hydraulic steering

[cdavisdb]

My volvo 5.7/duoprop power has a power steering actuator that is crap. Its going bad, third time in 9 years, the part is over $650. I'm done and am getting hydraulic steering, Sea Star most likely, and will get rid of the actuator. The problem is what to do with the old power steering pump. Something has to be there because that is how the belt gets tightened and I have to have that belt. Volvo says I can just connect the hi and low pressure hoses and let the pump free flow. I'm suspicious it will get too hot or have other issues(I've had two power steering pumps fail) and would rather get a tensioning pully in place of the pump.

Has anybody switched from power steering to non power assist hydraulic steering? How well does that work?

Anybody know how I can rig a tensioning pully on this engine or who might be able to help me do it?

Any comment on free flowing the hydraulic pump?

Thanks to all