Rack and pinion vs manual gear box, spill pan vs engine diaper

[64nailhead]

Engine Diaper and spill pan

I've been running an engine diaper and I hate it. It's a giant PITA to install, it's melted, come loose, flapped in the air under the car and I'm truly not sure if my motor windowed the block of how effective it might be. Before DW this year my wife caught me hand sewing new straps on it and...

gbodyforum.com

I’m back into this for the winter. But I have another goal - lose weight off the front. I want to put in a rack, but I’m struggling to find a rack that will be close to the correct geometry. TRZ offers a manual rack, but without their spindles, the turning radius is terrible (on a stick spindle). I’ve considered swapping to manual steering gear just to lose the weight of the power steering pump.

bracketchev1221 - and thoughts?

 

[Built6spdMCSS]

Seen people use the S10 Manual Box.

 

[64nailhead]

Seen people use the S10 Manual Box.

Does that bolt to the frame without modification?

 

[Built6spdMCSS]

From my understanding yes, why people go with it as a budget option.

 

[pagrunt]

Thought back when most of us was young the Vega manual box was an option for a smaller/lighter manual unit.

 

[Rt Jam]

I'd consider the steering ratio before jumping over to save weight.
The quick ratio might make the difference in hitting the wall or not one day.

 

[bracketchev1221]

If I remember mine was a universal rack from flaming river with the tie rod kit from I think it was S&W race cars. It does help allow you to put any oil pan you want in the car, maybe even rig the crossmember to be removable to drop the pan with th engine in the car.

 

[64nailhead]

If I remember mine was a universal rack from flaming river with the tie rod kit from I think it was S&W race cars. It does help allow you to put any oil pan you want in the car, maybe even rig the crossmember to be removable to drop the pan with th engine in the car.

Did it affect the turning radius?

 

[bracketchev1221]

Well it didn’t affect driving around at the track I never had to parallel park it. Cant say how it would be on the road

 

[64nailhead]

I’ve decided to go with a manual steering box - a new S10 box and pitman arm seems to be ‘normal’ GBody upgrade. It should be quite a weight savings, but I’m hoping the increased ratio isn’t going to make it drive awfully. It looks to be close to a 40lb weight savings. And considering that it’s in front of the front tires I’m hoping it changes my front to rear weight bias by my rental 1-2%. I’ll post up some pics when I get it fully installed.

And of course update with a drivability change.