I am going to install a s10 manual gear box in my camaro. Does anyone know the specs on the maual steering gear boxes? After i put it in, will I notice it so much that i'll want to go back to the z28 box? thanks.

 

Depends what you mean about performance. It will take more turns of the steering when when making a turn since there is a higher torque multiplication in a manual box because of no power assist. You won't like it if you have wide 16+" tall rims on the front of the car and you're trying to get into a tight parking space.

A manual box is used when narrower front tires are installed so not as much force is required to turn them. The manual box also reduces a lot of front end weight. The box weighs less, there's no pump, oil or hoses.

 

I guess i should have stated that a little more clearly. By performance loss i was wondering how many turns lock to lock a manual s-10 box is? I am planning on swapping a 468 into my 89 camaro, and I want the room and want to lose the ps pump. thanks..

 

um if you think a manual box will be somewhat as easy to turn as a power steering car: BWAHAHAHAHA!!! I was driving my uncles 318 '75 Plymouth Duster and unless you're moving, turning sucks hardcore. And that thing had a much bigger wheel than a thirdgen to get a torque advantage to turn the steering wheel.

 

My buddy, UkraineTrain on thirdgen, has an s-10 with a manual box and I've driven it. I havent counted lock to lock turns, but its noticabely more turns then the power steering im used to. I think most power steering cars are like 3.5 ish turns, his truck's gotta be 5 at least, when you're going from one side to the other, like pulling into a parking lot or something, you really gotta get the arms moving.

Oh yea, and it's a pain in the *** to turn when youre not moving or moving real slow, and this was in a little s10 with a 4cyl. I'm sure with a big block like youre proposing it'd be real bad.

 

Manual steering is not too bad, just more turns. True, if you are not moving, it's harder, but you should never do that with any car anyway. It puts a tremendous stress on steering components.

 

Right now I've been living with a V8 swapped S-10 with the manual steering. It's such a slooooooooow ratio. I sucks. I am putting in a power box and pump from an '84 Firebird, people ask me about all that horsepower I'll be losing, and I say to them first of all, go paralel park this thing, then drive a stock 4 cyl truck, then tell me you wouldn't want to change it. I nearly have to hand over hand the thing when I drive on some mountain roads.

Now for you, if you're just going to drag race, it'll be fine, but in a daily driver it'll make a man out of ya.

Eric

 

They only use 5-10 horsepower anyways.

 

Exactly, and since I went from a 90 horse four cyl to a 300 hp eight, I don't think I'll notice the five hp loss from the ps pump.

Eric

 

Unless it's a drag only car there is no way I would change to a manual set up, I've seen big block 3rd gens with power steering so there is room for it. And power steering does not cost ANY power that you would be able to measure unless your turning, when your going straight it just recirculate's fluid and doesn't produce any pressure.