I have been looking at the options for power steering. Don't need anyone to try to talk me out of it, don't wanna hear folks go on and on about how the original cars didn't have it..lol...I'm gonna do it-I want it. I have a modern car with a classic body that NEVER breaks down and needs very little from me..most dependable screaming fast car a person could ever want...complete with high power stereo, seat heaters, metal flakes in my paint, fuel injection, an automatic transmission, (albeit massively upgraded and capable of shifting faster than 95% of most humans) and all that new fangled garbage that would make many of the purists out there groan in disgust. But I'm sick to death of trying to keep reasonably low air pressure in my tires for the extra gripping power and then trying to parallel park!
Could use some opinions each way..from people who have actually done it.
Yes, the electric systems out there seem to make the job pretty short and sweet, but is it really worth that much more money to do without a standard pump setup? This is how I see each job, am I thinking clearly?
Replacing the manual 93 mustang rack with a power rack is easy and cheap, ($250 for a polished power rack on eBay)--much less for a standard swap, get a nice bracket, pump, belt and pulley upgrade from 2-3 slot and get a couple nice hoses--boom, its done, not expensive and simple. $600?
The electric systems require you to make a custom bracket, remove the steering shaft, have it cut and modified to accept the D-Couplings. Install the unit inline, Run an ignition hot, a constant hot, a ground and a speed sensor wire and its over. $1500 for the unit and $150 for shaft machining for the set-screw D coupling type, and because I do not have a welder of my own right now, maybe another $50 to have the weldable D bracket ends welded on.
Advantages of Electric system--no engine drag, no hoses, no messy liquids, no caveating (not that I would have problems with that unless fluid got low)
Advantages of Old School system; Exactly that..bulletproof and cheap.
Looking forward to hearing what you'all have to say..thanks for your time.
John Lipka