Has anyone out there installed the Concept One Power Steering Box in their C3, yet?

I was close to buying the jeep box kit from Corvette Steering, but I like the idea of eliminating those adapter plates. I'm wondering which is easier to install, and which one has more clearance height wise on the inboard side.

Thanks!

 

I was hoping for some feedback, but it looks like the first few to buy this kit are not on the forum.

I had many conversations and emails with Concept One, and decided to order the kit. So, hopefully I can provide everyone some good feedback in a few weeks. Unfortunately, I think I will have to have a header pipe cut and relocated about 3/4". Stay tuned......

 

Another alternative is to cut a section of frame out and weld in a flat 3/8th plate inset in the frame and bolt a standard box from the wrechers onto this plate. this is the cheapest.
YOu also set the plate into the frame and this gives about 3/8th to 1/2 inch more clearance then stock.
This is easy to do with the motor still in the car. Just remove the header and there is lots of room. You can even find a pitman arm to fit.

 

Need photos. The "Jeep" box is very nice.

 

Norval - I read through your posts on the box install before going this route. I really liked what you did, but I have not ventured into welding, yet. So... I decided to stick to stuff I could bolt on - I hope Concept One did a good job welding that box together!

 

I wouldn't install that thing on my Vette, did you read the part about shortening the steering shaft? if you need power steering and yours is a manual, use the stock conversion kit from Fastcorvette: http://www.fastcorvette.com/Steering.htm and live to tell about it. These guys make real parts.
I just installed a rebuilt steering gear from them, it is first rate, as well as the rear spring and disks I got from them.

 

The point is to NOT use the stock dinosaur-tech power steering system...

 

Then your better off using a full real rack and pinion, then that piece from Frankinstiens lab: http://www.automotivesteroids.com/Co...Steeroids.html
anyway, that's just my 2 cents.

 

And those cockamamie u-jointed shafts used to hook up a rack and pinion system aren't from "Frankenstein's lab?"

 

Not sure what lab they come from but it is better than whatever lab those crappy OEM C3 steering system came out of.

 

That would be the Saginaw state-of-the-art steering lab, circa 1955.

 

Just my 2 cents.

 

I'm curious to hear what part of this system you guys believe will fail? It uses all of the stock steering components in their exact original locations. Do you think the box is going to break in half at the weld? I did worry about that a little, but the lower half is pressed into the box an inch before it is welded - seems solid. I can also weld a plate to the frame and brace the box in the additional mounting holes it has in the top.

I realize some people have a problem shortening the steering column, but I think if anyone believes that is going to save you in a severe front end collision, I would suggest otherwise. If you are belted in, you would not come near the steering wheel. If it came far enough back to hit you in the seat, I would think you would have much worse things to worry about then the steering column having an extra 1.5" of travel.

I'm certainly not an engineer, so I am curious to here your thoughts with some support. I am in the process of installing this box, so if there is some great danger (not associated with the steering column being shortened) I would appreciate the feedback. Thanks!

 

Its nicknamed the "Jeep Box" for a reason...its used in 1997?-2000? Jeeps from the factory. Noone takes a C3 vette stock steering box and throws internals into it and welds it back together, this came from the factory in the Jeep suv. The unit offers 12:1 steering but does get a little touchy at highway speeds.
This "jeep box" is an alternative to the stock system and eliminates all those leaky hoses and clutter and allows you to turn the wheel with more ease.
The Steeroids kit has been debated on here for a long time. Use the search function and you'll see why people get away from the stock manual/power steering systems and go to the Jeep Box or Steeroids. And most on here haven't been too pleased with the craftmanship of the steeroids kit.
I for one went with the corvettesteering kit but am not pleased with the adapter plates at all. If I could do it over I would order the same it without all the adpater plates and holes drilled and do what Norval did and weld a plate onto the frame to stiffen that already weak area, strengthen the bond of the steering box and give me more header clearance.
I'd like to see pics of this Concept One box when you get it and your install. Good luck

 

FRE3DOM and Witz,
You blokes are at opposite ends of the spectrum here. I'm disappointed by the references to "Frankenstein" and "shortening the shaft", as they are misleading.

