Taco Pirate

I've been cross-referencing power steering gears and found Lares #1353 & Atsco #7525 list Camaro and S10 as applications. I then checked S10 and found they came with manual steering. Remanned units are widely available. I was curious for I have an 82 Camaro 4 cyl/4 speed car with zero options. I am building a 350 for it and would like no accessories on my engine, save for alternator of course. Has anyone done this or have theories? Thanks -Josh

Confuzed1

iTrader: (4)

No theories here, and I don't know of anyone that's down graded to a manual steering box, unless it's a drag strip only car maybe...was it even an option on a Thirdgen?

Taco Pirate

That's what I figured. It is a downgrade, but I love the feel of manual steering. If it's possible I'd do it. Also don't need the added drag. I had a 73 Nova with manual everything - it was awesome. All third gens had power steering also.

92RS_Ttop

iTrader: (3)

Yes, it can be done. You are right that the S10 steering box is the same. The only difference is the pitman arm. All you need to do is put the pitman arm from your camaro on the S10 steering box. It bolts right in. I did this on my camaro a couple summers ago with no ill effects. It will be harder to turn the steering wheel at low speeds of course, and the S10 boxes have more turns from lock to lock. I went back to power steering after a month as I have on-street parking only where I live and parallel parking a heavy car with manual steering got annoying real fast.

Taco Pirate

Thank you. I'm quite accustomed to the extra effort required at low speeds, and the multiple rotations for simple turns. Much appreciated.

AlkyIROC

You want an 84+ S10 manual steering box. It will have a 4 bolt top cover. That will be a direct replacement for the power box. The earlier 3 bolt top cover boxes are not a direct fit. The pitman arm shaft and input shaft are different sizes.

As mentioned above, a manual steering box is more suited for a drag racing application. For a third gen regularly driven around on the street, you probably won't like the manual box. The steering ratio is terrible especially for slow speed driving such as parking lots. The alternative and it will take a lot more work to do it is to convert to a manual rack and pinion steering system.

Even if you want to road race or auto cross, you'll want a power box in a third gen.

Gravel

I am, as we speak, in the process of going back to power steering in my Z. I ran it with manual steering for a couple years. This car is not my DD or I wouldn't have even considered making the switch to manual.

I grabbed my manual box out of an S-10. Bolted right in and was cool for a while. As already stated, the pitman arm is different so you will need that too.

lunati397

just get a k member and manual rack kit that way you are actually saving weight vs with the box its still a hunk of metal sitting up there

and the manual rack kits still turn decently

Taco Pirate

Thank you. I'll leave it power when I drop the small block in it. Would it be worth it to switch to quick ratio? Thanks again.

92RS_Ttop

iTrader: (3)

If you're just gonna drag race it, I wouldn't worry about it. If you're gonna auto cross or road race it, then I would absolutely put one in. I don't race mine, but I do have lots of empty twisting back roads where I live and I really like having the quick ratio box. Nice for parallel parking too.

Easiest way to do it is find an IROC or WS6 Trans Am that already has one in a junkyard and pull it. That way you don't have to mess with removing your pitman arm and putting it on a new or remanned box. I don't know of any manual quick ratio boxes though.

xpndbl3

iTrader: (5)

Bought a reman'd 87 S10 4cyl 2wd pickup box from AutoZone and run it in my camaro. Slow speed parking lots suck but if moving along with traffic it isn't noticeable.