Steering Box Replace??

Do ya'll suggest replacing a worn manual steering box (3rd gen) with a new one, a rebuilt one, or have the original rebuilt??

If new/rebuilt, where do you suggest buying it? if I should get mine rebuilt, who's best to do it?

Thanks in advance,
ND

So no one has had a steering box rebuilt? Should I therefore just buy a new one and where?

Thanks,
ND

if you have Power steering a reman is avaiable at your local parts store.

Al

Manual. Thanks Al. I thought I remembered some members here posting before that they had bought remanufactured box's and didn't really notice a difference.

I've got the motor out so nows the time to do this, I just want to go the right direction (pardon the punn).

Thanks,

I think car craft did a really nice Write up on them about a year ago.. I'll see if i can find it on the site.

Read this:
http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/ccrp_0901_gm_steering_box_upgrade/index.html

Thanks for the link. It's more for the power box's but it talks about a thread over at the Team Chevelle sit. I'll go over there and find the info.

Thanks again,
ND

Be careful with the reman ones from your parts store. I have one and it wasn't much of an improvement over the old one in terms of slop, and a year or so later its well on its way to being worse than the old one.

I would buy a new one for sure. some years back a bought a replacement steering box for a 67 mustang from flaming river close ratio box. very nice upgrade over the worn out stock box. but I dont know if they make one for novas

I have manual box ready to replace mine PS UNIT.

I purchased 3 used units just to build one.

The manual pitman arm will be one part you will need to purchase. Don't get hung up on these 100.00 plus pitman arms on the net. They arm available at your local parts store. They might need to get it from their warehouse.
Also the length of the arm dictates the steering ratio.
Any of them will work.

The pitman arms will not interchange with the manual to power steering unit.

Al

You can buy brand new 525 manual boxes for $225-250. They have a pretty slow ratio, but that just makes it easier to turn(but a lot of turns) The different arms will change that. Just do a Google search for 525 steering box.
Speedway Motors has them, as well as some Jeep places(same box)
Flaming River and Borgeson sell them for a lot more money.

Great, that's some of the info I needed. I thought I remembered some saying that they had bought new/rebuilt boxes and weren't really happy with them.

I didn't know that about the length of the pitman arm and that it changed the ratio.

Again, thanks for the detail.

ND

so would the shorter or longer arm produce a quicker ratio?

IMO i would just rebuild the one you have, just curious, whats wrong with the one you have? i used to work for a place selling classic repo and used parts and we had a lot of complaints on the new 525 boxes and the rebuilt ones too. thats why i sugggest rebuilding yours by a good person. as far as ratios or arm length check out pozziracing.com and go under first gen, it will tell you everything on ratios to the difference in boxes....

so would the shorter or longer arm produce a quicker ratio?

longer ....use the 5.8" on the pitman for faster ratio or you can use shorter steering arms that bolt to the back of the spindle....

Thanks, i'm going to be replacing my box because i want to switch from power steering to manual, and eventually to manual rack, but wanted a bit of a faster ratio.

I purchased a box for my 67 from a company who not only rebuilds them but also makes them a quicker ratio, i'll see if I can track down the receipt and get the co's name.

my manual pitman arm should come from summit at some point tomorrow. i too am switching from a power box to a manual box. my manual box is out of another car.

not to highjack a thread but will everything else change right over besides the pitman arm? i have the rag joint still attached from the other car. just want to make sure that i dont need to buy any more parts besides the manual box pitman arm. will my front end need realignment after switching boxes and pitman arms?

my manual pitman arm should come from summit at some point tomorrow. i too am switching from a power box to a manual box. my manual box is out of another car.

not to highjack a thread but will everything else change right over besides the pitman arm? i have the rag joint still attached from the other car. just want to make sure that i dont need to buy any more parts besides the manual box pitman arm. will my front end need realignment after switching boxes and pitman arms?

i didnt understand if you said you have a manual rag joint?
you will need this with a manual pitman arm.

i replaced my PS box with a manual.
it turns fairly easy with skinnies on the front.
the engine bay looks a lot cleaner with increased header clearance and the obvious weight reduction.
but it just doesnt feel right.
my problem may also be a worn out box.
its not loose though...

I purchased a box for my 67 from a company who not only rebuilds them but also makes them a quicker ratio, i'll see if I can track down the receipt and get the co's name.


I'd be just fine with having mine rebuilt, just no one local that does that. I'd ship it to get it done right. I need a fairly quick turnaround, pulled the motor last weekend.

Those who have had one rebuilt, who did you use??

I got my steering box for my 67 from Corvette Steering Service Ph#864-287-9990 it is a rebuilt manual box with a 16:1 ratio, I paid $366 in 2006 no core was required.

My '63 has a lot of play in the manual steering box. To get it rebuilt, I need to get it out of the car. Am I going to have to pull the engine out to do this or will it sneak out? Where should I be looking for removal instructions?
Thanks In Advance.