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#1
06-22-2021, 10:49 PM
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Steering box - F-Body Boxes the same as A-Body Boxes?
Wondering if Power Steering or manual Steering Boxes are the same between F & A-body Pontiacs?
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#2
06-22-2021, 11:15 PM
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Depends on the year. I only know power steering. AFAIR the variable ratio started about 1967 and in the '70s there were several ratios (from about 3.5 turns to 2.25 turns. Think fastest was WS-6. Then there is the 800 (small barrel) and 808 (large barrel) but not how they split. In the early 70s the one to have was the Grand Prix box. The length of the pitman arm also made a difference.
ps pitman arm nut is not easy to remove. |
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#3
06-23-2021, 06:21 AM
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If you put an F-body box on an A-body you will get a reduced turning radius. Ask me how I know.
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#4
06-23-2021, 12:55 PM
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Quote:
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#5
06-23-2021, 01:25 PM
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Quote:
__________________
1967 Firechicken, 499", Edl heads, 262/266@0.050" duration and 0.627"/0.643 lift SR cam, 3.90 gear, 28" tire, 3550#. 10.01@134.3 mph with a 1.45 60'. Still WAY under the rollbar rule. |
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#6
06-23-2021, 01:28 PM
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1967 boxes are the same I believe. 67 Birds have A arm stops like A bodies do. After that the F bodies got a reduced radius box and the hard stop is removed from the A arms.
Im using a third gen box in my 67 which has a reduced ratio, but not by much. I still rub the frame with an OS front tire. Honestly unless you use something with an extreme reduction I doubt you would notice. Likewise if you put a grand cherokee box in an F body you probably wouldnt notice in normal driving. I would think it would just allow you to bump tire against frame at complete full turn.
__________________
1967 Firebird 462 580hp/590ftlbs 1962 Pontiac Catalina Safari Swapped in Turd of an Olds 455 Owner/Creator Catfish Motorsports https://www.youtube.com/@CatfishMotorsports |
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#7
06-23-2021, 05:26 PM
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Variable ratio power steering box for Firebird was introduced on 68 as part of the 400 package. Became the only PS box on all 69 birds.. I recall Caddies having a VR box on the 67s or 68s. I don't recall anything but straight ratio boxes on A bodies 68 - 72.
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#8
06-23-2021, 05:38 PM
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From 1970 service manual page 9-5 "all power steering gears are of the variable ratio design". For 1969 all except Tempest/GTO had variable ratio.
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#9
06-23-2021, 05:42 PM
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The first gen boxes for F-bodies should be functionally about the same as the A-body, just with internal steering stops. The A-body has it's positive stop built into the steering arm.
If you are replacing a box in a first gen F-body with any of the rebuilders out there, you'll likely get a box without internal stops. That's less of a problem for F-bodies, more of a problem if an A-body gets an internally stopped box, as has already been pointed out. You actually end up gaining a bit of turning radius, but you do have to be mindful of the fact that your tire on the frame will be the steering limiter.
__________________
-Jason 1969 Pontiac Firebird |
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