After 237,000 miles and leaking the past 10 years, my power steering pump is gone. A couple of years ago I took it off and drove the car over a month wiht it off and it was extremely hard to turn.

Anyway, I am comtemplating the S-10 steering box conversion. How much effort is required to turn? I have the OEM 215/65/15 tires and a slightly smaller aftermarket steering wheel.
Also, how much is the cost differental of the manual steering box/pitman arm vs. a new PS unit?

Thanks,
Joey

 

i like power steering

i would do what you have to to keep it

 

the manual box cost me $15 from a junkyard, i removed it.

 

I have a Birtish car w/ man. steering, and it's a little tuff to turn sometimes, that car weighs about 1,800-2,000lbs, now think of that in a Camaro.

 

A new/rebuilt power steering pump couldn't be more than a couple hundred bucks and an easy install, I would just put one back in and be done with it, also a good time to change the hoses. I just replaced the pressure hose at $27.

 

Supercharged: I had a British car as well with manual steering. A MG Midget to be exact. It was as easy as the Z28 to steer. It did have a big steering wheel. I also presently have a 1971 F100 Ford PU manual steering. It ain't so easy, but acceptable.

 

You can't compare a manual steering box with a power box with no hydraulic pressure.

You're not going to be able to spin the steering wheel with one finger while sitting still but as for driving the manual box is fine. There will be more turns from stop to stop because of the gear ratio required for a manual box.

You can pull a manual box out of 4 cylinder S10's for cheap. They're a direct bolt-in however the f-body pitman arm should be used.

 

It's not a direct bolt-in - but close to it. The steering box hits the driver's side swaybar mount. You'll need to either trim the mount or trim the box. The part of the box that contacts the mount is shown below circled in Red. This was on my 1990 IROC.

 

power to manual was a direct bolt in on my 85, but i don't need no stinking sway bar either.

 

I drove my grandfathers 67 vette for a quick test ride after we replaced the clutch. It weighs close to what a thirdgen weighs, and i would never want to take that on windy roads, let alone around a parking lot at <10 miles an hour, not to mention how it likes to jerk the steering wheel around. However, i have friend with a 77 firebird and it wasnt nearly as bad, in fact it was quite tolerable. I would still however find another power steering pump for your thirdgen just because you may not like the feel of a manual, taht is unless youve tried one that was converted.

 

Manual steering is fine as long as your putt-putting around, or for a drag only car, I drive a Dodge Dart Sport that came with manual steering and it's a handful when 450 hp get's a little squirrelly on you, I'm going to change it over to a fast ratio power unit soon. Any modern sports type car should have it, period. Just bite the bullet and get your steering fixed the right way.

 

I'm thinking about the manual switch also... Front sway bar is out of it as well. and goin electric water pump, only thing runnin a belt will be the altenator.