[oldguy829]

Local high school has a "dune buggy" project going. It has a power steering box (GM front end) with no pump attached (VW motor in the back).
When I mentioned it, they said they were just going to plug the fittings.
It was an open house, so I just let it go, but it bothered me.
Will that work? How will the pump get lubrication?

[troy norrad]

Hi it will work, the power steering pump is a helper pump, but they can't plug the fittings the will have to loop them(lock up if plugged) l had a cousin once cheap out and do that this way, went for years that way TROY

[powerrodsmike]

It will kind of work but, as Troy said they need to loop the ports together with a length of hose. For lubrication they need to put power steering fluid in it.

Now the problem as I see it is that the steering box will now be a pump, with the internal piston moving fluid through the steering box and loop hose with every turn. This problem will be compounded by the fact that a power box is a higher ratio box to begin with. Just seems like a huge waste of energy to me. Steering should be as easy as possible, especially on a dune buggy. Turning the wheels past obstructions found on trails requires ALOT of effort...(I know this to be true, my 73 blazer came stock with manual steering.. )

Later, mikey

[oldguy829]

kind of what I was thinking Mikey. Mostly, it's a fabrication project for a fair, so it probably won't be judged on the automotive merits (Its an awesome looking project modeled after one of the chase vehicles in Road Warrior), But the son of an aquaintance wants to buy it after it's done, and I'd like to give them a heads up on possible issues.
Thanks for the feedback.