Are all C3 steering boxes the same?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Dec 2025
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina
Are all C3 steering boxes the same?
Was curious if all C3 steering boxes the same as far as ratio's, effort, etc.?
Are there better boxes than others?
Any other info would be appreciated...
Are there better boxes than others?
Any other info would be appreciated...
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,923
Likes: 4,495
From: Virginia
Ratios, yes. All the same.
There are two different spline counts. FWIW, when @GTR1999 completely rebuilt my 79 steering box (a core for my manual steering converted 80), he had to use the earlier splines, as that is the only new production gearing available at the time. Turned out great, and I love the analog car.
But as much as I love my manual steering box, I'd only consider Borgeson conversions (or R&P), if I wanted power steering in any C3. The Borgeson is the box that is better than the others, if you are keeping the power steering pump.
There are two different spline counts. FWIW, when @GTR1999 completely rebuilt my 79 steering box (a core for my manual steering converted 80), he had to use the earlier splines, as that is the only new production gearing available at the time. Turned out great, and I love the analog car.
But as much as I love my manual steering box, I'd only consider Borgeson conversions (or R&P), if I wanted power steering in any C3. The Borgeson is the box that is better than the others, if you are keeping the power steering pump.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,154
Likes: 3,959
From: Connecticut, USA
All ratios were the same from 1963-82, with an additional fast ratio box used in the1963 Grand Sports only. So fast ratio boxes were a reality that was never put into production cars, and we never needed it.
Input spline count and configuration is the same from 63-E69 and from L69 -82, the two are not the same, the later input also has a D-Flat.
There are some other differences in the castings, covers, and cover bolts but those don't affect the performance of the box.
Most original boxes are now 50-60 years old, the grease is most likely dried out or a mess of acidic sludge.
Corvette steering boxes were not sloppy new. PS control valves, Rams, and hoses did not leak- some of the new junk sold today does, the original GM parts did not.
Many boxes were wrecked by incorrect adjustment or just acidic grease attacking the bearings and worm ball screw. The steering box was often overlooked and never addressed in the heyday of c2-c3 hot rodding. Rag joints were plentiful up till about 15 years ago and were the best. $50 from any chevy dealer in the country. Today, there are new rags sold, they are nowhere close to the quality of the GM rags.
Input spline count and configuration is the same from 63-E69 and from L69 -82, the two are not the same, the later input also has a D-Flat.
There are some other differences in the castings, covers, and cover bolts but those don't affect the performance of the box.
Most original boxes are now 50-60 years old, the grease is most likely dried out or a mess of acidic sludge.
Corvette steering boxes were not sloppy new. PS control valves, Rams, and hoses did not leak- some of the new junk sold today does, the original GM parts did not.
Many boxes were wrecked by incorrect adjustment or just acidic grease attacking the bearings and worm ball screw. The steering box was often overlooked and never addressed in the heyday of c2-c3 hot rodding. Rag joints were plentiful up till about 15 years ago and were the best. $50 from any chevy dealer in the country. Today, there are new rags sold, they are nowhere close to the quality of the GM rags.
