Thread: Rack and pinion conversion

Tweet

Does anyone know the proper way (if there is one) to convert a powered rack and pinion to a manual? Can you do this safely or should you just change the rack?

I would change out the rack,other wise it will be too hard steer.

To change it to manual, you have to get a whole new manual rack & pinion . Also now you can remove power steering pump. You can not convert a power rack to manual.

Just curious why you would want to remove the power steering from a car this size? You're really doing some nice work on it, though!

I kind of like the "period correct look." I've been looking at a lot of different aftermarket steering wheels and haven't really found anything I like. LeCarra's Mark 10 is nice but still sort of modern looking with the billet horn ring. So I think I'm going to use a wheel from the correct era which means an 18" diameter. I figured it with that size wheel a manual rack would have a better feel. My 66 Impala power steering and the large diameter factory wheel was horribly over driven and I hated the way there was almost no resistance to the steering. Also, i"m having trouble coming up with a good spot to mount the A/C compressor. I'm using the factory truck brackets and everything fits but the compressor. It's too low and will hit the frame by the passenger side upper control arm. So the plan is to ditch the power steering pump and use the bracket to mount the A/C compressor.