I was just going to clean it up and not even break it open b/c it worked fine before I started this project and it didn't leak...but we all know how one thing leads to another. :lol: I couldn't help it, so I started taking things apart. I laid a towel out expecting for gear lube to pour out when I opened the top cover...needless to say, nothing poured out, it fell out. :eek: :eek: Oh my goodnees, the oil was so carmelized it was in chunks...it looks like some of the stuff we pull out of the groung on job sites before we get to the good stuff. :lol:

Notice on this first one the bummed threads...well, while walking back from the blast cabinet, nimrod (me) dropped the pitman shaft and screwed the threads. :mad








[Modified by topless68, 10:16 PM 1/26/2002]

 

Well, better to know than not to know, so to speak. If it was working before, imagine how well it'll work now with the benefit of lubrication!! Too bad about the pitman arm.

 

If you want to feel better about it, realize that it was better that the threaded hit first rather than the business end. Anyway, when you get the nut back on there, that little hickey won't even be hardly visible.

Now, you do know that GM DOES make a special grease just for Corvette steering boxes doncha'? I learned this sitting at Joe Lucia's feet, but I don't remember the part number. Your friendly Chevy dealer can probably help you out, but he may have to order it too.


[Modified by Chuck Sangerhausen, 10:50 PM 1/26/2002]

 

Hey, I know I shouldn't show off my education (education? I barely scraped thru grade 12) but does anyone know who the original Nimrod was?

Nimrod was the founder of the Babylonian monarchy (according to mythology) and the archetype of a great hunter. So what does that have to do with people dropping their pitman arms? Absolutely nothing but it does prove conclusively that I read too much and definitely need a life.

 

Chuck,

The TIM&JG states that there are no symbols, letters, or numbers on the cover of the steering box?? Look at mine...I'm not saying mine isn't original but why in the hell would someone change the cover only on a steering box?

Does this box fit any other GM chasis that you are aware of?
If that cover I took off yesterday has ever been off before other than the day it went on than I will kiss my.....you know what I mean. :cheers:

 

Jason, my steering gear isn't handy, so I can't help you much with this.

Generally, if I observe something on a car known to be very original and this observation is in conflict with what the TIM&JG says, then this question is up in the air until I confirm which is right. The first question I ask myself: Is it possible this attribute, part, whatever, has been changed and is it LIKELY to have been changed. Because errors in the TIM&JG are possible (Yes, Virginia, there is no Santa Claus), I have often ignored the TIM&JG and gone with what the car was telling me. I would rather take a minor deduct by less experienced judges following the book than "cookie-cutter" a car to the TIM&JG.

It's true that no one is likely to have changed the cover, but they may have changed the entire steering gear. On some parts, the casting number and the part number are the same, but in this case your casting number looks pretty low for the 63-69 part number (7808927) unless they redesigned the gear using an old casting number. If it were me, I would drift on over to the NCRS Tech Board, and see if Joe Lucia (the undisputed king of part and casting numbers) could confirm that the gear is original.

Others on FCR maybe be able to confirm that the casting number on the housing is truly correct. If that turns out to be the case, I would tend to wait and see what judging produced on the steering gear, including the cover.

 

:yesnod: :yesnod:
Chuck, this is Joe's response on NCRS Tech Board:Jason------

Your steering box cover is correct for 1968. In fact, this style cast iron cover was used on all 1963-68 Corvettes. It MAY have been used for VERY early 1969, too. However, most 1969s have the cast aluminum cover which is the one that has no markings or symbols. All 1969-82 steering boxes use the aluminum cover. The aluminum cover has been the only one available to SERVICE all 1963-82 Corvettes since July, 1970 when the 63-68 cover, GM #5666722, was discontinued and replaced by the cast aluminum cover, GM #7806748.

:yesnod: :yesnod:

 

TTT

Chuck, did you see this response? :seeya

 

Yeah, Jason, I did see your post, but not until yesterday I believe. Actually, I had already checked the Tech Board to see Joe's answer.

This is probably your first experience with a seemingly original car not complying with what the TIM&JG says, and you have learned a valuable lesson. That doesn't mean that the car is always right, but if it appears original, you had better believe it until you can confirm that it really has been molested. "Feel the 'Force', Luke". Oh, er, by the way...Insisting that a molested car is correct, and continuing to cling to the idea long after debating the 'experts' which have told you 'No', can also make you look like a dope. I can't remember that happening to me, but it could. :D :D

Thanks for reporting Joe's response back to FCR.

 

old manual said use chassis grease in steering box, 70 says to use the GM special gease, same box different engineer I guess. :cheers: