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#1
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Rebuild the original steering box or toss in the trash?
I have a 1971 GTO with 122k on the chassis and one of the oldest parts left is the original steering box. Every other component on the car has been rebuilt except the WW motor. On the highway I have a lot of play, which back in 1979 when I got it was normal, however it is time to tighten it up. Here are my choices;
1. Rebuild the original steering box so something on the car is original. 2. Toss in trash and install something better and what would better be? Thanks is advance.
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1971 GTO Convertible 455 #64 Heads, HO intake and carb with MSD HEI, RAIII exhaust manifolds and 3:55 posi |
#2
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I have the Borgeson box, it is GREAT
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468/TKO600 Ford thru bolt equipped 64 Tempest Custom. Custom Nocturne Blue with black interior. |
#3
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Send your original to Turn One in Saginaw, Michigan for rebuild/enhancement. They did an excellent job on our 69 Firebird. 2-1/4 turns lock to lock. Very responsive, zero play. Very pleased.
Tim john--- |
#4
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Not an answer but another question to pose without hijacking….are parts available for rebuilds or only seal kits? Do these companies that rebuild just manufacture their own parts? I looked for parts to do more of a rebuild than a reseal and couldn’t find any. Though my box is still tolerable to me so resealing served my purpose.
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1977 Trans Am 400/4speed (swap) Brian |
#5
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Troy Rockaway NJ 67 GTO 400HO / TKX 3.27 1ST GEAR-.72OD / 3.36 POSI HOTCHKIS/UMI/BILSTEIN |
The Following User Says Thank You to 67GTONUT For This Useful Post: | ||
#6
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We got ours from Lee this year. Hokey Smokes, what a difference. The feel really is just like that of a modern car. If that's what you're looking for. So much easier to drive the car around town. I was really worried that it would result in a larger turning radius, and I told Lee that a couple of times. They have the same part number for an A-body or a 'Bird. But it's all good, same turning radius as before. Just way less turns of the wheel lock to lock.
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The Following User Says Thank You to 66sprint6 For This Useful Post: | ||
#7
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Who is Lee?
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1971 GTO Convertible 455 #64 Heads, HO intake and carb with MSD HEI, RAIII exhaust manifolds and 3:55 posi |
#8
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Quote:
You did good. Tom V.
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"Engineers do stuff for reasons" Tom Vaught Despite small distractions, there are those who will go Forward, Learning, Sharing Knowledge, Doing what they can to help others move forward. |
The Following User Says Thank You to Tom Vaught For This Useful Post: | ||
#9
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I went the budget upgrade route. Gambled and lost. I used a reman 3rd gen box. Great upgrade, but the reman curse got me. After about 6 months it started leaking at the input shaft. This summer I took it out which is a PITA with headers. Put a new seal on the input shaft myself and it still leaks. So it must have a notch in it or something.
So I would for sure say upgrade it. But as others have said, either have your box rebuil to more modern steering standards by Lee Power Steering or something, or go with an aftermarket box with a better reputation than Carquest. The only cheaper option I would consider if I were doing i again would be a known good factory GM box out of a 3rd gen, not a remanufactured unit.
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1967 Firebird 462 580hp/590ftlbs 1962 Pontiac Catalina Safari Swapped in Turd of an Olds 455 Owner/Creator Catfish Motorsports https://www.youtube.com/@CatfishMotorsports |
#10
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It takes a butt load of coin to get something better than a correctly built up box. Sent mine off to a shop in so cal, told them how I wanted it to drive and they delivered. You will never buy a reman again after having one set up the way you like it.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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77 T/A- poncho 400| T-10|3.23| I beams|Hyper flat top pistons|Kre heads|Scorpion rockers|Xr276 hydro roller|Rpm intake|Smi qjet|Subframe connectors|Rancho sways|Mcleod super street|hydro clutch|More i cant remember |
The Following User Says Thank You to Vroom_vroom For This Useful Post: | ||
#11
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468/TKO600 Ford thru bolt equipped 64 Tempest Custom. Custom Nocturne Blue with black interior. |
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to 64speed For This Useful Post: | ||
#12
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Y'know how a lot of people suggest using a 3rd gen f-body steering box, what's the main benefit of them? Is that the box is physically the same as a 2nd gen one with just better ratios or something like that? Are they better than a 1978-81 WS6 steering box?
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#13
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Quote:
But yeah, better more modern ratio box is the selling point.
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1967 Firebird 462 580hp/590ftlbs 1962 Pontiac Catalina Safari Swapped in Turd of an Olds 455 Owner/Creator Catfish Motorsports https://www.youtube.com/@CatfishMotorsports |
#14
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Ok so I see the quality rebuilds available. Is there any reason I would not get the 12:1 ratio steering box?
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1971 GTO Convertible 455 #64 Heads, HO intake and carb with MSD HEI, RAIII exhaust manifolds and 3:55 posi |
#15
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Just upgrade to a 69-81 Steering Box, and adjust the Lash/locknut (and wheel return feel).
Any other box is a upgrade-illusion. |
#16
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So when you say 69-81 do you mean the 14:1 ratio box?
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1971 GTO Convertible 455 #64 Heads, HO intake and carb with MSD HEI, RAIII exhaust manifolds and 3:55 posi |
#17
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On the subject of road feel. See my posts #13 and #15 here:
https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...&highlight=AGR .
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'70 TA / 505 cid / same engine but revised ( previous best 10.63 at 127.05 ) Old information here: http://www.hotrod.com/articles/0712p...tiac-trans-am/ Sponsor of the world's fastest Pontiac powered Ford Fairmont (engine) 5.14 at 140 mph (1/8 mile) , true 10.5 tire, stock type suspension https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDoJnIP3HgE |
#18
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These guys did me right. You can buy outright, send your in as a core and buy, or have yours rebuilt:
https://redheadsteeringgears.com/
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'78 Macho T/A DKM#95, 460cid, SRP pistons, KRE 310 D ports, 3" pypes, Hooker 1 3/4" headers, hydraulic roller, 10" Continental, 3.42 gears 11.5 @117.5mph 3900lbs ([_|_] ##\|/##[_|_]) |
#19
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thanks for this..in the same boat
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#20
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