FOUND!!! Power steering O-ring to Flare ADAPTERS

[70C10Toejam]

Heard about these and went searching.

Lee Manufacturing makes INSERTS that press into the box and allow you use the flare fitting. The threads are sooo close that they will screw right in.
THey are aluminum, similar to the brass fittings in the old style boxes, but made to fit into the meteric boxes. I ordered mine yesterday, should be here next week. THey told me they would fit right into my '85 box.

Lee Mfg.
11661 Pendleton St.
Sun Valley, CA 91352
(818)768-0371
Fax (818)768-2687

The insers are $4 each
http://www.leepowersteering.com/

Found at this Camaro forum:
http://69camaro.nextmill.net/steering.html

Also found at this Chevy mag site:
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te...odel_steering/

NAPA has Weatherhead fittings # 1446 and 1447 that are adapters. THese actually screw into the box and the pressure and return lines screw into them. Bought one, the 1446 for the return line, and took some pics. Didn't have the 1447 in stock.

Read that the 1447 requires the pressure line to be reflared with the same size tube nut that is on the return line. Both are listed as 5/8-18.
These are 1446 $9.99, and 1447 $10.99.
I am going to return the NAPA part, like the inserts better.

Included a cropped pic from the camaro site to show the inserts.

[OJOE]

great info, thanks

[70C10Toejam]

Finally got my Lee inserts and thought I'd post some new pics.

first is a really bad side view through the plastic bags they come in, really didn't want to mix them up, and thought it came out better.

second is the '85 box without the fittings

third is the box with the fittings.

last is the box with the flare lines, obviously not on the truck, still waiting for the pully to arrive.

[neonlarry]

Great info, I'm just about to change to a later model box, I'll have to order me some.

[BCOWANWHEELS]

I,am Confused As Normal. Top Photo Shows 2 Fittings And Bottom Pic,s. Shows Inserts. Whats Up ?

[70C10Toejam]

The adapter(s) (only one of two shown) are from NAPA, made by Weatherhead (EATON). I chose to NOT use them and used the Lee Mfg. inserts instead. Either one will work, the inserts are cleaner and cheaper, $4 each and $6 shipping to Iowa. The adapters are $10 and $11 (diff. price for pressure/return.)

Sorry for the confusion.

The adapters will add some height to the lines, and could cause interferance with the hard line part, but don't know for sure.

Re-read your post, the top shows both one of the adapters, and then a cropped pic from the camaro thread of the Lee inserts that I used in the end.

[72SWBChevy]

Just ordered a set of the inserts from Lee Mfg. for my late model PS box, I hope this ends all my issue trying to use mix matched parts..$5ea, spoke to Gail, super nice lady.

[Solver]

Ok to clarify.
Does this mean the newer style steering boxes are a direct bolt in with no changes other than the inserts?
Are rag joints, bolt hole spacing and bolts all the same?
Length of steering box etc?
If this is true then what year boxes would be a simple bolt- Insert -and mount
Getting harder to find old style boxes for 72
Plus a newer box will have been setting around a lot less time and I think the ratio is tighter
Thanks for the info by the way

[72SWBChevy]

Originally Posted by Solver

Ok to clarify.
Does this mean the newer style steering boxes are a direct bolt in with no changes other than the inserts?
Are rag joints, bolt hole spacing and bolts all the same?
Length of steering box etc?
If this is true then what year boxes would be a simple bolt- Insert -and mount
Getting harder to find old style boxes for 72
Plus a newer box will have been setting around a lot less time and I think the ratio is tighter
Thanks for the info by the way

I cant remember the exact year PS box I got from the junkyard, seems like it was a early 80's. It bolted directly to my 72 frame, no mods. I got a rag joint from CPP with the correct spline count(it did not have a rag joint on it when I got it) and it attached to the stock steering shaft without any issues. The issue I had was, I had to drill out the plastic pins in the steering shaft, because it seemed like the shaft was a little short, maybe 1/2", if that.
It seems all nice and tight now, just need to wait for the inserts to arrive.

[Ackattack]

I kinda did the opposite: I installed a TBI 350 with its power steering pump. I used the TBI's pressure hose to my original power steering box. I cut the O-ring style fitting off the TBI hose and flared it an hooked it up to my gear box. Of the return line, I just loosened the hose clamps and swapped out the gear box portion of the hard line.

If you were switch just the gear box on with the original style PS pump and you remembered to grab the hoses (or got new hoses for that new box) you might be able to do the same sort of thing by flaring the PS pump side of the hose (might be tight do to the bend, but worth a shot)

[mr48chev]

Thanks for the heads up on those. It changes swapping boxes from a real headache to something real simple and easy.

[72SWBChevy]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Thanks for the heads up on those. It changes swapping boxes from a real headache to something real simple and easy.

I hope!

[Rob68c10]

What is the advantage of swapping to a newer style steering box?

[WAAF]

Originally Posted by Rob68c10

What is the advantage of swapping to a newer style steering box?

3.5 turns lock to lock(tho the 75-77 box is 3.5 too)
able to run newer box, easier to find
us a body guys have used these lee inserts for years to drop g body(g/n,442,SS) box or jeep box on a chevelle/etc

[woodwright]

I have an older style box with the flare fittings, and I am using a 93 power steering pump and hydro boost. Will the cut and flare trick work for me? My box is in excellent shape.

[WAAF]

Originally Posted by woodwright

I have an older style box with the flare fittings, and I am using a 93 power steering pump and hydro boost. Will the cut and flare trick work for me? My box is in excellent shape.

lee makes adapters that let you use the factory lines(93 hydro) with your older box..

[longbed67]

Thanks for the info!

[Sammy]

That is one idea that may make things easier. Another option is to simply take the two lines in what ever combination you need and have a line made in the length that fits your application. I had one pressure line made for under $20 using my fittings from my hoses. It now has a jam nut in the center to take out any extreme bends or curves. Considering new lines run between $20-$35 figured it was a deal. Just another alternative!

[Orange Crate]

I know this is an ancient thread but, I am converting to hyrdoboost brakes and was searching the forum (like I'm supposed to!) for adapters to go from a straight fitting with oring tube seal to inverted with brass seat. Ok, so I found this thread that mentions Lee Power Steering but any attempt to contact them comes up blank. Does anyone know what happened to them?

[FirstOwner69]

Maybe this? However, contact info looks same as above.
http://lee-powersteering.com/

I Googled "Lee Manufacturing".

[Orange Crate]

Well I did use my favorite search engine too, but the numbers and email are not good. I know they are out of business, but my question is what happened to them? Who owns the business now? Are there new owners? I am interested in the adapters that the sold (inserts). Anyone in CA have the scoop on them?

[FirstOwner69]

Are these the same thing only brass?
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/O-Ring...ter,24682.html

EDIT: Looks like you may need 2 sizes...this is only one size.

[FirstOwner69]

Maybe this?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/291526972968...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

http://www.borgeson.com/xcart/produc...productid=1759

[michael bustamante]

what is your steering gear box out of?

[Orange Crate]

It is the original 72 gearbox. My hydroboost is out of a 1986 1028 CUCV. I know I can just use the GBox from the CUCV, but my question is what happened to Lee?