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I have done some engine bay clean up.
I removed the entire ac/heater system
Coil pack relocation
Installed stand up griffin rad
removed abs
moved location of fuse boxes
Shaved the stock valve covers smooth
wire hide mod
And I am sure there is more.
I am not done but this gives you an idea of how far you can go:
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/d...Picture028.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/d...Picture027.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/d...Picture026.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/d...Picture025.jpg
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I have 2 cars here with manual steering, not that big of a deal.
I've actually seen alot of 4th gens with manual racks installed, always in an attempt to remove weight as they were street brawlers and weekend track cars.
If you are going for serious weight reduction, an aftermarket K member and control arms will take about 60 lbs. off the front, and that's a good time to do the manual rack too and remove more weight.
The way I see it, by the time you remove all the weight of the AC, power steering, K-member, AIR, headers (lighter than manifolds), cats (off road Y is lighter), ABS brakes, fiberglass hood, and many more things,,,,the front end becomes so light that manual steering really shouldn't be an issue. Put some air in the front tires and it makes things a bit easier too.
My opinion, the power steering on these cars isn't all that easy anyway,,,since GM seems to want to incorporate "road feel" into the systems, you can't really use one hand in a parking lot and "palm" the wheel around when parking. It's rather stiff anyway if you ask me.
The way a manual rack is geared,,,,it's easier to steer than if you simply removed the power steering belt on a power steering system,,,that tends to be difficult because the PS rack isn't designed to work that way.
That was a trick used years ago on 4th gens (shorter belt to bypass PS) but it's hard to drive. A manual rack is much easier.
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+1 on the manual steering rack. Hoping to get one i my bird soon.
