I am building a car to take out club racing and drive often. I don't mind the torment of driving a car with manual steering and the fun of parking. Will it be too much to race and have manual steering plus manual tranny and etc. I have a bud that is making his car manual for the road course.

Jeremy

 

Personally, I'd keep the power steering if you're going to be doing road course stuff. It's quicker and easier.

 

Was there a question in there anywhere?

If you get a s10 manual gear box it won't be nearly as bad just deleting the PS pump.

Flaming River sells a manual box and steering shaft. I saw it in a chevy hi-po mag. It was much smaller and lighter than the s10 box. It was also being installed into a 82 camaro so I'm assuming it would fit in any thirdgen.

 

LOL... I guess there wasn't even a question in there. I am stoopid.

I have a S-10 steering box already, think I will stay with power for the moment, just thinking of steering and shifting and etc.. make life easier with power.

Jeremy

 

It's not even necessarily about the power. It's about the ratio. S10 boxes are like 5+ turns lock to lock. This leads to VERY unresponsive steering. You want responsive steering on a road coarse ... not some slug that takes over double the amount of time to get the same angle on the wheels. The flaming river boxes are a nice touch. You can get them in a quicker ratio ... but it still won't be quick like an IROC box. Plus, do you really want to be wrenching on the wheel going around the track? There's really no point.

Tim

 

Even the NASCAR guys use power steering.

In fact, Rusty Wallace attributed his loss last week in Bristol to a failed power steering pump. He made a good run for first, but as soon as he lost power steering he said the car just wouldn't turn in the corners very well and it cost him the race.

 

Why would you want to remove it? I don't get it...its not like it hurts power or anything..

 

Less weight and cleaner engine bay. It was about 20 lbs off the very front of the car, which is where you want to loose weight the most. I also think it gives more "feel" of the road. Then again, I don't really do racing where I have to turn the wheel

I currently am using the IROC box too, and I gotta say that it can be a pain to do any kind of tight minuvering. Low speed, tight radius turns are pretty difficult. And I would never do heavy city traffic with it. And it also makes it impossible for the G/F and female family to drive. My mom had to move it in the driveway a couple weeks ago, and she thought the car was broken

The S-10 box is on my list of things to do, but none of the yards around here have any of them.

I'm with them though. For road racing, keep the P/S.

 

I tried my car without the belt on to see how it would be without power steering. DAMN lol. It wasn't easy. I think it would be alittle easier with a s10 box.

 

Power steering without belt will be a little harder than manual. It is an art to drive with manual steering, you turn the wheel while the car is moving it isn't hard at all. But to turn it at a dead stop especially with sticky wide tires up front... will be close to impossible, especially since I am a little guy.

 

... except for the fact that when you DO turn the wheel the car hardly turns. With my IROC box now back in place when I turn the wheel the car turns in sharply - the response can't be beat. If it is a car designed for straight lines then the manual steering is AOK. But, if you are at all interested in ANY type of cornering, keep the power fast ratio box.

Tim

 

It's a huge difference between a lazy ratio manual box and a tight ratio box like these got stock. When I go from my camaro to my manual steering ranger, it feels like it turns easier than power steering.

If you go manual with the camaro box, be prepared to have VERY stiff steering

If you go manual with the truck box, be prepared for very lazy response. I have also read that by converting to the s-10 box you cannot go lockout to lockout either.

I'd follow Trax's advice and stick with the power steering (unless you want to go through the trouble to change to a tubular k-member and convert to a manual rack. I've heard good reviews on that)

 

Is there a way to specifically get this IROC steering pump? Part # maybe?

Thanks,
Jason

 

I have my pump and IROC box I can sell you if you can find me a decent S-10 box and pitman arm

 

onebinky,
You have a PM.

What makes this IROC pump so special again? And when did they make it?

Thanks,
Jason

 

I believe the pump is identical between the standard box and the IROC one, it's the box that's different. It allows for less turns lock to lock for quicker steering response, and a more "sporty" feel.

I sent a PM back to you, if all you need is the pump I think I may even have an extra laying around I could part with for cheap.

 

Even harder when driving with a manual transmission, only got one hand to turn the wheel. manual steering boxes are more forgiving then a PS box without fluid.

 

I am confused. There's a pump and a box? How does this stuff relate/connect together?

My steering works fine. I was just wanting to upgrade it if possible at a reasonable cost.

Thanks,
Jason

 

I think you need to poke your head into your engine bay .

Power steering pump is powered by the serpantine belt which in turn, takes the power steering fluid from the reservoir and shoves it at high pressure into the steering box. Hydraulics really. A manual steering box just works off of gears and requires no pump, just extra muscle.

 

I assume the pump action is the same for V-belts.

Is the box the same as the rack and pinion?

Jason

 

1. Yes, when I said serpantine belt, I meant accessory belt, whether you have a serpantine or v-belt.

2. No, totally different steering system.

 

So I must have a recirculating ball type deal. I didn't know that. I guess I better look more closely.

Geez it seems I spend more time looking than anything else anymore...