I finally made up my mind on what to do with the steering on my 81, and I went with the steering box from Corvette Steering. I just got off the phone with Tom as a matter of fact. Very nice guy. I should have the kit next week and I will post some pics when it arrives.

Hopefully I'll have it in before Carlisle.

 

Is this the Jeep box? The one for $675? If so I went that route also over the steroid at $1249.
I am particularly interested in how this goes. I am doing mine as one of my winter projects.

 

Yes I remember reading that you were going to try this box. Yes it's the $675 one.

I seriously thought about steeroids, but I wanted to keep the car as close to original as possible, plus this box is cheaper.

I'm going to put the box in as soon as it arrives so it is ready for Carlisle. Is there anything you noticed about the box that might help me with the installation? Tom mentioned that the steering shaft had to be shortened.

 

on my list too.

 

link ?

 

www.corvettesteering.com

Hopefully their product is better than their site design.

 

This is the direct route to their box
http://www.corvettesteering.com/55-57%20chevy.htm

 

Norval,
I thought they said the column had to be collapsed, not cut, to work. At any rate, I have a Jeep Cherokee and the steering is positive and quick, but not as quick at the Vette, so it may help with your problem. I was thinking, the fact that you modified you brake proportioning valve, could that be causing the rear brakes to react quicker than the front, causing the rear to slide when you brake and turn quickly? Just a thought. I am thinking about this mod too. It would be quick, easy and save money for something else on my wish list.
Bernie

 

I also thought the steering column needed to be collapesed also. I don't know how to do that yet but I am sure many have done it already and will chime in.
I also thought the steering box was 12.7 to one or something like that.
As for my back brakes locking up, they don't . It seems that if you brake in a turn at high speed the front stop and the back try to pass you. They are not squealing. I feel my front are extremely powerful and the back are lacking. I am going to install 14 inch rotors also on the back to match the front. I had what I thought was a chimp munk jump out from under the dash a few nights ago while driving in the dark with 2 friends, It jumped on my lap and scurried down my leg under the seat. I hit the brakes in suprise and never locked up the back.
I feel sometime that my hydroboost is too strong when coupled with the large 14 inch calipers. There is a point where the brakes seem to be too strong.
I can dublicate steroids for about $300 complete and after talking to a number of knowledgable guys on the forum they convinced me that the Jeep box is a better way to go.
The 55-57 box is only $675 as compared to $1249 and I feel after alot of talking that it is not only cheaper but a better alternative.
I am doing 2 of them this winter, well my friend Brian is buying his and I am starting with an almost new box and making the adoption myself.
I will certainly follow this post on the project with great interest hoping to learn the problems, the results and HOW to collapse the steering column.
I am actually going to cut out part of the frame and put an insert in the frame for the box to bolt directly to the jeep box with no adapter and slightly set outboard for more header clearance.
This also involves angling the steering column slight to the left where it passes through the firewall.
I will also tie the inside and the outside of the frame together like stock and at the same time beafing up this entire area.

 

I will definitely keep this post going, especially once I start the install. I have a feeling I might be calling Tom a few times. The good thing is that he's very friendly.

To be honest I don't know how to collapse the column either. Tom said it had to be pushed in a couple of inches. I didn't want to start with all sorts of questions till I had the thing in hand, and had a chance to look at what I am up against.

 

One other thing Tom told me. One of his customers put this box in his 69 Vette. This customer also has a 2001 C5. The customer says that the steering feel on the 69 is now very close to that of the C5.

That sold me on this box. If I can get my 81 steering feel even close to the steering on my 2000, then I am one happy camper!!

 

I think that to collapse the steering, all that has to be done is push the end of the steering in toward the steering wheel. Seems like this is how you get the proper adjustment and may have something to do with the telescoping wheel setup. We will find out soon enough. Can't wait to see everyone's progress.
Bernie

 

i do beleave you have to collapse the steering column for the steroid setup too.

 

(Off topic) Stop putting your sig photos in every time! It's so wide it drives my computer crazy... ...makes the thread hard to read.

 

By signature photo I assume you mean the little picture under your name?? Isn't that what you have under your name? A white corvette? It automatically puts it there? I don't turn it off or on.
Sorry.

 

Get a real computer!

 

I'm working on getting the CorvetteSteering Jeep box as soon as I can get to it. I have been looking and figuring on this for two years and it is time to bite the bullet a order it. To many projects and to little time and money.

The column collapses with the tap of a mallet. No cutting! The column actually is designed to collapse several inches during a crash. The nominal amount needed for this installation will not affect the safety of the system.Tom advised to fully install the box and then re-install the column and tap as you go to fit the boxes new length and location.

The CorvetteSteering box also has been built with a fast ratio steering set-up and is not just a stock Grand Cherokee steering box with an adapter.

Tom also agrees to sell the system less the power steering hoses for those of us with hydraboost and in need of special hoses. This deducted a few dollars from he total if you do not need them.

I too found Tom to be a nice guy, I do think he has many calls wanting information on how to to this with a self supplied box is the reason he has the "Questions answered for $50 "sign in the window. I know many mechanics with this same sign.

I gotta go figure the check book and see if there is enough left to order one this month. jim

 

Sometimes we gotta get you outta the horse barn for some fresh air, Norval. That's an avatar, not a sig pic.

The sig pic is the long, wide thing he's got under each and every description. And it's considered poor forum etiquette to include the sig pic after the first time. The moderators concur:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...38&forum_id=26

 

i fixed that long time ago....
at red bar- quick links, down to Edit options
there go to-Thread Display Options-Visible Post Elements-Show Signatures....un-check it

 

Hey if you don't like it, go elsewhere. I'll post those pics anytime I want. Me thinks you are someone who just likes to complain.

So did you have anything worthwhile to add to this topic????