'68 Steering Box Same as '76? Help Please...
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 9,429
Likes: 44
From: Macon, GA
'68 Steering Box Same as '76? Help Please...
I have an extra steering box from a '76. Can I use it to replace the one in my '68? If not, I also have everything else for the power steering set up from the '76. A friend gave me his when he went with the Steeroids kit. Any problems swapping everything over? Frame holes the same etc...?
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 217
Likes: 1
From: Buffalo MO
I think they are interchangable. I don't recall power steering an option in 68, but I would be willing to bet that everything will fit right into place. It would be a nice upgrade.
Did you get the power steering pump, pulley and brackets also? I wasn't sure if the originals were used with a Steeroids rack or not.
Did you get the power steering pump, pulley and brackets also? I wasn't sure if the originals were used with a Steeroids rack or not.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
The only thing different on a 1968 Corvette gear compared to 1976 would be the input shaft. The 1976 gear will have a flat at 12 o'clock on the shaft when the gear is right on center (looking straight at the input shaft with the gear in-car position). The 1968 gear will have an input shaft with serrations all the way around.
If you obtained the 1976 gear with its flexible coupling, it should bolt right into your car with no problems.
If it came without a flexible coupling, here is what you will find:
With a flat on the 1976 input shaft and your original 1968 flexible coupling flange without a flat, the coupling will attach to the gear on any one of the 30 serrations.
So set your 1976 gear exactly on center (with the flat at 12 o'clock). Install the flexible coupling with the stop pins at 6 and 12 o'clock. The attaching pinch bolt should pass through the 9 o'clock position with the bolt head sticking straight up.
If the flexible coupling is not attached as described, you will find that your steering column does not cancel your turn signals correctly.
Jim
If you obtained the 1976 gear with its flexible coupling, it should bolt right into your car with no problems.
If it came without a flexible coupling, here is what you will find:
With a flat on the 1976 input shaft and your original 1968 flexible coupling flange without a flat, the coupling will attach to the gear on any one of the 30 serrations.
So set your 1976 gear exactly on center (with the flat at 12 o'clock). Install the flexible coupling with the stop pins at 6 and 12 o'clock. The attaching pinch bolt should pass through the 9 o'clock position with the bolt head sticking straight up.
If the flexible coupling is not attached as described, you will find that your steering column does not cancel your turn signals correctly.
Jim
Last edited by Jim Shea; Dec 6, 2006 at 07:26 AM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,154
Likes: 3,959
From: Connecticut, USA
no the input shaft on the 69-82's had a flat milled into them to mate with the rag joint. The 63-E69's did not have the flat. The housings are the same the lower seals and covers are different between the 68 & 76. You need get the correct rag joint to fit the box.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
As I mentioned before, the old, original, flexible coupling assembly (the one with the gear flange that does not have a flat machined into it) will attach to the new gear on any one of the 30 input shaft splines (serrations). If you are installing your original flexible coupling on your new gear, you will need to manually index it so that it is installed on the correct spline.
You do this by placing the gear on center and the input shaft has its flat at exactly 12 o'clock. Then install the flexible coupling so that the stop pins are at 12 and 6 o'clock and the attaching bolt passes through the 9 o'clock position with its head sticking straight up. The attaching bolt position should be such that with your wheel straight ahead, you could tighten the bolt by leaning over your fender and placing your socket straight down on the bolt head.
Maybe this picture of the flexible coupling will help. BTW the machined flat in the flange is right behind the arrow head from the word FLANGE and that horizontal white line inside the throat of the flange would be that actual flat.
Jim
You do this by placing the gear on center and the input shaft has its flat at exactly 12 o'clock. Then install the flexible coupling so that the stop pins are at 12 and 6 o'clock and the attaching bolt passes through the 9 o'clock position with its head sticking straight up. The attaching bolt position should be such that with your wheel straight ahead, you could tighten the bolt by leaning over your fender and placing your socket straight down on the bolt head.
Maybe this picture of the flexible coupling will help. BTW the machined flat in the flange is right behind the arrow head from the word FLANGE and that horizontal white line inside the throat of the flange would be that actual flat.
Jim
Last edited by Jim Shea; Dec 7, 2006 at 08:32 AM.
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