I used to be with you all the way Andrew but having installed a 2.5 litre
Subaru motor I'm going ahead and re-installing power steering in Dixie.

There's no way I'm giving up the big steering wheel though, that's such an
improvement over the smaller wheel.  ;) Speaking of which, I have a spare
big brown wheel if you want one for your '85.

Jake

On Mon, May 3, 2010 at 9:49 PM, Andrew Martin <ramblinvan@gmail.com> wrote:

> I'm reading this thread thinking that I actually prefer my 87 Westy
> Weekender that does NOT have power steering over my 85 Westy that does.
>
> I like "feel" of manual steering AND I like the holding the larger wheel;
> it's kinda like driving my ol' '70 bus. I added a "Wheelskins" a couple of
> weeks ago and wow!
>
> Another plus of the 87's larger wheel is that I can see the speedo without
> tilting my head every few minutes to look under the top of the wheel as I
> am
> forced to do in my 85 Westy.  This is also because the 85 Westy's seat
> swivel thickness raises the seating position and my 87 does not have seat
> swivels.
>
> Then there's the additional working room in the engine compartment (no
> pump,
> no reservoir, hose and pipes), one less belt to deal with and carry in my
> "spares", perhaps a little more HP for the wheels, and one less potential
> fluid to leak.
>
> Lots of reason to live without power steering.
>
> Andrew
> Bainbridge Island WA
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Scott Daniel - Turbovans
> Sent: Monday, May 03, 2010 8:32 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Power Steering
>
> I can give you that anytime Roger,
> it's quite straightforward, pretty much.
>
> biggest variable is if you use PS uprights/spindles or non-PS ones.
> to do it 100 % right you would want the PS uprights , though you can get by
> keeping non-PS ones.
>
> the 'ideal' is to use PS uprights with cast  lower control arms ..
> which you will find commonly on 85 1/2 and later vanagons with PS.
>
> the rest of it is just the pump and brackets, the res, the pipes, the PS
> rack, the shaft that goes from 'V' steeing box ( my term ) to the PS rack
> ..and the smaller PS steering wheel is nice too.
>
> Scott
> www.turbovans.com
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Roger Whittaker" <rogerwhitt1@GMAIL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Monday, May 03, 2010 7:57 PM
> Subject: Re: Power Steering
>
>
> > love to see pics of this as you do it
> > each stage of install
> > and a comprehensive list of parts used
> >
> > On Mon, May 3, 2010 at 5:04 PM, Jamie Fitterer
> > <fittdog8848@hotmail.com>wrote:
> >
> >> My 84 Westy does not have pwoer steering.  I was entertaining the idea
> of
> >> adding it to the vehicle but thought I would get some feedback from
> those
> >> on
> >> the list.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > roger w
> > From Proverbs:
> > Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up: a
> > servant who becomes king ...
> > ----------------------------------------------------------
> > Explore printed work at: http://www.prliving.ca/
> > View the growing list of video work at:
> > http://revver.com/find/video/?query=LastonLastof&search_on=owners
>

--
Jake

1984 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX 'The Grey Van'
1986 Westy Weekender/2.5 SOHC Suby 'Dixie'

Crescent Beach, BC

www.thebassspa.com
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27