manual steering in 85 Monte

[jmerc]

I have a 1985 Monte carlo with power steering and want to convert to manual. I was told that an S-10 Box is a direct replacement for the current box and requires no modifications, is this correct. also what box do I look for is there one that is preffered over the others?

 

[jmerc]

I guess I should have said this before I made my first post but I just got so excited about the tons of info here that I got side tracked so ,let me start over and say you guys got a great site here and thanks for letting me be a part of it. Hopefully Ill be able to help some people out in some way , so to everyone who has made it possible I say THANKS. OK, back to my problem , been doing some research and from what Im finding I need a manual steering box out of a S-10. Seems like it is a direct replacement and there is no modifications necessary. Anyone who could add any info please do.

 

[1981 malibu]

Did this swap on my car, used the box out of an s10, which bolted right in, no problems. I left the s10 pitman arm on it and it worked fine too. It's freed up a little engine power, but I'd recommend against doing it if this is your daily driver-the steering ratio is really slow and effort is higher than I'm comfortable with. Generally i'm of the 'simpler is better' school, but this is one case where the extra complexity is worth it. I think i'm going to swap it back out for the quick-ratio power box.

 

[gotmonte]

I dont have an answer for you, I am sorry. But why would you swap from power to manual? Just to free up a few ponies? If that is the reasoning, I would say do a rear gear swap (maybe to 3.42's or evemn 3.73's) or put a cam in. I had bought my first monte (85 like yours) and the guy put in manual steering. I was pissed. I put power back in and I was happier.

I bought the monte I have now (85 as well, but SS) and the SS steering box is soo much better. I LOVE it. I wish I could help you but the only thing I can offer right now is my opinion. I hope it is not too late but if thats what you truly want than I wish you well with it.

But I beg you to reconsider. As the poster just before me said, he did the swap and is GOING BACK to power. If you want, I would suggest you buying a SS steering box which is quicker ratio. You will be happy you did. As for power, people lighten their car's or rip out essentials (essentials in my eyes at least) but have a stock or close to stock motor/trans/rear. That stuff in MY opinion should be done last (gutting, removing stuff). You wont free up that much horse. And also, speed math goes in the way of : For every 100 pounds you remove from your vehicle, in theory you drop a tenth of a second in the quater mile. Now, swapping your dead gears over to 3.73's you would feel INSTANTLY. It does ADD horsepower, but it launches you off the line SOO much better. Also, if you add a drag radial to your car, you will launch much harder and you wont spin. You will just hook and drag.

Listen, I got off to a tangent. Sorry, I have a tendency for doing that. I dont even know the main reason you want to swap out. Maybe it is just something you want to do and it has nothing to do with freeing up a few horse (maybe 5? Maaaaaaaaybe 10 on a stock motor?).

Wish you well either way.

God Bless

 

[78 Green Lemans]

I left the manual box in my s10 when i did the v8 swap because i was building mainly for 1/4mi and a weekend cruiser once in awhile. Then i moved to an area with no 1/4mi tracks less than 3.5-4hrs away, just 1/8th mile half way up a mountain a little over an hour away. Its been a daily driver/ cruiser toy since and im not liking the steering so much now.

 

[monte olrac]

i put a manual box in to clean up engine bay, amd after 7 1/5 turns lock to lock the quick ratio power steering is back in

 

[will6318]

I just put the manual s-10 box in my 86 monte and love the clean look and the few extra ponies and the extra header clearence is worth the extra effort I have to put in for steering. I use my car on an occasional cruise but mostly looking at the track.