Is power steering a requirement?

[Mr_Roboto]

My buddy is telling me that PS is going to be a requirement if I'm going to do anything with tires up front. He said past about 225 it becomes a real pain to deal with at low speeds. Is this something that can be changed, or should I leave manual steering boxes for drag racing? Also, I know the connectors changed from inverted flare to Saginaw on GM boxes about 81-83, but did the shafts for the pitman arm/steering wheel inputs ever change? I've also read you can change the stops on these by changing the aluminum cover. Never done it before but is this compatible as well? I know where a third gen WS6 box is I could probably get for cheap, then I would combine that with hydro boost brakes from an Astro in all probability.

[David Pozzi]

there are two internal stops. One is the thickness of the aluminum end plug. The other is an insert ring on the other side of the piston. The piston must be removed to get at it. This involves removing the piston and ball nut. Here is a video showing it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjOYQcRx_hc

[Mr_Roboto]

GREAT video. I've done an auto tranny rebuild or two so I'm not (too) afraid of this. The Grand Cherokee box seems to be a lot easier of an upgrade than the WS6 box. I may go that route instead. I've been seeing the Third Gen Camaro guys tend to ditch the rag joint and go to a solid steering shaft modified from a Jeep or an Astro van. Anything similar for A-bodies?

[djfxall]

98 grand cherokee power steering box is common abody swap car craft did a article on it
http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/ccrp_0901_gm_steering_box_upgrade/viewall.html

[rustomatic]

I've found that electric power steering units are quite nice; if you've got a manual box or rack that you presently like, it just stays there, and you add the electric power elsewhere...

My need for power steering did not come from my tire width (225), since my car's pretty light, but from the addition of a quickener and a smaller diameter steering wheel. I added a Unisteer (upgraded model) Electra-Steer a couple months ago, and it has worked out very well, even under autocross conditions...