Hello everyone,
I am in need of new steering box, since mine is sloppy and the bearings iin it seem to have flat spots or something. I am torn between power or manual. I have read tons here about the various options, and am more confused than ever. What I want to know is a precise list of what I would need for both power or manual box change to achieve some good feel in the steering, and to have quicker ratio.
If I went to a new or rebuilt 69 Z-28 box, would that be worth a darn? Give me some solid advise as to manual vs. power, and what the parts and costs would be for each. I know I'm asking alot, but thanks
rj

Hello everyone,
I am in need of new steering box, since mine is sloppy and the bearings iin it seem to have flat spots or something. I am torn between power or manual. I have read tons here about the various options, and am more confused than ever. What I want to know is a precise list of what I would need for both power or manual box change to achieve some good feel in the steering, and to have quicker ratio.
If I went to a new or rebuilt 69 Z-28 box, would that be worth a darn? Give me some solid advise as to manual vs. power, and what the parts and costs would be for each. I know I'm asking alot, but thanks
rj

I can't speak for other setups, but I love my Lee 670 power steering box. It is a direct swap for a stock power box.

Mine is manual right now. Did you have a manual box before you went to this power box?
rj

Mine is manual right now. Did you have a manual box before you went to this power box?
rj

Rj,

No, I had power. How do you like the stock manual setup? I have owned both a 69 and my current 73 and they were both factory power. I have never driven a Camaro with manual steering.

Nick

I like it alright. It's only a pain in the rear during parallel parking, or any other tight spaces. I just don't like the 4-5 turns lock to lock or whatever it is. Way too much turning. I'm just not sure that if I went to fast ratio manual, would that make it even harder to turn the wheel??
rj

I like it alright. It's only a pain in the rear during parallel parking, or any other tight spaces. I just don't like the 4-5 turns lock to lock or whatever it is. Way too much turning. I'm just not sure that if I went to fast ratio manual, would that make it even harder to turn the wheel??
rj

Maybe someone else that has experienced both can chime in, but yes, my engineering background tells me that if you decrease the turns lock to lock, thereby increasing the amount the wheels turn with each degree the steering wheel turns, yes the effort should increase.

rj,
My 69 is/was manual originally. I bought a rebuilt PS box from Ebay, and when I reassemble the car, I'll be going to PS, quick ratio. Unfortunately, I can't give you list of what else is going to change to get it working other than adding a pump, but I'm very interested in this thread for exactly that reason.

The PS box was $120, if I remember correctly.

Jim

I bought my car new with manual steering. Dumb, dumb, DUMB! I still remember the day like yesterday that I dropped the old steering box, and the sound it made hitting the bottom of the GARBAGE CAN!:thumbsup:
I replaced it with this box out of my new 79 Trans Am. My ex-wife's boy friend totaled it.:mad: Good riddance. But hey! I saved the box! It almost bolts in. Besides a pump and hoses, it needs a pitman arm from a 75 Camaro. The early Camaro arm can't work.
http://epitomesrebuild.com/images/217.JPG
And to really speed it up, get one of these steering wheels. Mine's made by Lecarra
http://epitomesrebuild.com/images/139.JPG
But now they have even later steering that is a great swap. (check the top of this forum) But mine is as close to perfect as I've ever driven. Love it. It's your call.:thumbsup:

Thanks Fred. I'll probably go the 3rd gen route. I like the 8 track in your pic
rj

I had a manual steering 67 vert many years ago. I got a box out of z wrecked Z28 in a jnuk yard (got lots of good parts out of that car!) With the fast ratio box, it was abour 3 turns lock to lock. If you weren't moving, it was basically impossible to budge the steering wheel.

I'm really on the fence here. My last '69 was PS and it seemed a little back and forth while driving. My current '69 has manual steering. It's horrible for steering while parking
but inspiring once you get up to speed. To me it just hugs the road. The steering feed back is great. I'm redoing my whole front end because it all needed cleaning and paint. I keep think should I switch it to PS? I can't decide.
I think the manual steering will keep my kids from driving it when they are teenagers:D I think it all comes down to what you want. I think each system has pros and cons. Now I can't comment on these newer style steering boxes that look stock.
-Doug

I ordered my car w/ the fast ratio, non-power steering option.

It came w/ a long pitman arm and the short, bolt-on spindle steering arms.

It turned lock to lock at the a-arms in 3.5 turns and I could turn a 90 degree corner in one turn of my steering wheel.

BUT w/ 14" x 6" CRAGAR deep dish chrome reverse and E-60 wide ovals, it was a real bear to try to PP!! But, the faster I went the easier it was to drive!!

I've kept everything the same except it's power now b/c of the PP hassle! I'm just too old ta man-handle her now parking like I did as a kid.

pdq67

I've driven cars without PS and it seems like a no brainer to me. You want PS. Its not a comfort issue imo its a safety issue. Splatter your brains if you want to but why put your cars at risk? Why? :D

Remember there are choices other than manual or 60's style "pinky steer" power boxes.

Even with PS I will walk 2 blocks in the rain to keep from PP parking!

My '67 had man.steering when i got it and after about 3 month's i said that's enough of this. I got a pump,box brackets,etc out of a wrecked '68 nova ss and am lovin' it since the swap. Go with the PS. I don't think you'll be disappointed

Tom

IROC Box (http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=103139)