[C2] Steering Box Question
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,115
Likes: 1,230
From: Madeira Beach, FL
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Steering Box Question
Hello Forum,
More than likely my steering box will need servicing sometime soon. Do I send it out or replace it with a Borgenson manual box? Is the manual Borgenson plug and play or will I need any additional shims or modifications to make it work.
It would be going into a 1965 roadster with factory manual steering currently.
TIA,
Marshal
More than likely my steering box will need servicing sometime soon. Do I send it out or replace it with a Borgenson manual box? Is the manual Borgenson plug and play or will I need any additional shims or modifications to make it work.
It would be going into a 1965 roadster with factory manual steering currently.
TIA,
Marshal
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,996
Likes: 1,502
From: Prescott Arizona
Marshall - I went through the GM box on my 65 396 Roadster about a year ago and the box from my newly acquired 66 L72 just a month ago and while I have done steering boxes in the past, I had a lot of help from Gary Ramadei, a Forum Member you might have seen post as GTR1999 (not sure of the numbers). Sharp guy and honestly, the stock box is a good unit to work with. If you decide to have it gone through, Gary is the guy to call.
And, if you decide later on to go to Power Steering, the box is the same for both, manual and power steering.
Mike T - Prescott AZ
And, if you decide later on to go to Power Steering, the box is the same for both, manual and power steering.
Mike T - Prescott AZ
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 10,560
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From: San Antonio, TX/Mahopac, NY
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Borgeson bolt right in and connects to the oem relay rod, but it is power steering and requires an engine driven pump and hydraulic lines. It also requires you trim the steering column shaft.
Your best bet if you plan on keeping manual steering is to send the box to Gary Ramaldi for a high quality rebuild.
Your best bet if you plan on keeping manual steering is to send the box to Gary Ramaldi for a high quality rebuild.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 316
From: Western NY
I too was faced with that decision. I have a SBC manual steer car and I am still strong enough that power is unnecessary for me. That said the Borganson unit gets very solid reviews on the forum with it's quicker ratio. By chance another forum member lives minutes from me and has the same Midyear set up although his has won honors mine never will. He had had his OE box blueprinted by Gary so I went out there to drive his. I found the response and effort on his manual set up to be excellent, convinced myself to stick with the OE set up and ship it out to Gary. The unit comes back like it rolled off a Snap On truck, almost to pretty to install and for a fraction of the cost of a Borganson.
As an aside, just prior to disassembling the steering assembly I moved the outer tie rods to the forward positions on the spindle. Noticeable improvement in response especially when turning into a corner and with little penalty steering effort wise (I have a tight 90* turn to enter my garage. So now the box is more accurate than ever and with the money I saved I rebuilt the relay rod and installed new tie rod ends and idle arm. With the faster spindle position and all new parts (rebuilding the column as well, dodged a potentially catastrophic bullet there), I'm excited for Spring to arrive. Good luck!
As an aside, just prior to disassembling the steering assembly I moved the outer tie rods to the forward positions on the spindle. Noticeable improvement in response especially when turning into a corner and with little penalty steering effort wise (I have a tight 90* turn to enter my garage. So now the box is more accurate than ever and with the money I saved I rebuilt the relay rod and installed new tie rod ends and idle arm. With the faster spindle position and all new parts (rebuilding the column as well, dodged a potentially catastrophic bullet there), I'm excited for Spring to arrive. Good luck!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,115
Likes: 1,230
From: Madeira Beach, FL
2024 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Ok just exhausting all options. Gary or Bair's it is.... final answer.
Thank you everyone for the feedback and experienced answers.
Marshal
Thank you everyone for the feedback and experienced answers.
Marshal
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Pro
Joined: Aug 2013
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From: Norwalk CT
Marshal.
Sorry I'm a day late.
I had Gary rebuild my steering box. He does a great job. Better tolerances than the bought ones.
You will get a great explanation and lots of pictures of what he did.
He's also a great guy to talk to ! Full of knowledge and willing to share it.
Send him a message or look him up on here. GTR1999.
Dom
Sorry I'm a day late.
I had Gary rebuild my steering box. He does a great job. Better tolerances than the bought ones.
You will get a great explanation and lots of pictures of what he did.
He's also a great guy to talk to ! Full of knowledge and willing to share it.
Send him a message or look him up on here. GTR1999.
Dom