The Concept One box uses a NEW standard Delphi 600 (??? from memory) steering box, with a longer Pitman shaft to clear the chassis. The housing therefore has to be lengthened proportionately and this is done, according to discussions I've had with them, by standard (and safe!) engineering methods. The extension is sleeved AND welded.

As for shortening the shaft, remember that these columns are COLLAPSIBLE, and the inner part is just pressed or (softly) hammered up into the outer housing, about an inch or so. Nothing wrong there.

Look up their website and then make an educated comment about their products instead of misleading, if not incorrect, comments.

So Witz, keep us posted on your conversion and supply photos, as I am very keen to get one of these boxes. However, due to the distance involved, I would like to hear some feedback from some of you guys who have fitted them before I part with my Australian dollars.

Regards from Down Under

aussiejohn

 

Hi

Linkservice, pls , for this Concept One Power Steering Box .

Günther

 

My original comments: not misleading or incorrect:
I wouldn't install that thing on my Vette, did you read the part about shortening the steering shaft? if you need power steering and yours is a manual, use the stock conversion kit from Fastcorvette: http://www.fastcorvette.com/Steering.htm and live to tell about it. These guys make real parts.
I just installed a rebuilt steering gear from them, it is first rate, as well as the rear spring and disks I got from them.
Responses:
"The point is to NOT use the stock dinosaur-tech power steering system..."
"And those cockamamie u-jointed shafts used to hook up a rack and pinion system aren't from "Frankenstein's lab?"
"Not sure what lab they come from but it is better than whatever lab those crappy OEM C3 steering system came out of". <Apperently this guy doesn't like C3 engineering,, it's "Crappy"
"That would be the Saginaw state-of-the-art steering lab, circa 1955

Thanks for the info, it is very informative, now that I undrestand the box better, I stand by my original comment. But It's just a GUT FEELING, A Jeep box has no place in a sports car, < gut feeling, and I would never put one in my Vette <true, simply because of the unpredictability of it, I wouldn't trust it. but that's just based on a gut feeling. I would get a tight stock rebuilt system, espiecilly for a Vette as kick azz as Witz's, that's one mean machine. JUST MY OPINION, thats all.

Link: http://www.conceptonepulleys.com/steeringgear.htm

 

The Conceptone box seems the best solution in regards to going with a integral power steering box if no adapter plates are required. The box they are using might be referred to as a Jeep box however this is a box used by Jeep in modern generation vehicles (I believe Grand Chrokees use it). So for a rear steer solution this does seem like a very good option.

I would prefer to go with a rack system however if I were to go this route I'd rather go front steer and of course no one makes such as system because it would require a NASCAR type short rack and notching the front cross member for the steering shaft. TwinTurbo is working on this as a one off project.

 

Hi Witz interested to hear the outcome of your install when you get the chance, can you tell us what ratio you went with, the 12.7:1 or the 14:1 that they offer ?

 

The "Jeep Box" is simply another incarnation of the Saginaw recirculating ball steering box. The benefit is that of all of the different variations of Saginaw boxes, it's the one that most closely matches the configuration of the C3 box. It's an integral assist box so it has a spool valve and toraion bar in the input side of the box.

Big differences are that it incorporates 4 attachment points vs the 3 in a C3. Also, it's a bit longer on the input side due to the spool valve being there (thus requiring the column to be collapsed a bit).

The bigges improvement is that it gets you away from the slave-cylinder assist and gives you a torsion-bar based assist. It should improve the steering feel of the car.

As for the Concept One box, I'm scratching my head a little, so I'll rely on this input from Jim Shea
Of the aftermarket steering systems available for a C3, the ones that I find most interesting are the Steeroids and Flaming River. The steeroids is a center take-off gear. The longer tie rod flattens the ride steer curve, which isn't a bad thing. The funky intermediate shaft with 3 u-joints is sure to produce some steering ratio lumpiness.

The flaming river rack is a pretty slow manual-only rack (despite their claims that it's "fast"). What I like about it is their use of a subframe which has a better chance to provide adequate lateral stiffness. I have no idea how they implement an intermediate shaft though.

And as for the Flaming River electric power steering, there is no way I would ever even think about putting EPS on my Corvette. EPS has far too many details to expect decent performance and feel out of an aftermarket setup.