Source for new steering gear box?

[CentralCoaster]

My steering box is trashed, no room left for adjustment, and has a blown seal.

I want to replace it with a variable ratio box. I know better than to buy some sh**** reman from Vatozone.

Who do you recommend? Also I read that some rebuilders don't replace the gears. I have a hard time seeing how the gears should be reused, as I bet the ones in my box are trash.

Thanks.

[Rack Man]

Wes @ Classic Hearbeat sells an awesome unit....Its the Readhead brand...super high quality quick ratio units that are remanufactured (not rebuilt)....there's a huge difference!

http://www.classicheartbeat.com/67-72_chassis_2.htm

http://www.redheadsteeringgears.com/Index.html




RM

[CentralCoaster]

What huge difference? IMO, reman is rebuilding, just on an assembly line, plus spray paint. Not that I care, either a proper rebuild or reman is fine.

Redhead says they put bearings in and custom fit the gears. I mean I assume they would put some "pretty good" gears in, but anyone out there that does new gears?

Also I don't see any variable ratio stuff on their site. I don't want a quick ratio in my truck.

"Machining out the housings and installing needle bearings
Flamespraying or replacing the shafts as needed
Installing new control valves on some applications
Custom fitting each worm & piston assembly with special ordered, precise oversized ball bearings

[c10seconds]

Here's a source.....http://www.agrperformance.com/catalo...ts.php?cat=101

[CentralCoaster]

Looks good. Where did my post go?

These guys have a new GM variable box for $295.
http://www.corvettesteering.com/truck_gears.htm

Found them on ebay also, but they say the 67-79 trucks have SAE fittings and the newer box is metric, requiring adapters. Grrr. Who knows, maybe I have metric lines, I doubt this truck came with power steering.

Seems like there's gotta be a reman cheaper than that with more new stuff.

[CentralCoaster]

What were variable boxes used on new? Sounds strange that the "NEW GM" box would be different inside than what I already have.

[bglad420]

I second the Redhead. Amazing steering boxes, and a lifetime warranty.

RedHead

[70cst]

Originally Posted by bglad420

I second the Redhead. Amazing steering boxes, and a lifetime warranty.

RedHead

I third it. I bought mine from WES...

[CentralCoaster]

I want to replace it with a variable ratio box.

[CentralCoaster]

Ok, my bad, I guess the Redhead site is a little lacking. I see they have variable boxes at classicheartbeat.

$300 plus $75 core. http://www.classicheartbeat.com/cata...ing%20Gear.htm

"***Note*** A core charge is added to all sales of Remanufactured Steering Gears. The core charge will be refunded if a rebuildable core is provided to us within 30 days of the purchase date. A rebuildable core will have no excessive ware, nor be disassembled. No worn, broken, scored, damaged, cracked, frozen or rusted housings. Also No broken or damaged mounting points."

Hmm, yeah I'm thinking my steering gear has excessive wear, which is why I'm replacing it. With my luck I'll pay $30 to ship it to them before finding that out I'm not getting $75 back.

Also on Redhead's variable ratio box, it says quicker ratio gears were installed... I also read on chevelles.net that there are 3 different fixed ratios and 3 different variable ratios from GM and Jeep on these. What ratio box are you guys using and would you do it differently the 2nd time around?


I'll pull my original gear and see if it has metric or SAE fittings, nothing on this thing is original. That new GM variable box at $295 is looking pretty good right now.

[CG]

Originally Posted by CentralCoaster

Hmm, yeah I'm thinking my steering gear has excessive wear, which is why I'm replacing it. With my luck I'll pay $30 to ship it to them before finding that out I'm not getting $75 back.

That would be a bummer, at least it wouldn't be as bad as what I did. I had a steering box sent in to redhead by a friend of mine for a rebuild. I'm sure its a great steering box (cost plenty to rebuild), unfortunately my buddy grabbed the wrong box, a manual steering box ... I wanted my power steering box rebuilt.

Now I have an expensive door stopper. No one wants to pay over 200 bucks for a manual steering box lol.

Like others have said though, Ive heard nothing but good stuff bout Redhead.

