[Nicks67GTO]

I found a thread on this on the Chevelle board ...

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=334534

and decided to give it a try while im working on my 67' GTO build you can find here...

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=615847

Anyhow its dirt cheap and to my amazement its a bolt in deal. It could be done to your car in an hour or 2 for most guys. It will clean up your old sloppy steering to a modern 12.7 ratio. This can cost upwards of 800+ bucks for an aftermarket deal. For most guys this can be done under 100 bucks. Ill try and update this once my car is on the road. For now the parts are here and the box is installed.

I yanked out my old manual steering gear and sourced this 1997 Jeep grand cherokee steering box. It came from a cash for clunkers Jeep so it hadn't been hit and wasnt leaking. It cost me $50 bucks, they yanked it out and had it waiting when i came back.

I bought a PS pitman arm from Bob Vidan on here and installed the box. I used the Autozone rag joint Part number #200 to couple this. So far this has fell in. I also have bought the $5 dollar fittings/install tool from Lee manufacturing {$15 total} to couple the stock hoses to the new style box. I think all in all i'm going to have around $115 bucks in the whole deal, including the pitman arm i had to buy from Bob since my manual steering box arm wouldn't work. If you have this arm already this upgrade should cost less than $100 bucks easily and look bone stock.

Heres a couple pics

[Nicks67GTO]

Ill try and update this as I go. It might take a while but hopefully ill have a full report by this spring. The boys on the Chevelle board love it. I hope I do as well. Anyone else done this?

[shineybike]

I did this mod on my '68 Lemans and love it.

[FatfreeGTO]

Did this on my 66 this past summer. I was surprised at how easy it was! Works good.

[niceta]

I have changed mine as well. Havn't run the car as I am still under construction. The question I have is what is the turn to turn on the steering wheel with the jeep box?. I thought mine was 21/2 to 23/4 but after I put it on the frame I find out it is 3Turns lock to lock. Do I have the wrong box? Can someone who has used a jeep box confirm please. Thanks.

[russosborne]

here's a link that has all the numbers you need.

http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles..._steering.html

Wanting to do this myself. There are a few pull a part locations near here and it would run around $30, but I have to pull it myself.

Russ

[TA-71]

Once again the 73-77 A-bodies are left out. Anyone know if these boxes will swap to them as well?

[anewtoi]

Originally Posted by Nicks67GTO

I also have bought the $5 dollar fittings/install tool from Lee manufacturing {$15 total} to couple the stock hoses to the new style box.

i cant find this? got a link for said part and Lee manu? looks great, keep the info coming

[anewtoi]

errr. X that last post, i found this really wonderul website called google. you guys should try it, its a blast

[shineybike]

Mine is about 3 turns lock to lock. I believe the 12.7 box is 3 and a 12:1 box is less. I don't remember what the 12:1 boxes come out of.

[anewtoi]

http://www.corvettesteering.com/powe...box_ratios.htm

i found this site and it sounds like the 12.7-1 isnt such a good fit. ive seen many here that have have good experience out of the 12.7-1 worth the read, i guess

[b-man]

The 12.7:1 box should have 2-1/2 turns lock to lock with the internal stops set up for the A-body cars.

I have one in my '64 Tempest, built off of a '64 box with new internals by Lee Power Steering.

Absolutely love it.

The 12:1 box and the 12.7:1 box are one in the same, just misidentified as a 12:1 box.

[niceta]

Originally Posted by anewtoi

http://www.corvettesteering.com/powe...box_ratios.htm

i found this site and it sounds like the 12.7-1 isnt such a good fit. ive seen many here that have have good experience out of the 12.7-1 worth the read, i guess

Thanks for the link that clears things up quite a bit for me. Sounds like I have a 12.7:1 without the internal stops. Now I have to read up to see if the F-body requires the internal stops. I am assuming they dont. Anyone want to save me a little google time?

Man, I thought I did my research on this. Maybe it was just too long ago and I forgot

Hey nick your conversion looks good by the way.

[Nicks67GTO]

Heres the fittings needed and a shot of the stock arm mounted to the box. Its like it was made for this.

[Nikwho]

Do you have the part numbers for the adapters to get the lines to fit?

[anewtoi]

Originally Posted by Nikwho

Do you have the part numbers for the adapters to get the lines to fit?

i dont know if there is a part number, but you can call and talk to mr lee and he'll be more than happy to tell you all you need to know. heres a link
http://lee-powersteering.com/rebuild-misc.htm

[hgerhardt]

I always tell everyone I see every chance I get that this is the single best thing you can do these old cars to improve the feel of the car. It just makes the cars so much more enjoyable to drive. And most people don't believe it until they actually do it.

And those of you who upgrade the internals of the box, know that the torsion rod in the spool valve is what determines the effort required, and upping the effort is equally important to the 12.7:1 ratio. Just changing the ratio isn't enough. The Jeep box or WA-code MonteCarlo SS box or various 9C1-option Caprice boxes is the way to go.

[anewtoi]

is "upgrading the internals" covered in the links above? or where can info on that be found?

[hgerhardt]

Originally Posted by anewtoi

is "upgrading the internals" covered in the links above? or where can info on that be found?

Well, going by Lee's site, he sez: "...and change the valving for road feel." I suppose that means spool valve torsion rod replacement, which is what needs changing to achieve the higher effort. But you really need to ask them about it, to make sure it actually gets implemented.

[Nicks67GTO]

So are some of you guys suggesting that the jeep box needs to be modified by Lee to work? I thought this was a bolt in deal......?

From everything I've read its bolt in for A body cars.