Greg's anti power steering conversion and momo wheel

[AlfaBeta]

Hi gang,

I'm looking for opinions from the people who have done this conversion. I currently have the engine out of my verde doing a rebuild. Since the power steering rack is nice and open right now I've been thinking about doing Greg's "fill the rack with grease non-power steering conversion." I do not have one of the stock school bus sized steering wheels, it is a Momo wheel that has a much smaller diameter. My question is this, if I do this conversion with the smaller wheel am I going to need the incredible hulk to turn the wheel?

thanks
AlfaBeta

[Gabbiano]

AlfaBeta,

I am running my Milano without the power steering and have no complaints with it. For awhile I was running 225/50/15's on the car and that was a real workout in low speed manouvering - but with the current 205/50/15's it is fine. Of course I have never had power steering on it - so I don't have a good point of reference - but I don't think it is bad at all.

Chris
1987 Milano Project (w/ RSR Suspension)
1982 Spider Veloce

[DSpieg]

I've been running my Milano [i]sans[i]power steering for a couple of months now, and I really like how it feels. Parking is a bit tough, but above 15 mph it's terrific. I didn't do the Greg-Mod, just snipped the belt and left the rest of the system intact for the time being. Running 205/55-15 tires and a standard-diameter Momo wood steering wheel.


Dave Spiegelthal
Centreville, VA

'87 Alfa Milano Gold
'85 Alfa GTV6
'77 Fiat X1/9
'71 Fiat 850 Spider

[dbgrubbs]

I did Greg's conversion. Not bad at all. Recently I went from 195's to 205's. It's a bit tougher in low speed now but you get used to it quickly. I was in the same predicament. I had the engine out and didn't want to deal with PS leaks after putting the engine back in.

[gtv27]

My GTV6 is without pwr steer and runs a 350mm Momo.

It is heavy at parking speed with 215/40 17 road tyres or 195/55 15 race rubber, but is significantly lighter with 195/60 15 road tyres (must be construction related).

Putting a 380mm Momo wheel on it makes it FEEL like it has pwr steer!

[DSpieg]

GTV6s never had power steering, and their ratio is a bit slower than the Milano's steering along with having a bit less weight up front, so they should be a bit easier to steer than a Milano with the p.s. disconnected (all other things being equal, i.e. tire and steering wheel sizes).

In theory.

[Grant]

GTV6 is 3.6 turns lock to lock, Milano is 3.3

A few people have converted their GTV6's to PS by using the steering column, rack, ps pump, bracket, and all of the lines and little things from a Milano/75.

[gtv27]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grant GTV6 is 3.6 turns lock to lock, Milano is 3.3

[Grant]

No, the 75 rack is noticeably quicker too.

I don't know tons about it yet, but apprently you could use your 3.6 rack and use a plentary gear device that goes between the steering wheel and the rack..it comes in either a 2:1 ratio or a 1.5:1 ratio.

You can find them at Summit Racing Parts.

[oz3litre]

I like the 75 power steering. I think it makes the car more nimble and has plenty of feel and not too much assistance. I am seriously considering fitting a 75 set up to my GTV because I don't like the heaviness of the steering.

[drew`SEVNT5]

first things i did when i semi rebuilt my 75 3litre was ditch the a/c and p/s....

steering feel at speed is a whole lot better with the manual rack

[oz3litre]

Steering feel at speed on my 75 is excellent, there is no vagueness at all. I think it helps the car turn in much more quickly and precisely. I can whip the 75 around roundabouts into an exit more quickly than the GTV. It is easier to zip round car parks or tight twisty hills roads too. I think Alfa got the balance just right. The power steering on our Volvo is quite a bit lighter and does lack feel in comparison, but is better than some other cars.
All I can say is you guys must have much stronger arms than me.

[Potenziato]

I don't know why if you had the engine out, you wouldn't just buy a rebuilt rack.

My 75 RS 24V has the the GTV6 rack, 350mm Momo, and 215 40 17 tires. The steering isn't bad once it's rolling. I did notice that the tires have a huge impact on steering effort. THe 215 Pirelli Pzero MS have fairly light steering. The 205 Falken I had on 16 inch tires steer like a truck. If I drive the car all week the manual steering feels normal.

The firmer shocks will tend to also increase steering effort.

The GTV6 rack is is slow. The Milano rack is not fast, but feels fast compared to the gtv6 rack. The GTV6 with a Milano rack should be quite nimble since the wheelbase is shorter by a few inches.

So the bottom line is the Milano PS is a good system and worth keeping especially if you have the engine out which makes rack replacement a piece of cake. The manual steering is OK and liveable but it is a matter of choice. On the street, I'll take the power steering. If you share the car with someone who doesn't workout than the PS is mandatory!

[Grant]

OK, one thing to keep in mind before ditching the PS is that ZF has said at one point that the Milano rack was the best PS steering rack they have ever built. I think I remember reading that they were talking in terms of steering feel and weight, wich I think is fantastic.

[75evo]

It is the best, there is no question about it.