[CentralCoaster]

Boo AGR. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...43&postcount=1

[CentralCoaster]

Tried calling Wes to help decide on this box vs. new but I guess he's out of town until Thursdayish. Damn.

[CentralCoaster]

Called the guy with the NOS GM variable boxes.... 12-16 ratio.

These are 79-up boxes with metric ports, and also he says GM reduced the input shaft from 13/16" to 3/4".

So if I have the 13/16 shaft I'd have to get a new rag joint section for $50 or from a junkyard to use with his box, plus adapters for the metric for another $10. Feck.

I'll have to take a look at my setup before I do anything and see what the previous owner put on there, if it's metric oring vs standard flare, and what steering shaft size.

Should have known this wouldn't be easy!

[bglad420]

Red Head can custom built you a box too.

[CentralCoaster]

I guess I'll go with the Redhead variable ratio. Less dicking around making the newer box fit, and all the feedback has been good. I just hate to think my core might not get refunded.

[basemodel67]

I wonder if I could get my manual steering box rebuilt with a quicker ratio?

[DustyC10]

Whats the difference in the 69-72 Power Steering boxes as apposed to a 67-68 steering box? (Wondering about putting power steering on my 67)

[rich67]

Originally Posted by DustyC10

Whats the difference in the 69-72 Power Steering boxes as apposed to a 67-68 steering box? (Wondering about putting power steering on my 67)

seems like ratio in my 67 is alot slower than in my 70. noticable.

[NC67Chev]

Originally Posted by DustyC10

Whats the difference in the 69-72 Power Steering boxes as apposed to a 67-68 steering box? (Wondering about putting power steering on my 67)

I upgraded my '67 to power steering several months ago, and I'm loving it. You will likely find that there is no dimple on your frame to accomodate the box, but there are a couple of options to get around that.

[DustyC10]

Originally Posted by NC67Chev

I upgraded my '67 to power steering several months ago, and I'm loving it. You will likely find that there is no dimple on your frame to accomodate the box, but there are a couple of options to get around that.

Ah, I figured it was something like that, guess I'll start doing some searching to see what guys are doing to solve that.

[NC67Chev]

Originally Posted by DustyC10

Ah, I figured it was something like that, guess I'll start doing some searching to see what guys are doing to solve that.

The solutions are basically two fold:
1) Heat the frame and dimple it with a BFH. This is how I ended up doing mine, and would recommend it over #2.
2) Use some form of spacer (1/4" is what you need) to make room for the box. I initially tried this, but did not like how the steering felt. It throws the sttering off center. The steering just felt a little twitchy to me. Some people sell brackets that you can use that will work great for getting the box to fit, but the steering will still be off center.

The other two things that have to be addressed; 1) The PS box will hit the radiator support, so you will have to trim that just a little bit and 2) The left bumper bracket will interfere with the PS box, so you will need to notch that a little also. Lots of people on here have done this conversion, so you will be able to find a lot of opinions/info to work with. Good luck!

[DustyC10]

Originally Posted by NC67Chev

The solutions are basically two fold:
1) Heat the frame and dimple it with a BFH. This is how I ended up doing mine, and would recommend it over #2.
2) Use some form of spacer (1/4" is what you need) to make room for the box. I initially tried this, but did not like how the steering felt. It throws the sttering off center. The steering just felt a little twitchy to me. Some people sell brackets that you can use that will work great for getting the box to fit, but the steering will still be off center.

The other two things that have to be addressed; 1) The PS box will hit the radiator support, so you will have to trim that just a little bit and 2) The left bumper bracket will interfere with the PS box, so you will need to notch that a little also. Lots of people on here have done this conversion, so you will be able to find a lot of opinions/info to work with. Good luck!

Easy enough... I am getting use to making a project out of little things... cab rust repair turned into a whole floor... motor swap turned into an LSx swap... finding a bed turned into taking the LWB and making it a SWB... but when it is done, it will have my touches on just about everything.

[Thealien]

Been running a redhead for about 3 years. I would highly recomend them!

[Indyuke]

OR... you could get steering box out of a 77 c10. They are not too pricey, they bolt right in, and they're a variable ratio box.