The Money Pit

The saga of on the road,off the road again continues,though this times minor problem can be fixed easily.I cruised 65 miles on a beautiful sunny day and on the last stretch of road before I got home I saw a plume of smoke in the rearview mirror.Pulled over and determined my power steering system caused it,but couldn't tell if it was a hose or what.This morning I checked it out and the hoses look OK,and I've replaced everything once already within the last six years.In the process of checking out the power steering,I noticed my alternator mount is cracked.This too was replaced due to a crack in the same place,which Bubba had tried to weld.
So it appears I need to re invent the way the alternator mount is made,and at the same time I'm toying with a manual rack and pinion setup,so I'm not sure how to go about this.I guess I should fix the alternator bracket with some sort of aftermarket setup that will allow the same mounting location due to wiring and plumbing conciderations.That way I have the option of retaining power steering if I decide to go that route.I also was thinking of removing the steering ram and leaving the pump belt off to get a feel for what manual steering would be like.

Anyway if some of you have mounting suggestions(pics) or feedback on my situation,fire away!


[Modified by The Money Pit, 11:40 AM 4/18/2004]

cardo0

I think your making all this up to justify your namesake MONEYPIT . :jester
But really the manual steering cars used a different ratio box and would feel nothing like a power system with the belt off. What I'm saying is you realy need a manual box to try it.
But hey if you can live with manual sys how's 'bout a manual box and single belt serpetine system off '90s truck. That has a very strong ALT mount ( on the later blocks that had to be beefed up some).
But my future hope is to install a whole single serpetine belt sys including the P.S.. :lol:

MotorHead

You will wear out the rag joint pretty fast too, ask me how I know :lol:

RHD '68 L89

But really the manual steering cars used a different ratio box and would feel nothing like a power system with the belt off. What I'm saying is you realy need a manual box to try it.
[/QUOTE]
I thought the box was the same and you moved the tierod ends out or in on the steering arms for Power or Non-power.
:cheers:

cardo0

Okay, my bad. Only '69 used a different box for manual.
I was thinking in line with the big cars as I still have a manual box for a '70 GTO. :conehead
But still the feel with the ps valve and slave cylinder still on will be entirely different.