Anybody know of a source to buy a rebuilt manual gear box?

I can barely find a used one....much less a used one in decent shape.

I want to get rid of my power steering gear box.

Does anybody know if the steering columns are interchangeable, or will I need to buy a manual gear box with a steering column?

 

the ps box is quicker and generally regarded as better from what i've read. Why do you want to do this?

 

The car has an LS1 and my driver side exhaust manifold is about 2mm away from the gear box. I'm afraid of boiling the PS fluid and/or damaging the box and making a big paper weight. Plus the gear box is 25 years old and leaks and seeps gross P/S fluid all over the driver side frame rail. Maybe I'll keep it...but if it's not too much trouble I would really like to go manual.

 

Some have said you don't need to change the steering column. When I installed PS in the widebody, I changed the column. For some reason I think it's necessary but can't remember why. If you're going with wider tires, I'd keep the PS. Find/fix the leak and make a heat shield.

 

You can also just cap off the pump and run it as a manual rack correct?

 

the PS box has a separate column, and the manual one does not.

they do swap out, but you need the manual column.

 

I think I just saw some for an 83 and an 85 at www.everdrive.com
Seems like they were asking about $200. Might look there.

 

Does that make it hard (er) to turn than if it was a true manual rack?

 

This is currently what I have on mine. It turns fairly easily. My biggest complaint is the play in the wheel which gets worse with speed. At 100+ MPH you better be awake (well, you better be awake anyway) as it takes a lot of concentration to keep it straight.

Once I work out my other issues, I will work out a bracket to put the power steering back on.

+1: Make a heat shield

 

I've been running this way for years, with no problem. Some will complain that it is too hard to steer at a stop or at low speed. It's not a big deal.

I just ran a line from one port to the other to create a circuit, topped the fluid off, and made sure it was very secure. Haven't had to touched it since.

mikeric is 100% right about the play.

 

My 83 GS is run this way.
The steering is still light enough for me to easily turn the wheel lock to lock from a stop with 205/50/15's on the front, and no I'm not the strongest guy in the world.
You will have about 1-2" of play in the steering wheel as has been mentioned already, but it doesn't particularly bother me.