<snip>
Manual steering from lack of pump pressure is identical to manual
from-the-factory, only you probably have a smaller steering wheel and will
develop strong arm muscles from parking.
<snip>

Manual steering is FAR easier than power steering with the belt removed.
It's not  just that the manual steering setup has a bigger steering wheel.
The steering geometry is different also.  If you add a power steering rack
and pump to a vanagon with a front end set up for manual, it will seem even
easier to steer than a factory power steering setup as the manual system
requires more turns of the steering wheel ... lock to lock.

Mike
'84 GL 7 pass manual steering
'85 GL Westy power steering