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manual steering rack swap 97-03 GP

idrivejunk

idrivejunk

New member
Another looney topic to gather dust perhaps... from beyond the mainstream of "mods":

Has this been done? Don't ask why, just speak up if you have swapped a power rack for a manual in any FWD car please. Whether it was an OE or aftermarket part doesn't matter but I'd like a part # if you were pleased with the swap and it was a GP or similar car. Pros and Cons and relevant links are welcome. Even educated speculation and input from experiences with any FWD manual steer car on the road or track. Short jabs without explanation are not so welcome. Not a big deal just curiosity. Thanks. Oh, almost forgot-

Pontiacs are by far the best, and especially Grand Prixs. Always were and always will be, despite unpopularity in China. Arrowhead Power!
 


A site search didn't turn up much other than the PS pump can be bypassed for emergency purposes for a short period of time. I don't see why anyone would swap a manual rack into a car that is so front heavy. I would think that steering response while driving would be slow at best and parking/slow driving steering would be a PITA. Would probably be like driving a car with a failing PS pump or rack. Not saying it can't be done as I'm sure some full out drag car that was/is FWD has had this done at some point seeing how long FWD has been around.
 
Youd be spending a lot of time trying to find a manual rack from a car that could work or a lot of work fabbing. I once had a little mitsu truck with manial steering. If you were moving, the steering was fine. Parking lot? It sucked
 
Ask Jdredd or PM him I know he has used a manual rack in a GP before. I was actually trying to get it from him for the caged car project I have. If it goes to plan I could actually only be spinning the alt and that's it. AC nope thrown out, Water pump nope got an electric one, Power Steering nope strong arm steering LOL, Supercharger? Nope Turdbo!
 
I'm willing to go with some easy fab work to lose a pulley, not looking for a drop-in unless that has been accomplished with good results. I've had V8 cars with manual steering and it was never a problem for me in corners. Maybe a little slower to park. But with the right ratio and steering wheel anything can be manually steered without all the pump hassle and weight. Just means you can't steer like an old woman and have to keep your head in the game so to speak.

Experimenting with salvage units would probably not be the smart path but could be real cheap if theres a fit-and-specs winner to be had. I was kinda thinking aftermarket rack with compatible tie rods. Rear-steer Omni type racks ain't that high. Fab mount, mod steering shaft end. Replace pump, lines, and fluid with an idler on a fabbed bracket. Lose a whole bunch of problems. I like the cage thing too, I wreck a lot. Hafta search around for that guy. I want to go to an old school column anyway. Those are literally lying around as are better steering wheels. I'm kinda past the airbag-havin thing and most of my driving is in a straight line below 60.
 
I know I had read up on a few guys that usually when they went electric water pump they chose to go manual. But it wasn't common.
 


We did a coyote swap in a 41 truck at work with one hidden electric pump running both brakes and steering. Thats fer if'n a feller wants to get fancy! My thoughts are more bare-bones. The rack mounting setup would be easily altered on these cars. I have a subframe loose that I could mock the whole thing up on beforehand so thats an advantage. Figure it would be fairly simple but then the magnasteer(?) wires being connected to nothing might affect ABS/TCS and that could be an issue.

On just spinning an alt and nothing else... I gotta wonder if it occurs to folks that convert engine accessories to electric.... that doing so likely increases the HP required to run that one alternator pulley. For those vehicles, a WOT switch to turn off the alt might be a good idea.

Its the Flaming River site that got me going on this. That and chronic pump whine in both GTPs I've had. I can foam the ol funky fluid in a couple miles of the right road, and a lightweight simple manual conversion makes sense to me.
 
the rack has 3 setting, like butter middle and firm, firm is rather firm. so maybe play with them settings if you got a tech 2 to use.
 
My pump on my gt has had a whine issue twice. A fluid flush fixed it I didnt believe it would the first time I did it, but it was gone instantly and I had a very bad whine if i spun the tires while turning or just too much turning.
 


I definitely need to get fresh fluid in mine.

Scotty this is news to IDJ. Sure this isn't a Buick only thing? I presume the default setting is medium? I'm taking it that the mangasteer feature would be in control of switching that normally? I do not have an advanced scan tool personally. Hmm. I don't have any issues with how it steers other than theres just not enough assist for my liking. Constant input is required with FWD and it irritates me while I smoke drink and eat all at once behind the wheel. In this case yes a more Buick like feel might be more what I'm after. I miss recirculating ball, label me uncurable.
 
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