1969 Camaro - Quick Ratio Steering Box, which one?
 

i am doing some research for a friend who wants to upgrade his suspension on his 69 Camaro. One item is to remove the vague feeling original power steering box. This is a list of available boxes I have come up with.

Hotchkis - $599.95
http://www.hotchkis.net/delphi-600-s...ring-gear.html

Global West - $579.99
http://www.globalwest.net/1967-1968-...obal-west.html

Flaming River - $615.00
http://www.flamingriver.com/index.ph...1/s0002/FR1560

AGR Performance Resto Steering Box - $387.97
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/agr-492117

Speedtech ATS 670
http://www.speedtechperformance.com/...prod/prd71.htm

DSE $595.00
http://www.detroitspeed.com/Steering...ring-gear.html

Lee manufacturing
http://lee-powersteering.com/steering-gears.htm

Am I right in assuming any of the 600/670 series need a different rag joint coupler? And power steering fittings?

The Global West & Flaming River look like the same item, with Flaming River having a billet cap?

I used an AGR 14 - 1 box on my C10 and it fitted like factory. The one listed looks like an original 700 series.

Any feedback on those listed would be most helpful, or any other suggestions.

thanks

I ran the Lee's setup in my last 67 and really liked it. Zero issues. Had the car not come with it, I would have ran the ATS/Speedtech setup. I would have zero issue running either one today.

I would go with the ATS/Lee as first choice.
Second choice would be any 670 box.
Third would be the AGR, it's not a 670 so will have a little more play but still better than the stock feel boxes.

Does he need something quicker than 12.7:1? If not just try a re-manufactured 3rd gen box for like $150.

I put one on mine and with completely new steering components it feels great.

You'll need a different rag joint, and hoses (metric fittings on the 3rd gen box) but other than that it's bolt in.

Lee sells the hose adaptor fittings so you can run your rubber hoses. I believe he sells them with or without the rag joint

http://lee-powersteering.com/rebuild-misc.htm

I used the AGR boxes a couple of times and they were great for the money,very simple,power steering hoses sre same as factory.

I have a Lee 12.7:1 box with their firmest valving and love it, no regrets at all.

Thanks for the response guys, much appreciated.

Probably should have mentioned car is 100% street driven, very unlikely to see any track time.

I would NOT do a faster ratio than 12.7:1

Yeah, the sell the correct rag joint also. I tried to order from them but had some difficulty on that front. I won't go into it because I think they were just extra busy at the time.

Anyhoo, I just ordered the rag joint from the local autoparts store, made the pressure hose out of PTFE lined braided stainless and bought the oring fittings and stuff from Jegs. I think the total cost on my 3rd gen box conversion (turned in an old steering box as a core) was around $200.

I'd definitely do the re-manufactured 3rd gen box then. That'll save a lot of money and he should be really happy with it.

I did a lot of research when i wanted a box for my (now sold) 67 Camaro. I read a lot of complaints about re-man boxes not having the rt parts put back in them after a rebuild and people sometimes having to go through a few returns until they got the rt box.. I bought a used

“XH” – 1985-1992 Camaro – 12.7:1 ratio (this box was also installed on Z/28’s and other high performance Camaros. It has slightly more steering effort required than the WS box.) I believe this box was used on cars originally equipped with 16” wheels

http://www.camarotech.com/steering.html

If its the 69 Camsro I'm thinking of Roger , Steve asked after driving it.
Mines fitted with DSE 600 Box, needed hoses with O rings, n a 30 spline rag joint . I also purchased a new pump from DSE while I was there.
The top control arms are Globalwest arms resulting in 5.9/6 degrees castor.
Al.

Yes Al, it is the 69 you are thinking of :)

Thanks for info

I have a Lee/ ATS box in my 68 and love it

i have the DSE box and rag joint, zero issues here also. LOVE the way it makes the car feel.
I don't think you can go wrong with any of the ones mentioned here!

I agree on the 600's. We have run the Remy Racing boxes (670) through Global west. PN ST42 on all of our builds since SpeedTech stopped selling the Lee's. Comes ceramic coated and with a rag joint.

Before that we ran the 79-81 TA boxes. These new boxes with the pinion is far superior as far as feel.

STEERING BOX Chart

I have a 600 box i got from Camaro Central. I got the 14:1 beeing the first time i was trying a fast ratio and not knowing exactly what would happen lol!! I have generally went with overkill from the start all my life and now trying to slow down from lessons learned.... I should have gone 12:1 dammit!!!

Yeah, i LOVE the upgraded feeling but after driving it for a summer, i feel like im used to it and its back to some lesser feeling. Is there a major difference between 12 and 14:1 ?

David, you mentionned you'd go with faster than 12:7, what would you use and who makes faster than that?

Would you use faster than 12:7 in any street driven car?

Thanks guys,

Lead.

Cars get real twitchy with too much.

I'm running a Lee 12.7:1 box with their firmest valving and love it. It's a little twitchy at times in rutted lanes and rough roads. 90* public road turns can be done leaving two hands on a 13" wheel. I think any quicker could get borderline dangerous on PT oriented cars.

On a first gen camaro i've found the limit with a 12:7 box, long pitman arm, & shortest outer steering arms. The steering get's too quick to accurately steer and car placement suffers. If you have a 13" steering wheel, it is even worse. If the front tires are way smaller than the rear you can tolerate a little faster steering, but not a lot. As you get closer to equal size tires front and rear, the steering get's more and more responsive to steering wheel input. My favorite first gen Camaro combo is 12:7 box, short pitman arm, short outer arms, and something like a 315:18 tire front and rear. Even with a 275/315 combo F/R I would do the same. If you have the long outer arms, you could use the long pitman arm with 12:7 box. The box MUST be a firm feel type or you won't be happy. A second gen Camaro works great at 12:1 For a junk yard version, look for a Jeep Cherokee box. I'm afraid of rebuilt boxes not being the correct thing, Ive read on the forums of too many who didn't get good boxes. The swap meet guys selling them are not to be trusted. I bought a "12:1" box that I found to be 14:1 when I got it home.

Hit the junkyard. $250 for a legit box. Not a slammed together reman.

http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=199736

i am at that same point that its time for a steering box. i like the idea of a lee box but from what i have found it would be a 4 month wait to get one. i was looking at the global west box and the dse box. any one know how they compare to a lee box?

I just went the hassle of trying to find a new steering box. Did my research and it looks like most companies are just selling the same delphi 600 box an putting their own twist on it. Lee and TurnOne seem to do more custom blueprinted builds than someone like DSE and Global West. Regardless their seems to be a supply problem from Delphi (or whoever actually makes the boxes) so everyone from DSE to TurnOne are backed ordered through July. From what I hear, Lee isn't really taking orders as of late (considering I never had my email to them replied to I would say that might be true). If you want to wait and get a good deal on a great box, check out TurnOne's website, they currently have a 20% off sale. If you don't want to wait till July, try ebay. I just bought a delphi 600 box with 12.7:1 ration from these guys http://www.ebay.com/itm/291422634328...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I like to support sponsor vendors as much as possible but seems like everyone is out till July.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/brg-800209

same thing, just not ceramic coated

theres a 10% off coupon floating around here somewhere

Anyone know where to get a 600 box or when the supply might be back for the vendors?

EDIT:: everyone is out. shows mid september now

try these guys.... http://www.turnone-steering.com/#!on...=0&sort=normal