Ideal steering box

[aaronfab]

I had deduced from research that the '76-'80 power steering gear boxes where the best bolt in replacements for our trucks. (variable, 3 1/2 lock to lock, not metric hoses) BUT, I've heard rumor two separate places about using a late 70's Firebird steering box!?! Can anyone clear this up for me? I thought cars were mount inside the frame and trucks outside the frame. I just want to know what bolt in, quickest ratio, junkyard find, power steering box to look for? I know anything will be better than my MANUAL STEERING that I have now.


Aaron

[aaronfab]

Anyone?...

[70C10Toejam]

best of my knowledge:

car boxes do not work cause they are inside the frame, not outside.

changed to metric/o-ring in '79.

if you do get a '79-'87 box, you can do this:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=242458

[mbgmike]

I would use the 605 box (truck)

[Green Machine]

Car won't work pretty sure. We used a PS box from a 1978 C10 to replace the leaky box on out 1971 C20. Had to swap the pitman arm of course, the old lines fit the box just fine. BUT - we had to use the rag joint from the 78, there is a difference in the diameter of the shaft on top. It does turn quicker than the old box.

[aaronfab]

Toejam, fellow Iowan,
Thanks for the info on the inserts, didn't know of that option.

Mike,
What is a 605 box?

Green Machine,
78 pitman arm? All of the 78 rag joint? "It does turn quicker than the old box." That's what I wanted to hear.

Aaron

[mbgmike]

Originally Posted by aaronfab

Toejam, fellow Iowan,
Thanks for the info on the inserts, didn't know of that option.


Mike,
What is a 605 box?

Green Machine,
78 pitman arm? All of the 78 rag joint? "It does turn quicker than the old box." That's what I wanted to hear.

t Aaron

Thats just what the truck box you are talking about is called. The newer trucks are 805 boxes

[Ironhead]

I converted my non-powered 68 to powered by bolting a power steering pump off a 1971 Caprice Classic. It's a direct bolt-in other than I had to bend the corner of the wheel well a bit due to the line interference. Works great.... Hope this is helpful.

[PanelDeland]

I'm curious.Are you using the 78 pitman also?

[aaronfab]

Ironhead,
The pump is off a Caprice, but what did the gear box come from?

Aaron

[FingerTight]

subscribed, gotta do this on the '69

[Ironhead]

Aaron - I converted over to p/s about 15 years ago & for some reason I was thinking used the entire set up from the Caprice when I pulled the BB motor out of it but I guess I was wrong. The only other gear p/s gearbox I would had around at the time would have been from a 79 blazer that I parted out & scrapped. Sorry for any incorrect info... If any help, here are numbers off the box 7802644 with 14 just below.

[70C10Toejam]

Originally Posted by aaronfab

Toejam, fellow Iowan,
Thanks for the info on the inserts, didn't know of that option.

I didn't either, spent much time trying to get a custom line made(NO NONE could make one) and accidently taliked to the right person which led to searching for those. I just didn't want to throw out a good box over that problem, were $14 plus change ($4 each, $6 and change shipping). If you don't have a box, might as well get one with the flare fittings. But if you can only find a used metric box, great fix. None of the replacement metric lines would fit my truck.

Us Iweegans gotta stick together.