power steering
 

I dont have a Z as yet (hopefully soon), but I was wondering how the steering is on the Z's without power steering, and if it would be worth adding aftermarket power steering to a 260Z. What do u guys think? how much more weight would it add? It's just that I've recently seen an ad for a great 260Z which described it as having 'heavy steering' and I was wondering how true that really is .....

I prefer non power-steering to power steering, especially in a car like a 1st gen Z. They're easy to manuever at slow speeds and they are more predictable at high speeds rather than a car w/ PS. I have the stock, heavy steel wheels on mine. Its very easy to turn. IMHO, dont waste your money.

I agree with trevor208Z, I have 2 Z,s right now my 78Z is manual steering and my 81ZX is power. I prefer the feed back of manual compred to power. At freeway or better speeds the power floats to much where the manual is exact and doesnt have any uneeded movements. In town I dont have any harder of a time driving my 78Z compared with my 81ZX. And the turning radius is tighter than my Civic.

performance wise, it's better to stick to the stock manual steering. Any time you add something to the car that needs any kind of pressure, then you decrease the available horsepower the car produces. That's why you don't see any kind of race car with air conditioning, because it kills the horsepower. For example, if you have a car with a/c, drive up a hill with the a/c on. Then, shut it off, and you'll feel a power boost.

or, you can race in the car without AC turned on!

But even with the ac off the compressor is still taking power away from your motor. If you dont believe me take off your belt and compare your gas mileage. I picked up 2 MPG on my 81ZX. and almost 5 on my 78Z after I removed the whole ac system.

Yup! I did the same. i had the belt on my AC all winter, never used but since my AC doesnt' work anyway I removed the belt last spring. I got a consistant 1 to 1.5 mpg increase in my daily drive. When my power steering had a problem and I couldn't find the time to fix it right away I just removed the belt so I wouldn't burn out the motor. More power and another 1 or so mpg! I was getting 26mpg at one point in my heavy 280ZX!

Now my power steering if fixed and I'm back at 23-24mpg with no AC. :D And I like the power assist in the 1982-83 280zx. It has a nice feel. I did have an 81 and it was full power steering. Comfy but not any sports car-like feedback.

Ok good, no point in spending money when its not needed. thanks for that :D I think I'll keep the a/c though: way too hot today :cool:

I have a theory on AC. If I use AC I get about 18 MPG and my power is drained. So if I want to get 18mpg I just drive faster with the windows rolled down. I have all my power and better gas mileage. I did a drive last week averaging 90MPH nad still got 22MPG. Now granted it was only 20 degrees outside so I didnt have the windows down.