What power steering gearbox are you using?

[mahanian]

Just wondering what power steering gearbox everyone is usuing and what changes it took to make it work?

[Brad]

I'm using a quick ratio ps gearbox out of a '77 3+3 cab. It's 3 1/4 turns lock-to-lock and it turns on a dime, but at speed you don't want to sneeze. I'm thinking about going back to reg ps.

[468chvy]

Using at remanufactured unit, from NAPA, I tried rebuilding my old one, DO NOT TRY THIS, all the ball bearings, and seals, more of a headache than anything, spend the cash on a complete unit, I think mine was like $ 160 or so, I love it, turns 3 1/4 stop to stop, almost to easy,

[msgross]

what year are you putting it on? 67/68 frames (most) need spacers or an adapter to fit a newer PS box.

[mahanian]

I'm putting it on my 67, but it has the raised bolt humps so it should be a direct bolt on, right?

Are all 68-72 PS gearboxes 3 1/4 turns stop to stop

[msgross]

Originally Posted by mahanian

I'm putting it on my 67, but it has the raised bolt humps so it should be a direct bolt on, right?

Are all 68-72 PS gearboxes 3 1/4 turns stop to stop

should bolt in then.... don't know about the stop to stop

[hdflstf]

AGR variable ratio box. Love it..

[awhite4557]

I have 71 and used a power steering box off of an 85 1/2 ton, it bolted right on but I had to buy a pitman arm for a 71. The hoses were the problem figuring out at first, I used a power steering pump from a 95 because I switched everything to a serpentine system. I used the factory preasure line from the 85 and ordered a return metal line fitting for the box from LMC, I couldn't find one in the bone yard I was at and the new one wasn't too expensive. The fittings use an O ring seal. The wheels turn so easy you would think the steering linkage was off. It is on my build page below if you want to see what it looks like.

[clay68c10]

My box is from an 87. I swapped the valve/fitting in the 68 pump for the later type so I could use the newer style o-ring hose.

[mahanian]

How did you guys connect the gearbox to the steering column? I was told that the splines are different between the 67-72 gearbox and the 73-87 gearbox

[clay68c10]

I got the rag joint with the new box, the D-shape shaft at the end of the column is the same.

[mahanian]

What about the pitman arm splines, are they the same?

[70cst]

I bought a "REDHEAD" 69-72 Remanufactured Power Steering Gear - 2X4 Quick Ratio from WES.

[awhite4557]

The box from the 85 bolted right up to my 71 rag joint, everything worked just like the 71 box. The pitman arm splines were the same as well.

[Indyuke]

Got a variable ratio box out of a junkyard '77 as well. It's not twitchy on the highway for me though.

[68GMCCustom]

What year was the 1st year for the variable ratio units?
'77?

[Mondo]

I tried 3 gearboxes in the last year for my 67. I replaced the first leaking one with a stock one I was given... it leaked as well.

Then I bought a "quick ratio" gearbox and had it on until a few weeks ago. It's fine for around town but if your going freeway speeds it's pretty twitchy.

I just put on a "variable ratio" gear box for a '76 PU. It's a direct replacement, no problem with fittings. Got a rebuilt from NAPA for $130.

I like it the best.... it still has that half inch of freeplay but I'm not afraid of something drastic happening when having to make a quick lane change on the freeway and you don't have to turn the wheel as much in a parking lot.

Kind of like the 3 bear story.... not too slow, not too fast, it's just right. Well at least it is for a direct replacement (not changing other parts).

[68GMCCustom]

so the v/r box for a '76 1/2 ton truck has the flange style fittings, and not the o-ring style? If that's the case...it sounds what I need to swap to. I had a o-ring style system and went to a stock '72 box when switching everything back to flange.

Now I miss the v/r box that was in there.

[BHyatt]

Can you only direct fit truck steering boxes? I wondered about a box from something like a Monte Carlo.

[clay68c10]

Most of the car stuff bolts to the inside of the frame, trucks on the outside.

