need help bad!!!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: Arlington Texas
need help steering on 69
can someone guide me in the right direction? I am putting all new steering components under my 69 and I am wondering how I know when the steering wheel is straight out in the middle and how will I know when the pitman arm under the steering box is centered? I have got everything else just stumped on those. I can pretty much guess on the wheel by going lock to lock and dividing the turns but really how do I know about the steering box.
the steering box already has the pitman installed. I guess I can go lock to lock and divide, I am just curious as to the accuracy of this. Is that the correct way to do it? Sounds good to me though.
the steering box already has the pitman installed. I guess I can go lock to lock and divide, I am just curious as to the accuracy of this. Is that the correct way to do it? Sounds good to me though.
Last edited by brianlewis60; Dec 30, 2004 at 03:11 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
My only suggestion would be to rephrase your topic title to include the word "steering", and maybe "69", and hope that Jim Shea sees it! 
He tries to help people with their steering issues, but has expressed frustration at identifying the relevant posts. Meanwhile, maybe he will see this anyway... maybe somebody else has a clue. 
He tries to help people with their steering issues, but has expressed frustration at identifying the relevant posts. Meanwhile, maybe he will see this anyway... maybe somebody else has a clue.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by brianlewis60
can someone guide me in the right direction? I am putting all new steering components under my 69 and I am wondering how I know when the steering wheel is straight out in the middle and how will I know when the pitman arm under the steering box is centered? I have got everything else just stumped on those. I can pretty much guess on the wheel by going lock to lock and dividing the turns but really how do I know about the steering box.
i just did the steeroids install so i am some what familar with this...your steering box has limits right? so you can find the two "locks to lock" divide in half and you are centered, with the wheels point straight, steering box installed doesn't the pitman arm only line up one way? are you trying to put the pitman arm on with steering box out of the car?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
I thought the pitman arm was keyed, too.
However, I have not removed mine, so I cannot confirm for sure.
Look closely, maybe it just has one spline missing like some
steering wheel/shafts.
Good Luck
However, I have not removed mine, so I cannot confirm for sure.
Look closely, maybe it just has one spline missing like some
steering wheel/shafts.
Good Luck
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 3
If you want to know the EXACT center of the box independent of any previous bent front end parts, you need to pull off the pitman arm, and using a torque wrench with 25 lb-in FULL SCALE find the highest torque near the center of travel. The drag torque should be 5-10 lb-in everywhere except the "high point" where is should be about 10 lb-in higher (the exact value is in the Service Manual). When that occurs there should be a mark near your rag joint that lines up with the top of the steering box.
I was shocked to find Chevrolet STILL offers new steering boxes. I was going to rebuild mine, but after 200,000 plus miles, many of which utilizing the fast manual ratio, the main roller races were pitted, so I needed a new one. For some reason it is found by looking for a 1970 box.
I was shocked to find Chevrolet STILL offers new steering boxes. I was going to rebuild mine, but after 200,000 plus miles, many of which utilizing the fast manual ratio, the main roller races were pitted, so I needed a new one. For some reason it is found by looking for a 1970 box.
