I HAVE to do something about my steering... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

1987 Shortwide · 12-11-2006, 11:40 PM

As you see here, this is the current "manual steering" rig up.

We just finished dropping a vortec headed 355 in my buddy's 86 stepper and tuned it tonight. I've driven many cars with manual steering, but that truck was the WORST! I know now that if I manage to get loose at half track it's over, there's no quick correcting this sucker....

So what to do? I really REALLY don't want a PS pump on it. I want nothing more than the alternator to run on a belt, the waterpump is electric.

Roll her into the chassis shop for a flaming river rack install, or order up a C-4 drop member with manual rack? Drop member would be a bit more than the rack install on my setup, but it'd sure look and perform better...

bigblock73 · 12-12-2006, 12:35 AM

Make the truck a wheel stander...then you don't need PS...just hand brakes for the rear to steer.

Sorry man, that is all the help I can offer. Your frame sure looks nice though!

1987 Shortwide · 12-12-2006, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigblock73

Make the truck a wheel stander...then you don't need PS...just hand brakes for the rear to steer.

Sorry man, that is all the help I can offer. Your frame sure looks nice though!

hah, gee thanks jeff, you're just the man with a plan tonight, huh. LOL

Oh well, I figure at my current rate, I've got some time to choose...

**Zoomad75** · 12-12-2006, 11:43 AM

If all you are using right now is a p/s gear with that jumper hose, it's going to steer like crap. It's no different than a truck where the pump went out, hose ruputre or other failure. What I mean is p/s gears were designed to use the fluid to ease the effort of turning. Take the fluid away and they are worse than true manual steering gears.

Going to a rack & pinion would be the ultimate, but finding a true manual gearbox would be the shortest route to your solution. I'm not sure that many trucks of the 73-87 range were built without p/s but I'd bet the earlier ones from 73-75 would have a greater chance. Even auto zone lists a manual gear part when you look up a 73 c10.

It wont steer as easy as one with p/s but it would be better than a p/s gear without a pump.

**Captkaos** · 12-12-2006, 12:04 PM

The manual boxes on these are potheticly slow and a real bear. I swapped mine out because a 454/4speed power brick wasn't fun to counter steer.

Are you avoiding the power setup because of the parasitic loss from the pump or because you don't want anything mounted to the motor? Or because of weight?

Options
1)Manual rack
2)driveshaft driven power steering pump
3)2nd Gen Toyota MR2 ELECTRIC power steering pump. (I understand that the EV1 and Subaru have them also... not sure though)

There are also cars with electric pump and racks... In fact flaming river has an electric steering....

**Zoomad75** · 12-12-2006, 06:00 PM

I'm betting he don't want the pump for the parasitc power loss. That being said, you could probably use a smaller pump off of a cavalier with a remote reservior (the aftermarket serpentine kits usually use that type of pump). I'm betting, besides the easier packaging, its probably more efficient than the giant stock p/s pumps on these trucks. Yes it's going to still pull power from the engine, but if your making big power you probably wouldn't notice it. You could probably make it up by loosing some wieght in the truck elsewhere.

I can understand the want to get every drop of power to the tires, but is it track only or a semi-street driven? I had a buddy gut a 72 nova to gain speed, even ditched p/s and p/b to loose wieght and parasitc power loss. He gained maybe .5 sec and made it darn near impossible to drive on the street. He did drive it on the street too. Just didn't make much sense to me as I watched him skid by me at the track with the manual brakes locked up to make the first turn off the strip.

hiway · 12-12-2006, 06:14 PM

Just put a manual box on it from another truck...had lots of them. You'll be happy.

1987 Shortwide · 12-12-2006, 07:11 PM

Partially because I don't want more on a belt than needed, partially weight. Mainly it's just because I'm a picky bastid and I don't want a power steering pump and lines under there if I can avoid it. I'm going to look into racks, and if I absolutely HAVE to, I guess I'll look into a nice billet PS pump with a remote res.

magnethead · 12-12-2006, 11:56 PM

as said, go electric. If you do the math right you can make the motor for an elec water pump probably spin a p/s pump just fast enough to build pressure.

as to pump drag, my truck has hydroboost, and i loose 200 RPM while turning from the drag, even worse if i'm braking and turning at the same time.

12-11-2006, 11:40 PM	#1
1987 Shortwide Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 610	I HAVE to do something about my steering... As you see here, this is the current "manual steering" rig up. We just finished dropping a vortec headed 355 in my buddy's 86 stepper and tuned it tonight. I've driven many cars with manual steering, but that truck was the WORST! I know now that if I manage to get loose at half track it's over, there's no quick correcting this sucker.... So what to do? I really REALLY don't want a PS pump on it. I want nothing more than the alternator to run on a belt, the waterpump is electric. Roll her into the chassis shop for a flaming river rack install, or order up a C-4 drop member with manual rack? Drop member would be a bit more than the rack install on my setup, but it'd sure look and perform better... __________________ ~Steve~ Friesen High Performance Auto and Graphics Toy: 87 Shortwide, 406 smallblock with a little boost My 87 buildup Daily Driver: 99 Sierra SLE 4X4. Black on Black and harder than hell to keep clean.

