steering box
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: Chatham Ontario
steering box
I'm looking at replaceing the steering box on my '80. What was the ratio of the original box? I don't want to get something that takes away any quick steering and make it handle like a van. Anybody have a favourite supplier?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 20
From: The only Corvettes in Highett Victoria
Borgeson
Ronny,
If your car came with power steering, then you probably ought to fit a power steering box. Borgeson makes one with a 12.7:1 ratio, but unlike your standard 16:1 box, the Borgeson has internal power assist. What's more, it has a R&P control valve on the input shaft of the box, which is more sensitive to demand, and it has variable ratio power assist.
In other words, driving straight ahead, there is almost zero assist, but the further you turn the wheel, say when parking, the greater the power assist. Just like in a modern car. If you go this way, you can use your factory pump, but you will need two new hoses, pressure and return, to connect to the box.
You will have to replace the power control valve on the relay rod with a drag link adapter. You use your own Pitman arm and you can ditch the power ram and the hoses. All the bits you need are at www.borgeson.com and it's a relatively simple fix that will make a world of difference to the way your car drives.
Regards from Down Under
aussiejohn
10 weeks to go
If your car came with power steering, then you probably ought to fit a power steering box. Borgeson makes one with a 12.7:1 ratio, but unlike your standard 16:1 box, the Borgeson has internal power assist. What's more, it has a R&P control valve on the input shaft of the box, which is more sensitive to demand, and it has variable ratio power assist.
In other words, driving straight ahead, there is almost zero assist, but the further you turn the wheel, say when parking, the greater the power assist. Just like in a modern car. If you go this way, you can use your factory pump, but you will need two new hoses, pressure and return, to connect to the box.
You will have to replace the power control valve on the relay rod with a drag link adapter. You use your own Pitman arm and you can ditch the power ram and the hoses. All the bits you need are at www.borgeson.com and it's a relatively simple fix that will make a world of difference to the way your car drives.
Regards from Down Under
aussiejohn
10 weeks to go
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
There was only one ratio C2/C3 steering gear box. It was the same box for manual steering as well as with power assist. The steering gear ratio was 16:1. There were no optional gear box ratios. As far as I know there are no aftermarket gear sets available that would change the gear box ratio.
With the tie rods installed into the steering arms in the holes that provided the shortest arm (and the fasted overall ratio), the overall vehicle steering ratio was 17.6:1. (With original production power steering the tie rods should always be installed in the holes with the shortest arms.)
With the tie rods installed into the steering arm holes that provided the longest arm the overall steering ratio for manual steering would be 20.2:1.
Now, if you want to change from the original production design. There are rack and pinion systems as well as integral power steering gears that can be provided by numerous suppliers. They can provide faster overall ratios and can also provide different valves with different steering efforts.
Jim
With the tie rods installed into the steering arms in the holes that provided the shortest arm (and the fasted overall ratio), the overall vehicle steering ratio was 17.6:1. (With original production power steering the tie rods should always be installed in the holes with the shortest arms.)
With the tie rods installed into the steering arm holes that provided the longest arm the overall steering ratio for manual steering would be 20.2:1.
Now, if you want to change from the original production design. There are rack and pinion systems as well as integral power steering gears that can be provided by numerous suppliers. They can provide faster overall ratios and can also provide different valves with different steering efforts.
Jim
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 28
From: Lutz Florida
There are a couple of people on this forum that can rebuild yours back to factory spec or even better. I don't know the difficulties shipping back and forth from Canada to the US though.
The internal worm shaft gear is the expensive part of the box and if you get a "rebuilt" with marginal gears, you may be no better off than you are now (or worse), and back to looking for another box in a few thousand miles.
These Saginaw boxes are very rugged and properly built (or rebuilt by one of the guys on this forum that does it right) should be good for 200,000 or 300,000 miles.
The internal worm shaft gear is the expensive part of the box and if you get a "rebuilt" with marginal gears, you may be no better off than you are now (or worse), and back to looking for another box in a few thousand miles.
These Saginaw boxes are very rugged and properly built (or rebuilt by one of the guys on this forum that does it right) should be good for 200,000 or 300,000 miles.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,154
Likes: 69
From: Regina Sk Canada
I think these are a manual box with a power ram assist. I had a manual box rebuilt for my camaro a few years back, was 250.00 In Ontario Canada. I have an 80 vette, and will be looking at it as well.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,039
Likes: 62
From: Kona Hawaii
Just installed a borgeson box and am very pleased with it.2.5 turns lock to lock.I did use the borgeson ujoint 114350 ,as the replacement rag joint did not use shoulder bolts.See the link for pics.Alohas
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39104031@N05/3596667182/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39104031@N05/3596667182/
Last edited by iokepakai; Jun 4, 2009 at 11:40 PM.
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