how do I know if fast or slow ratio box? car is not on rd yet so what determines it?:beers::confused:

I think theres info on Mr Pozzis site http://www.pozziracing.com/

You CANNOT just say that you have a steering gear box that has 2 1/2 turns and therefore it is a fast ratio.

In order to determine the gear ratio of a steering gear, you need to know two things. The angle that the input shaft rotates and the corresponding angle of the output shaft sweep.

So you need to jury rig a cheap school kids' protractor on the output shaft and measure the actual angle of the sweep versus the angel that you rotate the input shaft.

Place the gear on center by rotating the input shaft all the way to the end of travel. Now count the number of turns of the input shaft from full lock to full lock. Come back 1/2 the number of full turns. This should place you very close to being on center. One last check. There should be a flat on the input shaft, the flat will be pointing straight up (12 o'clock) when the gear is exactly on center.

Now rotate the input shaft exactly 1/4 turn from center. Rotate the input shaft 1/4 turn either side of center (one half revolution across center - 180 degrees). At the same time measure the sweep of the output shaft with your protractor.

For instance, when you rotated the input shaft 180 degrees you find that the output shaft sweep was 12 1/2 degrees. 180 divided by 12.5 equals 14.4. 14.4 to 1 is the ratio right over center. It is very important to measure the output shaft angle as closely as possible. Very small angle differences make a big difference in the calculation.

Now, you need to use the same measurement technique but this time at full lock and back. The reason is because Saginaw manufactured some gears with ratios that actually changed from on-center to full lock. If you have a variable ratio Saginaw gear, you will find that the ratio across center will be something like 16:1 and the ratio near full lock will be 12 or 14 to one.

Otherwise, you will find that the ratio across center as well as at full lock are exactly the same.

I know that this sounds complicated but it is the only way of determining the actual ratio of the gear set inside the gear. Because the actual sweep of the output shaft can be considerably different from one General Motors model to another, you cannot just talk about the total number of turns of the input shaft.

The Camaro line of vehicles almost always had restricted sweep of the output shaft. (Something like 64, 67, or 71 degrees.) As compared to Chevelles that had 81, 87, or 89
degrees of sweep).

BTW, any numbers that are molded on the outside of the gear casting have NOTHING to do with the gear ratio or the guts inside the gear. (i.e. one gear casting could be machined and assembled into any number of different steering gear assemblies for passenger cars or light trucks.)

Hope that this helps,
JIML82

I ordered my car w/ the optional non-power quick steering ratio.

It came w/ the long pitman arm and short bolt-on steering arms and would turn lock to lock at my A-arms side to side in 3.5 turns!!

I could turn a 90 degree corner in town turning my steering wheel one complete turn!!

Great on the highway, but it was a real chore to try to parallel park it w/ my CRAGAR deep dish chrome reverse rims and wider tires!!

Now, I'm still using the long pitman arm and my short spindle arms, but have a stock P/S box!!

pdq67

I am confused. How can a quick ratio box take 3.5 turns lock to lock? The whole purpose of quick ration is more for less (i.e. less steering wheel rotation--more tire/wheel pivot). If you have a 12.7:1 gearbox you are going to have no more than 2 3/4 turns lock to lock, or did they change the theory of quick ratio? You can't have a 20:1 gearbox and have a quick ratio box. If I am wrong please explain the process to me.

I am speaking in terms of the Camaro. I am concerned with other vehicles. If you buy a 12.7:1 ratio box for a Camaro, you have bought a quick ratio box. I am assuming that Trev was referring to a Camaro as well. The 12.7:1 boxes are a constant ration box. Yes the variable ratio boxes change depending on where they are in travel, but Camaro 12.7:1 boxes are quick ratio. Again, if I am wrong then please explain it to me.

Read, stock, ordered non-power quick ratio steering BACK THEN!!

There weren't no 12.+ stock boxes in '67!!

Mine was as good as it got!!

Now, we can add all sorts of different IROC/T/A boxes that are quicker ratio'd...

But NOT back then off the order form!!

And I still have my copy of the order form!!

pdq67

I am confused. How can a quick ratio box take 3.5 turns lock to lock? The whole purpose of quick ration is more for less (i.e. less steering wheel rotation--more tire/wheel pivot). If you have a 12.7:1 gearbox you are going to have no more than 2 3/4 turns lock to lock, or did they change the theory of quick ratio? You can't have a 20:1 gearbox and have a quick ratio box. If I am wrong please explain the process to me.

The best way to confirm your box is really a 12.7 to 1 ratio is to use the degree wheel.
I bought a "12 to 1" box at Goodguys, took it home, measured it with a degree wheel, it was a 14 to 1 box! So, - confirming that the box is really 12.7 is a good idea. Hopefully if you order a Camaro box you get a Camaro box, but that's not allways true.

A Camaro box should have a small number of turns, like 2.5 to 3 turns lock to lock, but internal stops vary according to year and model that change the total. You aren't going to find a 12.7 box that has 4 turns lock to lock, but you might find a 14 to 1 box with 3 or 3.5.
David

I actually don't think that you want a 12.+ to 1 box if you opt for the long pitman arm and short spindle arms b/c guys say it become's twitchy at speed!!

I loved mine!! The faster I drive, the better she steered!! It was only at creeping along slow speeds that she became a bear to turn!!

And I still have mine w/ the long pitman arm on her in a paper sack under my shelf out in the garage.

pdq67

The stiff valving and updated alignment specs really helps. The 12.7 box with long pitman and short outer arms is very fast. A short pitman might work better for those who feel it's too fast.
David