Finishing up the rolling chassis soon new brake lines. I upgraded to the vbp performance plus suspension with new tube a's etc. The vehicle was manual brakes and steering. I want to add steeroids and thinking of hydraboost. My question is the power improvement of both units worth it? I don't mind the extra effort (feel more connected) and would like to avoid adding pump, pulley, bracket, lines etc. Keep it clean and simple with manual brakes and manual rack or since I am spending it add a little more.

 

I have the setup in my 73 it gives the car good feel. It is a pleasure to drive. I will be making these changes to my 77 although it will be DIY and save some bucks. The rack is from a 92/93 Grand Am the hydroboost is from a Astro Van easiest to convert some have used others. There are some good posts here about this topic. Manual to power is a little more involved. I do know you will have to use a later master cylinder 77-82. I am sure others will chime in

 

I have found posts about either but not both together. My thing is the clean install, weight reduction, cost savings, hp savings of not adding power assist vs. adding for comfort or performance. If power assist just makes for a lighter push and pull I am declined to say no.

 

No way manual brakes can match hyroboost. I drove my manual brakes for about 12 years and couldn't stand it any longer. Much too hard a pedal effort.
As for manual steering I feel the same way. Too much effort and too slow a response.
Someone on this forum drove his rack and pinion manual for 6 months and then switched to power and he raved about the difference. How much quicker the power steering was.
As for steroids I would go with the jeep box, half the price and doesn't clutter up under the oil pan. I hate how low the steeroids hangs under the car.

 

I converted my 68 manual steering and brakes to jeep box and hydroboost. Haven't got the car on the road yet but can tell you the hydro and jeep box go in very clean and not that difficult.

 

I have steeroids and hydraboost. I like them both. I had power brakes before and the difference the hydraboost makes is amazing. Love the room it saves over the vacuum tank. Can't say what it would be like when changing from manual brakes, but I haven't noticed any posts about not liking the hydraboost.

I agree that the "touch" on the steering wheel is light with the steeroids. I am inclined to change to the jeep box sometime in the future. I think it would be a much cleaner install and I am getting tired of the "no feedback/light" steering with the steeroids. It does get old.

The other reason to change is my steeroids is leaking. It is no fault of Speed Direct. It is my fault. I hooked the lines up backwards when I installed the hydraboost and broke the steeroids seal. Sure wish the steeroids had a different size fitting for the pressure and return hoses. But again it is my fault not theirs. I should have marked the lines better before the install.

 

Hey clive, I'm going the same route (just posted this a few days back)

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1603953

I'm going for it.

 

I've heard a lot of good things about the Steeroids kit, and a lot of good things about the Jeep box kit. Bad things about both seem to come and go, and it all just comes down to personal preference.

The Hydro swap is something that most everyone seems to love, and I have yet to find anyone with a bad comment about it.

 

Yeah I read that. Good post that I filed away for later. Now I am learning a stock pump might not be enough for both units. Also I will not have a stock 327/350 anymore.

 

I have both on my 71 and with a caliper/rotor upgrade the difference is amazing. Steering is a bit light but very precise. Braking is awesome.

 

IMO, I think you guys with the comments about light steering touch to the power rack conversion....Steeroids.....are really funny, it's the same thing as a C4-5-6 rack, only differance is the point of take off being in the center as opposed to the ends.....a power rack is a power rack the ratio is nearly the same for the items in question....close to 12:1 ratio mechanically make that just under 3 turns lock to lock for us hotrodders....as opposed to a sloppy 4 turns from stock stuff....

so you think the road feel is less??? get rid of those tall stock type tires, put on something like a 17 inch or larger WIDE rim and get it back....

I happened to do it the opposite some 12 years ago....went for the '92 vette rims all around, and fought that stock steering long enough, got some internet hints....ask Twin Turbo....and put in my own rack before Steeroids hit the market....same rack, same essential install, same feel, in there for nearly 6 years now....runs like a charm....lack of FEEL?? I dunno what in hell YOU all are used to, but I LIKE it...feels like a new car....goes where I say, not where it wants to...wide tires and all....

 

Steeriods beats the shiat out of manual fur sur

 

Steeroids and hydraboost here - I love them both.
I personally like the feel of the steeroids.

Bryan

 

One of the only bad things I've heard about the jeep box so far is it has a little too much power assist for most people's liking, more than the steeriods rack from the sounds of it.

 

As far as considering manual, remember we're not getting younger. You still want to drive this ride when you're an old geezer. Go power something. Mine's getting steeroids--free shipping from VB&P.

 

I'm the same, have both and love them!

 

For those who have both, what kind of ps pump and pulley do you use? Any problems?

 

I burnt up a couple of stock pumps so I went to the aftermarket KRC pump from Coleman with a remote resovoir.
I found the KRC pump extremely light weight and very easy to mount. You can buy an aluminum plate from them and bolt it to the head or front of the block with standoffs to align the belt.
The pump is flat backed and easily bolts to the plate.

 

I have had this car for 12 years now, one of the very first things done was a total suspension rebuild, miss nothing, new T-arms also...
the second thing was '92 wheels/tires....275-40-17 as was stock and the only size available then, NOW, I run 275-50-17 somewhat taller, for ride and looks.....
I found the car to be a bear on most any freeway, constantly fighting the wheel because the tires were SO much better than that stock configuation crap...225/60/15....the road input was so much more even my new steering system (stock) was totally out of it....update to '01, I put the car on stands, tore out all of it, and eventually found the correct rack, the Steeroids rack '92 Grand Am was MY donor, junkyard 35 bux....it was clean as a pin, having very little use on it, so I did my own rack install, finally got the bugs our of it with forum help, and it's been fine since, knock on wood the most trouble free of all the mods to the car....
one of the first things was a serpentine drive conversion....'88 vette...

so the pump is an '88 vette pump it works fine with both the rack and the hydro boost brakes....I used stock hoses with a couple simple mods to hook it up, I don'lt know how a stock '72 pump would react with any of this, as the serp conversion came first....

the differances in driveability , handling and so forth are well worth it....

I see guys spend tons of money on custom front ends, arms, all that, but I allways had the question of exactly WHAT all that brought to the table for the bux spent....when by comparo, the rack and brakes are really the first two things to consider....

 

I agree with you that brakes, steering, and suspension should be among the first things done to these cars.