Right now I have a power rack with no ps pump. Will a manual rack make it a little easier to turn or would it be about the same.

 

Just like your rear engine it all about ratios. How many turns you have from stop to stop on both racks? Whichever takes more turns will be the easiest You can also increase the diameter of the wheels. Assuming we are talking race car with no Air bag. If you search grant wheel you can see different diameter. The grant wheel are pricy but they make generic ones. This is why old school cars had such large steering wheels Power steering was less common and manufactures wanted to sell cars to little old ladies. I had a 64 Dart they only time I could tell it was not power steering was when it was sitting still.

On another note. It is not recommended to run power steering, rack or box with the power steering pump not working. When you look at manual systems you will see they are packed with grease and some have ways to add grease. Power steering uses hydraulic fluid for lubrication. Now if this is a trailered race car that make 25 passes a year if could last for years. If it a daily it will not last that long the parts will get hot. The bad part is it could lock up. Imagin that on a highway as you go around a curve at 70 MPH.

I have seen guys on a budget pull their racks apart pack them with grease and seal them up so dirt cannot get in. They did it while the motors where out and they were all race cars. I have no idea how much that would help a daily.

I am not sure when the change happened but the old V6 4th gens without any handling packages had more turns stop to stop then the Z28 did. They called it the Z a close ratio rack but then I think in 98 they switch to all cars had the "close ratio" rack.