipes or rack are knackered

Flip Martian · « **Reply #21 on:** September 04, 2008, 03:43:10 pm »

Quoting: Roadkill

Believe me. If you know the car, that's the least of my concerns.

Ahaaa...

Fair enough.

Pod · « **Reply #22 on:** September 04, 2008, 03:47:32 pm »

Quoting: F Body

Why should it leak unless the pipes or rack are knackered

There's less to leak or get knackered in future.

FUBAR · « **Reply #23 on:** September 04, 2008, 04:29:05 pm »

Matts GF Bish manages with Manual Steering, and she's 5'1" and petite.

(It is a Nissan Micra though)

Kenny · « **Reply #24 on:** September 04, 2008, 04:31:47 pm »

My feeling is that any gain you might get from removing it will be nothing compared to the gains that having power steering brings.

I wouldn't try to compare it to driving the humber, one was an ancient 'luxury' car, the other is a sports car.

The only gain i think you would realistically notice from removal is the aesthetics of the engine bay. But you will definitely notice the losses when its gone.

If its easy to do, maybe give it a go with and without...