power steering and alternator: keep/move?

[weith1111]

I'll be building up my car this fall/winter hopefully, and was considering 2 things related to accessories:

Eliminating the power steering. I've read a few people talk about issues with their power steering, and a few other mentions of the problems of PS cutting out (mainly during autocross type racing), but I haven't read anyone specifically saying PS is better to have or not have for roadracing. With the car moving at high enough speeds, and 2 hands on the wheel 99% of the time, shouldn't manual be doable? Actually, preferred to give more feedback from the road? Isn't PS more of a hassle than a help? Would a hairpin be too difficult without power assist?

Also, I was going to relocate the alternator to the rear of the block to keep it as far from the turbo as possible. Do most of you just run standard alternator placements? Doesn't having the turbo in constant use put more heat on nearby items, require more maintanence/replacement of them? I may be overthinking this, but you are putting months of abuse on your car in hours of time (tires, brakes, oil, everything else...), based on manufacturers standards.

While I have it all apart I might as well ditch it/move it, if it's going to be of ANY benefit, but just wanted some opinions, especially on the PS.

BTW this is not a DD car.

 

[Greg Collier]

Relocating the alternator is on my to-do list. Not only will it help in relation to the heat of my external wastegate dump tube, but could free up space for a modification Mitch has suggested regarding the hose routing of my cooling system.

As far as disconnecting the power steering pump you'd probably need to change the power steering gearbox assembly and rack to a manual one...

 

[stealthTT]

Relocating the alternator is on my to-do list....

Is there an off the shelf part available? Or will a bracket have to be fabricated? I'm assuming the alternator will go where the air conditioning compressor previously resided, right?

Thanks,
Mike.

 

[weith1111]

There are a few premade brackets out there, I think Buschur has one, and the one I originally found was http://jayracing.com/images/ARB1_on_engine3.jpg.

As far as the PS goes, I'm aware I'd need to go to a manual rack, my question was a little more general: do it or don't do it? I drove me buddy's LS1 yesterday and the steering was TIGHT. My 92 talon is sloppy crap, the PS assists too much, sometimes I feel like it's turning itself. I'm looking for more "road feel" but wasn't sure if a typical race-only car has PS or not. Seems to me you wouldn't want the "help" nor the extra parts to break down on you midrace...

 

[weith1111]

http://dsmtuners.com/forums/showpost.php?p=50462355&postcount=25

Interesting. Not too believable, but interesting none the less. I decided 'll be going without PS, even though no one really stated they run with/without it on their race cars. I can't see the negatives outweighing the positives unless I'm at a track that has a hairpin at crawling speeds.

Greg, you make it sound like you still have PS, true?

 

[Greg Collier]

Greg, you make it sound like you still have PS, true?

Most definitely... Turning those big ol 9.5 x 17 inch rims with the 275/40's would take some major effort without some power assist.