I'm pretty sure that some 2nd/3rd pickups came with no power assist on the steering correct? Anyone ever swap one of these boxes in place of a power steering box? I had "armstrong" steering on my FJ-40 with 31/10.5s and it wasn't too bad. My shoulders were a little bigger too Anyway, just wondering-it crossed my mind that a 22RE sans power steering pump and mechanical fan (an electric would probably cool better anyway) might be a little peppier. I don't have AC either, so basically all I'd be driving is the alternator-correct? This is a NJ truck so I don't think it has any kind of smog pump?

 

Don't do it. My truck was a manual steering truck before I added the power steering. I didn't notice any extra drag on the engine.

 

I had a 86 4x4 that had manual steering and my 89 2wd is manual ,and both trucks ran stronger than the ones I have had with power steering. Both trucks were the bottom line trucks ,no ac or other accessories dragging the motor down.
If I could have found a manual box for my 89 4x4 I would have probably changed it out.

 

I dont have powersteering on my 1992 4wd with 31's. It sucks, you have to readjust your driving habbits. You have to always be moving or its a headache. Im average build and relatively strong but its still annoying. Mostly hunting.

 

Chef put a steering box from a 2wd to a 4wd 4-runner, so there interchangeable so putting a non-power steering box from a 2wd standard truck would be no big deal, change steering boxes and take off your PS belt and just use it as a manual, and if you change your mind put old box back on and rehook up the old PS system and you'll be good to go...

Chef Quote:
I also got a gear box from a 2wd w/85K on it for 65$(2wd box is the SAME, ....and, it takes FAR LESS abuse than the 4wd rigs put on those boxes.)

 

might hurt the wrists stlamming in and out of ruts hear old wheeling stories of ppl gettin there wrist caught slammin ruts and broke them

 

Off road, manual steering sucks, rock crawling is pretty much impossible and just straight wheeling on any trail a little more difficult than a moderate trail is real hard. Your line gets all messed up, you can't hardly hold on to the wheel when you are hitting ruts and rocks and such, sharp turns in any situation are horrible. I have been driving my truck with no PS for almost 2 years now and my co-worker with a 2wd toyota PU with AC and PS gets better MPG than I do.

 

There is a guy near Chicago who deals in Toyota parts off rusted out frame Toy trucks and he has a complete PS system on craigslist, from pitman arm to the belt on motor, it wouldn't be hard at all to add PS to a manual truck, it's all bolt on for a same engine truck, not sure if 3.slow had same brackets. I know he's too far for most of you, but gives you an idea that you don't have to put up with a manual steering equipped trucks, and 2WD trucks are ok to have manual steering (That's what my B2300 had).

 

...i found this is not true and wanted to correct for others. the 2wd gear box and 4wd boxes are NOT the same. currently deleting my 4wd power steering and pulled a 2wd manual box in great shape from a junkyard after i found this thread thinking it would drop rite in and it doesnt fit. both mount with 3 bolts but none of the bolts line up. 4wd bolts all go in horizontaly from the driver side, while the 2wd box has 1 bolt that mounts vertically onto the frame. hope this prevents more wasted time lol

 

7 year old thread.

Why anyone would change to manual steering and a stupid electric fan to gain a few horse power.

Then why buy a 22re/r powered 4x4

 

i kno. can't imagine how many others have wasted their time believing this thread the last 7yrs. so for evry1 who hasn't yet.. ur welcome lol