quicker ratio steering box

[brad_man_72]

are their any aftermarket companies making a quicker ratio steering box, or another vehicle with quicker steering that i could bolt on or make fit with little modification?

[70cst]

Wes has them...Look here...http://www.classicheartbeat.com/67-72_chassis_2.htm

[whatnow123]

I have one, it bolted right in.

[brad_man_72]

thanks.
sweet deal, but i have a 67 and the quick ratio seems to be for the 69-72, is their a difference, will i still get the $75 for my 67 core?

[DennyB]

Call Wes, He can answer all your questions
BTW the variable ratio has less turns lock to lock.
I'm running the variable ratio redhead gear.

[whatnow123]

mine is a 67 also. I believe that the reason for the 69-72 is becuase they switched the powersteering for those years. I think the 67-68 had a "power rod" of some sort that attached to the drag link. So for the resto nuts and not to get calls saying it's completely different than the one they want to replace, they designate what year it's correct for. Just about everything mechanical will switch between years.

So, if you have the "standard" type powersteering box, I'm sure you will get your core back. If you have the "rod type" of power steering, you can sell it for more than the core value.

[Classic Heartbeat]

The quick ratio steering gears are for the 69-76s. The reason that I didn't include the 67 2wd and 67-68 4wd is because you will have to modify your frame to bolt it on. The 68-72 2wd, and 69-72 4wd chassis have an indention to allow for the larger diametered power steering gear. You can modify your chassis on the 67 2wd, and 67,68 4wd to accept it, but it is not a stait up bolt in part for those. If you go to my 67 panel project build up pages in our website, you will see how I did the modifications to it. Here is a link: http://www.classicheartbeat.com/67_panel_project.htm To answer about the $75.00 core charge, you will have to have a power steering gear to use for the core. Hope this helps. WES

[Brad]

Just to help out a bit, I have raised mounting holes on my '67 frame, but still no indentations. So I just used 3 washers on each hole for the gearbox to clear the frame and have had 0 problems for years. Also, I used a quick ratio gearbox off a '77 quad cab truck. It's 3 1/4 turns lock-to-lock. I can literally steer with my pinky, however some consider that ratio to be 'twitchy' and too fast.

[Classic Heartbeat]

I did that swap where I used 1/4" hardened cat washers, and ran into the twitching you are talking about. The twitching is caused by moving the steering gear outboard of the frame further by the 1/4". What that does is make the steering gear off center. The steering gears all have a center, or "nutral" spot so that when you drive down the road, slight movements of your hand won't cause your vehicle to vear one way or the other. That is what the 1/8 turn or "play" back and forth is, in your steering wheel that doesn't move the wheels when the tires are pointing strait forward. When the gear is off center, you are off to one side of that play or nutral spot when your wheels are pointed strait forward, because now the gear is off center. Causing the steering geer to be actuality slightly in a turning possition when your wheels are pointed strait. Dent the frame and bolt the gear right against it like it was designed to be bolted that twitching will not happen. I hope I didn't confuse anyone, because I almost confused myself... WES

[dan42]

Has anyone ever ground a hole in the frame instead of pound a dent? Seems like that might work, too.

[Brad]

Thanks for that Wes! That made perfect sense to me. It's not bad, and I've gotten used to it, but others have mentioned on here that they don't like that feel. However, I drove rental cars for the first 6 months of last year. It took me a few weeks to get used to my truck again after that.

[Classic Heartbeat]

Your welcome Brad, I am happy that I could help.
dan42, I would think that you would weaken the chassis if you did that. I suppose if you used some sort of reinforcing plate on the backside of the frame it would work. Lots of flexing goes on there...lol WES

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by Classic Heartbeat

Your welcome Brad, I am happy that I could help.
dan42, I would think that you would weaken the chassis if you did that. I suppose if you used some sort of reinforcing plate on the backside of the frame it would work. Lots of flexing goes on there...lol WES

I agree. Some of these frames break in that area without any holes, so a hole could only make the chances higher that it would break. On the other hand, an indention will actually help strengthen the area.

[Stroker]

Just a quick question. Are the quick ratio boxes that you are refering to straight 12.7:1 Gear Ratio?

[ddp]

I see both "quick" and "variable" ratio steering boxes offered at the Classic Heartbeat link. What would be the difference or advantage of one over the other?

[mcmlxix]

Originally Posted by ddp

I see both "quick" and "variable" ratio steering boxes offered at the Classic Heartbeat link. What would be the difference or advantage of one over the other?

Bringing up an old thread rather then starting a new one. I too would like to know the difference between QUICK and VARIABLE?

I want less turns lock to lock but I don't want it to turn faster and be twitchy.

What it the stock power steering ratio for a 72 K5 Blazer and what are the ratios for the two different boxes?

[Mondo]

I've had all 3 on my 67 (standard, quick-ratio and variable).... my recommendation is the variable. It progressively gets quicker. So it's not twitchy on the freeway and doesn't take as many turns to go thru the drive thru.
Got the Redhead from Wes. I'm very happy with the Redhead, other brands have leaked or slack has developed quickly. Been about 2 years and all is well.

[raycow]

To add to what Classic Heartbeat said, you absolutely want to have the gearbox centered when you are driving straight ahead. If you do a PS conversion that mounts the box on a spacer you can achieve this by adjusting the tie rod sleeves. However, this leaves you with unequal left and right turning angles at full lock, so is kind of a kludge.

Ray

[69 longhorn]

I have a variable on my longhorn(love it). The only time its twitchy, is sliding sideways over 100 mph(dont ask), but yes she has done that crazy AL

[RichardJ]

Classic Heartbeat's explanation of centering the gearbox has a flaw.
The idler arm on the other frame rail and the pitman arm on the gear box must work in conjuction and swing in parallel arcs. The distance from the center line of the pitman shaft to the machined surface on the inside of the gear box is not the same for the manual box and the power box. If you assumed that distance to be the same on the two boxes you would be in error.
If you lay the old '67 manual box on its side, on a flat steel surface and measure vertically to the center of the pitman shaft, you will find that the manual box is 3/32" greater than the power box. Because of the bulge in the power box you will have to place measured blocks under the machined pads and subtract that thickness from the pitman measurement. Adding one each, 3/32" washers to the stack, gave me the exact same measurement.
I ground the casting flash off the power box and tack welded the washers on the frame. I chalked the box and put it up against the frame. I ground the high areas from the box and a little from the frame until it fit. Wasn't really that much.

I didn't want to put a hole in the frame and I didn't want to heat it past cherry red to get the dent the size Heartbeat has.

I used the same gear box Brad used. The extra long wheelbase four door, chassis cabs and long beds, wouldn't be able to get around a corner with a regular ratio box.
It is not twitchy. It changes lanes on the freeway without oversteering or causing any concerns. It works great in close quarters for parking and backing a trailer.

I quickly added a smaller steering wheel, because you don't need that big wheel anymore to muscle it around.

[72truckman]

I dont see the "variable" box on that link anymore. is it still available from Wes?