12-12-2006, 12:35 AM	#2
bigblock73 yeller Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 13,826	Re: I HAVE to do something about my steering... Make the truck a wheel stander...then you don't need PS...just hand brakes for the rear to steer. Sorry man, that is all the help I can offer. Your frame sure looks nice though! __________________ Jeff 73-87.com 73-87.com Facebook page 73-87 cab corner 6x9 speaker brackets for sale 67-72 cab corner speaker brackets for sale 47-54 cab corner speaker brackets for sale

12-12-2006, 11:43 AM	#4
Zoomad75 K5Camper Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Pueblo, CO Posts: 1,513	Re: I HAVE to do something about my steering... If all you are using right now is a p/s gear with that jumper hose, it's going to steer like crap. It's no different than a truck where the pump went out, hose ruputre or other failure. What I mean is p/s gears were designed to use the fluid to ease the effort of turning. Take the fluid away and they are worse than true manual steering gears. Going to a rack & pinion would be the ultimate, but finding a true manual gearbox would be the shortest route to your solution. I'm not sure that many trucks of the 73-87 range were built without p/s but I'd bet the earlier ones from 73-75 would have a greater chance. Even auto zone lists a manual gear part when you look up a 73 c10. It wont steer as easy as one with p/s but it would be better than a p/s gear without a pump. __________________ Rob Z. 1975 K5 350/465/205/D44/12b 4" lift on 35's- RIP 1991 K5 8.1L/NV4500/241/D44/14b FWC Camper

12-12-2006, 12:04 PM	#5
Captkaos www.73-87chevytrucks.com Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 6,935	Re: I HAVE to do something about my steering... The manual boxes on these are potheticly slow and a real bear. I swapped mine out because a 454/4speed power brick wasn't fun to counter steer. Are you avoiding the power setup because of the parasitic loss from the pump or because you don't want anything mounted to the motor? Or because of weight? Options 1)Manual rack 2)driveshaft driven power steering pump 3)2nd Gen Toyota MR2 ELECTRIC power steering pump. (I understand that the EV1 and Subaru have them also... not sure though) There are also cars with electric pump and racks... In fact flaming river has an electric steering.... __________________ Chris Lucas 1973 Chevy C-10 1978 GMC Jimmy (2WD) - SOLD 1987 R10 twin turbo LS 1991 R3500 SRW CrewCab 1985 K5 diesel swapped project 1989 K5 2WD conversion w/ Vette susp Project Captkaos Customs 73-87chevytrucks.com

12-12-2006, 06:00 PM	#6
Zoomad75 K5Camper Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Pueblo, CO Posts: 1,513	Re: I HAVE to do something about my steering... I'm betting he don't want the pump for the parasitc power loss. That being said, you could probably use a smaller pump off of a cavalier with a remote reservior (the aftermarket serpentine kits usually use that type of pump). I'm betting, besides the easier packaging, its probably more efficient than the giant stock p/s pumps on these trucks. Yes it's going to still pull power from the engine, but if your making big power you probably wouldn't notice it. You could probably make it up by loosing some wieght in the truck elsewhere. I can understand the want to get every drop of power to the tires, but is it track only or a semi-street driven? I had a buddy gut a 72 nova to gain speed, even ditched p/s and p/b to loose wieght and parasitc power loss. He gained maybe .5 sec and made it darn near impossible to drive on the street. He did drive it on the street too. Just didn't make much sense to me as I watched him skid by me at the track with the manual brakes locked up to make the first turn off the strip. __________________ Rob Z. 1975 K5 350/465/205/D44/12b 4" lift on 35's- RIP 1991 K5 8.1L/NV4500/241/D44/14b FWC Camper

12-12-2006, 06:14 PM	#7
hiway Mad Scientist Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Enola Arkansas Posts: 380	Re: I HAVE to do something about my steering... Just put a manual box on it from another truck...had lots of them. You'll be happy. __________________ Everythang relates to Beer! 86 1/2ton on tons! sbc/465/208/D60/14/35's 81 Postal....with 468 bbc 97 Merc Marq comuter 07 Suburban 02 Danger Ranger

12-12-2006, 07:11 PM	#8
1987 Shortwide Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 610	Re: I HAVE to do something about my steering... Partially because I don't want more on a belt than needed, partially weight. Mainly it's just because I'm a picky bastid and I don't want a power steering pump and lines under there if I can avoid it. I'm going to look into racks, and if I absolutely HAVE to, I guess I'll look into a nice billet PS pump with a remote res. __________________ ~Steve~ Friesen High Performance Auto and Graphics Toy: 87 Shortwide, 406 smallblock with a little boost My 87 buildup Daily Driver: 99 Sierra SLE 4X4. Black on Black and harder than hell to keep clean.

12-12-2006, 11:56 PM	#9
magnethead 7000 #'s of american IRON Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: north tx Posts: 883	Re: I HAVE to do something about my steering... as said, go electric. If you do the math right you can make the motor for an elec water pump probably spin a p/s pump just fast enough to build pressure. as to pump drag, my truck has hydroboost, and i loose 200 RPM while turning from the drag, even worse if i'm braking and turning at the same time.



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