68 steering box question
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 680
Likes: 3
From: charlotte N.C
68 steering box question
I am rebuilding my 68 steering box and came up with a few questions:
1) How do I remove the plug in the back of the box? Do you push it out from the inside or outside?
2) Unfortunately my sandblaster isn't working properly so I was wondering to clean it of rust can I leave it in Evapo-Rust or would that affect it in anyway?
3) Not really important but just wondering what does the 10 printed on the inside of the box mean.
4) What type of grease do I use to lubricate it?
5) Why do the original bushings have a cut in it that is spiral while the replacement ones have it with vertically cut in it?
Thanks for your patients. Any other advice on the rebuilt would be greatly appreciated.
1) How do I remove the plug in the back of the box? Do you push it out from the inside or outside?
2) Unfortunately my sandblaster isn't working properly so I was wondering to clean it of rust can I leave it in Evapo-Rust or would that affect it in anyway?
3) Not really important but just wondering what does the 10 printed on the inside of the box mean.
4) What type of grease do I use to lubricate it?
5) Why do the original bushings have a cut in it that is spiral while the replacement ones have it with vertically cut in it?
Thanks for your patients. Any other advice on the rebuilt would be greatly appreciated.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 28
From: Lutz Florida
I'll help you with what I know:
1. If you have the box dismantled you can tap out the expansion plug from inside to outside if you choose to replace it. A new one probably came in your kit.
2. Don't know about Evapo-rust. Does it etch metal?
3. Don't know what the 10 means
4. GM made a grease specifically for the box but I'm not sure if it is available any longer. I used Mobil1 Synthetic - a lot of people have used it successfully in their rebuilds. Don't pack the box tight - leave some space for expansion when the grease gets hot or you'll blow out your new seal.
5. I believe the spirals in the original bushings were channels for grease. If yours have a vertical groove that is probably for the same reason.
Bench adjust the worm bearing preload and the pitman shaft lash with a 0 to 30 inch pound torque wrench before reinstalling the box. Search this forum or the internet for instructions on how. The rebuild isn't that hard to do, but the without the proper adjustments you can ruin your new rebuild and be back to square one. If you do an internet and forum search there are some good "how tos" and tips on rebuilding the box too.
There are some people on this forum with more steering box - specifc knowledge than I have. Maybe one of them will stop by and help you too.
1. If you have the box dismantled you can tap out the expansion plug from inside to outside if you choose to replace it. A new one probably came in your kit.
2. Don't know about Evapo-rust. Does it etch metal?
3. Don't know what the 10 means
4. GM made a grease specifically for the box but I'm not sure if it is available any longer. I used Mobil1 Synthetic - a lot of people have used it successfully in their rebuilds. Don't pack the box tight - leave some space for expansion when the grease gets hot or you'll blow out your new seal.
5. I believe the spirals in the original bushings were channels for grease. If yours have a vertical groove that is probably for the same reason.
Bench adjust the worm bearing preload and the pitman shaft lash with a 0 to 30 inch pound torque wrench before reinstalling the box. Search this forum or the internet for instructions on how. The rebuild isn't that hard to do, but the without the proper adjustments you can ruin your new rebuild and be back to square one. If you do an internet and forum search there are some good "how tos" and tips on rebuilding the box too.
There are some people on this forum with more steering box - specifc knowledge than I have. Maybe one of them will stop by and help you too.
Last edited by stock76; May 5, 2009 at 09:28 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,431
Likes: 1,561
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
http://www.corvette-restoration.com/...ox_rebuild.htm
This person got the box apart but it does not show the reassembly, if you can tell me what the torque setting on the thrust bearing is and how the lash screw works and what it does I'd like to learn to. PG.
This person got the box apart but it does not show the reassembly, if you can tell me what the torque setting on the thrust bearing is and how the lash screw works and what it does I'd like to learn to. PG.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 28
From: Lutz Florida
http://www.corvette-restoration.com/...ox_rebuild.htm
This person got the box apart but it does not show the reassembly, if you can tell me what the torque setting on the thrust bearing is and how the lash screw works and what it does I'd like to learn to. PG.
This person got the box apart but it does not show the reassembly, if you can tell me what the torque setting on the thrust bearing is and how the lash screw works and what it does I'd like to learn to. PG.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/?page_id=4. On the same website also click on the Steering (generic) Section and there is another how-to on steering box rebuild from Corvette Magazine. Check out http://lbfun.com/Corvette/Tech/vettetech.html for two other informative how-twos on steering box rebuilds.
Last edited by stock76; May 5, 2009 at 09:12 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,912
Likes: 12
From: Schaumburg (Chicago) Illinois
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,431
Likes: 1,561
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Thanks everyone for the help!
1976Corvette, you gave me more help than I was able to give you. Thank You!
Stock76 & AWilson, great links that you posted, that was just the information that I needed.
DP1969. you are right GTR1999 seems to do a proper repair. There is always a post from a satisfied customer. He is a true professional and he would have done my trailing arms except that Corvettes Etc was only down the road from me and he is the "Corvette Shop to go to" in Charlotte.
There are very few shops that can repair trailing arms properly and both of them get 5 stars.
As far as my steering box, I have a bad wormshaft seal and since no special tools are needed I figure that since I have been a power tool mechanic for 40 years this repair is within my ability. Thanks again and I hope to see you all at the weekly Friday show in Stanley. PG.
Stock76 & AWilson, great links that you posted, that was just the information that I needed.
DP1969. you are right GTR1999 seems to do a proper repair. There is always a post from a satisfied customer. He is a true professional and he would have done my trailing arms except that Corvettes Etc was only down the road from me and he is the "Corvette Shop to go to" in Charlotte.
There are very few shops that can repair trailing arms properly and both of them get 5 stars.
As far as my steering box, I have a bad wormshaft seal and since no special tools are needed I figure that since I have been a power tool mechanic for 40 years this repair is within my ability. Thanks again and I hope to see you all at the weekly Friday show in Stanley. PG.
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 680
Likes: 3
From: charlotte N.C
Petes74TTop - thanks for the info on Corvettes Etc. I never heard about it but it turns out i am only 5 minute drive from there, just on the other side of the airport.
I still have 2 last questions:
1. How do I remove the race from the side cover?
2. I feel really stupid for asking but in Jim Shea’s Steering Papers I can't find anything on steering box only everything else. I don't know how I am missing it but can someone tell me where to go?
Thanks for everyone's help
I still have 2 last questions:
1. How do I remove the race from the side cover?
2. I feel really stupid for asking but in Jim Shea’s Steering Papers I can't find anything on steering box only everything else. I don't know how I am missing it but can someone tell me where to go?
Thanks for everyone's help
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
Here are the links to the individual seven pages on rebuilding a Corvette manual steering gear in Word.doc format. Hopefully they will print better than they appear on screen. They were scanned several years ago and the first 6 are not of the highest quality. Hopefully someday I will get smart enough to package all the pages in one link at Corvettefaq.com
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...rOverhaul1.doc
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...rOverhaul2.doc
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...rOverhaul3.doc
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...rOverhaul4.doc
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...rOverhaul5.doc
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...rOverhaul6.doc
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...overhual_7.doc
Jim
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...rOverhaul1.doc
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...rOverhaul2.doc
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...rOverhaul3.doc
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...rOverhaul4.doc
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...rOverhaul5.doc
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...rOverhaul6.doc
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...overhual_7.doc
Jim
Last edited by Jim Shea; May 6, 2009 at 08:28 AM.