[Classic Heartbeat]

I'm putting it on my 67, but it has the raised bolt humps so it should be a direct bolt on, right?

No, You do not have the indentation in the frame.

Are all 68-72 PS gearboxes 3 1/4 turns stop to stop

No, They are 4 1/2.

What about the pitman arm splines, are they the same?

Yes they are. (power to power and manual to manual)

How did you guys connect the gearbox to the steering column? I was told that the splines are different between the 67-72 gearbox and the 73-87 gearbox

You disconnect from the rag joint, not the input shaft.
The years are 69-76 for the 4 1/2 turns, 77-87 for the 3 1/4s.

Our stearing gears that we get from Redhead are 3 1/4 turns lock to lock and have the larger input shaft that the 69-76 trucks have. We have them custom made for this aplication. If you do not dent the frame befor you install the integral steering gear (no matter what year you use) it will be twitchy. This is because when mounted to a 67 and some early 68s, raised pattern for the bolts is not enough. So when you shim it out, or just try to force the boltsyou can not get the gear where it is supposed to be. It will be 1/4" too far to the left, causing the gear to run off center. This is where the twitchyness comes from. Dent the frame to allow for the extra large size of the gear (like the factory did from late 68 to 87) and you allow the gear to run in center. Center is where the gear has just enough play in it so that if you twitch your hand slightly, your gear doesn't turn. Hope this helps. WES

You will also need to buy another rag joint assembly, because the manual stearing gear has a different size input shaft.

[Spray-Bomb]

I put the power steering box off of my black truck on my 67 project (I believe the box to be 77 & later) And I had to space it out with 2 thick washers on each bolt & had to trim my core support mount just a lil

Not that big a deal, just know it wont JUST bolt on

[Brad]

Originally Posted by Classic Heartbeat

If you do not dent the frame befor you install the integral steering gear (no matter what year you use) it will be twitchy. This is because when mounted to a 67 and some early 68s, raised pattern for the bolts is not enough. So when you shim it out, or just try to force the boltsyou can not get the gear where it is supposed to be. It will be 1/4" too far to the left, causing the gear to run off center. This is where the twitchyness comes from. Dent the frame to allow for the extra large size of the gear (like the factory did from late 68 to 87) and you allow the gear to run in center. Center is where the gear has just enough play in it so that if you twitch your hand slightly, your gear doesn't turn. Hope this helps. WES

Wes, I remember you mentioning this before but I took my '77 gearbox and bolted it on to my '68, which has the indentations and raised mounting points and it's still twitchy. I'll have to double check to make sure that the steering wheel (or rather gearbox) is absolutely centered but I'm pretty sure it is and it's still twitchy. I just think that's the way these gearboxes are.

[mahanian]

Originally Posted by Classic Heartbeat

Our stearing gears that we get from Redhead are 3 1/4 turns lock to lock and have the larger input shaft that the 69-76 trucks have. We have them custom made for this aplication. If you do not dent the frame befor you install the integral steering gear (no matter what year you use) it will be twitchy. This is because when mounted to a 67 and some early 68s, raised pattern for the bolts is not enough. So when you shim it out, or just try to force the boltsyou can not get the gear where it is supposed to be. It will be 1/4" too far to the left, causing the gear to run off center. This is where the twitchyness comes from. Dent the frame to allow for the extra large size of the gear (like the factory did from late 68 to 87) and you allow the gear to run in center. Center is where the gear has just enough play in it so that if you twitch your hand slightly, your gear doesn't turn. Hope this helps. WES

You will also need to buy another rag joint assembly, because the manual stearing gear has a different size input shaft.

Thanks for the detailed reply. I noticed you sell three different power steering gearboxes....standard, quick ratio, and variable ratio. What do you recommend?

[Classic Heartbeat]

I put the power steering box off of my black truck on my 67 project (I believe the box to be 77 & later) And I had to space it out with 2 thick washers on each bolt & had to trim my core support mount just a lil

Not that big a deal, just know it wont JUST bolt on

You can do that, but it puts your stearing gear off center witch makes it twitchy. WES