New C3 Owner: Steering Loose
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: ATL GA
New C3 Owner: Steering Loose
New C3 owner (as of 8/9), joining forum to learn about all the fun I can have restoring a '80- 4speed (not stock engine). Novice level regarding automotive skills, but willing to learn. Apologies in advance.
?: When car is stopped and off, there is about 1.5" play in steering wheel. I can reach in and turn (freely about 1/4 turn) the steering coupling above the gear box and the wheels don't move.
What may be the problem/What is fix??
Thx
?: When car is stopped and off, there is about 1.5" play in steering wheel. I can reach in and turn (freely about 1/4 turn) the steering coupling above the gear box and the wheels don't move.
What may be the problem/What is fix??
Thx
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by RWBennett
New C3 owner (as of 8/9), joining forum to learn about all the fun I can have restoring a '80- 4speed (not stock engine). Novice level regarding automotive skills, but willing to learn. Apologies in advance.
?: When car is stopped and off, there is about 1.5" play in steering wheel. I can reach in and turn (freely about 1/4 turn) the steering coupling above the gear box and the wheels don't move.
What may be the problem/What is fix??
Thx
?: When car is stopped and off, there is about 1.5" play in steering wheel. I can reach in and turn (freely about 1/4 turn) the steering coupling above the gear box and the wheels don't move.
What may be the problem/What is fix??
Thx
You can rebuild the joints, and rebuild or replace the steering box. What's your budget?
There is another option that many Corvette owners have either done or are considering...including me and my '77. A steering upgrade can be made by replacing your existing steering box with a 2000 or like, Jeep Grand Cherokee steering box. I do not know as of yet if it will fit your '80 Vette, but it's worth searching for. There are several companies that offer this kit, which is a re-machined spline gear box, and a mounting kit.
If you have to do work on your stock box, it may be just as expensive to get this Jeep kit and install it instead.
If you're interested just say so, and we'll get some details for you.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
You have power steering don't you? It's the nature of the C3 beast. Check into "Steeroids" (rack and pinion conversion) or jeep steering box conversions. It's possible that some of your slop could be worked out with a front suspension and steering system rebuild, but there will always be some amount of slop. Search the archives for threads on steering and steering solutions.
Welcome to the madness
Orville
Welcome to the madness
Orville
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by RWBennett
Newbie here. What's "lash", eye-lash??
It's the space between the teeth of the gears.
Search for "Steeroids" (rack and pinion conversion) or "Jeep Steering Box" conversions.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,175
Likes: 3,990
From: Connecticut, USA
Here read this post, it will help. You can get a stock box dialed in much better then stock.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1345411
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1345411
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
I have heard some people are not happy with the Steeroids, but the Jeep box option gives you a 1/4th less turns from lock to lock, maybe less. It's tight too with little slop.
Last edited by Durango_Boy; Aug 22, 2006 at 09:54 AM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 424
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by gtr1999
Here read this post, it will help. You can get a stock box dialed in much better then stock.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1345411
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1345411
I sent mine to Gary, very happy with the results. I still have the stock set-up which is now very tight and required no fabrication on my part. If your new to car mods, a word of warning...... There are no "bolt-on's"
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 424
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by Durango_boy
That may be true, but bolt on's aren't fun without a little imagination...and a plasma torch.
Durango, I do plenty of mods that require fabrication, it's just that why do it if you don't have to. I'm a bit of a perfectionist and also a Putterer ( I like to putter around when I work on my Vette) and I love to drive it. So my projects always take longer then I originally plan, I try to cut them short at the start of Summer and not to start back up before the New Year.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by jimmygmartin
Durango, I do plenty of mods that require fabrication, it's just that why do it if you don't have to. I'm a bit of a perfectionist and also a Putterer ( I like to putter around when I work on my Vette) and I love to drive it. So my projects always take longer then I originally plan, I try to cut them short at the start of Summer and not to start back up before the New Year.I should have put a smiley by my last statement...it wasn't meant to sound so serious. I love no-hassle bolt-ons too...
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: ATL GA
Adjusted lash and "hoo-rah!", it worked. No need for rebuild, yet (only 77K), thanks again to all.
Now I need to know what type of "off the AZone shelf" gear lube can I add/mix to the box??
Suggestions....
-R
Now I need to know what type of "off the AZone shelf" gear lube can I add/mix to the box??
Suggestions....
-R
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by RWBennett
I'll check tonight - how many should I be expecting if good? bad?
-R
-R
I don't know for your car off hand, but I was just curious. Keep in mond there are several fixes you can perform if you feel the wheel turns too many times to get you around a corner.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,175
Likes: 3,990
From: Connecticut, USA
Originally Posted by RWBennett
Adjusted lash and "hoo-rah!", it worked. No need for rebuild, yet (only 77K), thanks again to all.
Now I need to know what type of "off the AZone shelf" gear lube can I add/mix to the box??
Suggestions....
-R
Now I need to know what type of "off the AZone shelf" gear lube can I add/mix to the box??
Suggestions....
-R
Grease- I use Mobil 1 but to properly install it you have to remove the cover and then you loose your lash adjustment all over again. Using the 2 screw out of the cover method isn't too good.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by gtr1999
Grease- I use Mobil 1 but to properly install it you have to remove the cover and then you loose your lash adjustment all over again.
Is there a not so popular way to grease the box without losing the adjustments?