odd date code on my 72 steering box
 

i am pretty sure that this is the original steering box with all the crude on it . the date code is odd 4a298 it does not have the big S on it . anyone can help

any way i can check what ratio i have with the box off the car

Your cover is marked with part # 7812145. Parts manual says it should be 7812147 for 67-72. Don't see that number used on any up to 81.

http://www.camaros.org/images/pages/..._box_power.jpg

I surmise that the box is from a later vehicle. The date code for an original box from this era is a simple Julian date code.

thanks for the info , that is weird that this is not the original steering box . there was so much grease on it ,it must of been on the car for many , many years .

i have another box off a 71 car but not sure of the gear ratio , were they all the same boxes used in 1971

Because usually the cover PN will be more than just the cover casting number (bushing added, etc.).

If someone has an original 72 cover they can show, that will resolve the issue.

Plan on ck'ing the cover on my '72's box on Sun.
Both grd777's & my '72 are built the same week of '72.

I can snap a pic off the 71 tomorrow too

Had one in phone

This must be fo a 1971 car

Yes, it was from her '71. The casting number of hers shows the later '71/early '72 casting number. Later '72 would have used the '145 casting number, but my '74s probably used the same number. Are you sure this isn't from your '75?

I took this of my 72. I was cover in a lot of grease and dirt which to me looks like it was original to the car. But who know what was done over the years. Just can not figure why it has a weird date code number

I have a lot!,,,, more. I’ll see if I can dig some out, but hfr is right

I hear you. This was on one of my '74s. Shipping date was 2-23-74. As you can see, the assembly date is way past the ship date. But, the cast date of cover (if that's what it is) may have been close (19 may have been the mold number though).

Do you read my date code 4A298 or 44298

I read it as 298, missing the year. The 4A, is like the 1A on the one I posted (assembler or inspector stamp). I also see a 2 stamped on the cover, maybe it was the year. Being that yours was built right before the strike, maybe it was fixed under warranty early on after purchase. I would read the cast date of cover as 83 2 (March 25th, 1972), but again, I could be wrong.

I’ll dig a few years out tomorrow as long as it doesn’t snow

My 3/20 built 72 TA has 063 2. I tried to get a picture but it didn't turn out well. March 3rd. 17 days before assembly.

I'm reading that date a bit differently. I'm seeing it as 4 298 with that second character not as an 'A' but as a triangle which likely was an accidental "place holder". I've seen those triangle characters on other stamped in cast parts from GM cars often placed in the second position.
So 4 298 would simply be the 298th day of 1974, for early 1975 model year production.

Ric, I had posted about it being a '75 unit earlier, until I tried looking at his picture closer. We need to see the casting date on his cover better. I saw it as 83 2 (March 25th, 1972). Not sure when his was actually built, but I thought it was near the shutdown/strike.

My 1973 with an April 11 ship date is stamped 090 3.

I am away this week will post a better photo when I get back

So what do you all make of this?
I'm thinking February '75, A shift.

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...7&d=1577813087

Sounds like we're talking two different covers. There's no 83 2 in the first post.

Didn't we agree that all the "early" box covers should have the large Saginaw 'S' on them?

Ck'ed original box in my 3/31 built 72 T/A. It's dated 067 2.

Also has the small bright yellow almost chartreuse colored sticker on it,
same sticker as on the covers of original '71 & 72 A-body PS boxes.

Yellow sticker like pictured in Post #10?

Yes, just little cleaner ;)

Makes sense, probably ran a load of boxes off and were building boxes faster than cars.
It's always cool to confirm things with other original cars especially when built in close proximity. The closest car I've found in production to mine is Adrianne, only 99 cars from mine.

Well Ric, I must be wrong on them being a casting date (no number over 99, so it must be a mold number. Clock, but no number in the center like the later unit I posted earlier.).
Looked at both my '74s. Both are clearly stamped Julian date and a 3. Early Oct body tag with an early Sept assembly date. Other is a mid Nov body tag with an early Nov assembly date.

2 that I dug out, sorry ol’pin....to many other parts to clean

here are some more photos
is it for a 74 car

one more shot

I have a few 74s I can look at, hopefully I can swing buy storage place tomorrow

please correct me here;
I thought there was more than one steering box(?)
I always thought there was a box for manual steering, and another box for power steeering.

Then when we found my brother's '73 Formula, I was confused;
His car is a power steering car, but the steering was so completely different from any other car I had driven before or since - you could turn the wheel easily with one finger, it was so light...

Is there different levels of power assist?
or
Are there several boxes depending on model and if it has power steering?

There is different valving, and different ratios, whether it be a constant ratio or variable ratio.