Steering Boxes

S

steven d. ferguson

New member
Aug 1, 1999
874
0
0
I would like to see someone look into this. We used to like to retrofit
70
Chevelles when I was foolin' with them (you listening, Steve?) with the
box
from the WS6 TransAm because it had a quicker ratio and a stiffer
torsion
bar for better "feel"

Travis,
I'm listening. Have you tried to find a WS6 box lately? Even the
"Goat" guys would like to find one!
Anyhow, In a couple of weeks I'll have the stock box out of the coach
and we'll have it on the bench for a little show & tell. If it's
adjustable via the book & turns out tighter than the NAPA box I have,
it'll go back in the coach. The guy who owns the place where I store
myself & the coach has a lot of savvy in this area & he's curious too.
Steve Ferguson
San Diego
 
Have any body looked in to a saganaw sterring boxes for after market racing
applications, they are built with biger sector shafter and quicker stering
raito.
They also come with tapperd ends like the motor home has I am not sure about
the timming on the arm that will be smothing to look into.
R/A
Bandon Or
- -----Original Message-----
From: Steven D. Ferguson
To: gmcmotorhome
Date: Sunday, October 17, 1999 3:47 AM
Subject: GMC: Steering Boxes

>I would like to see someone look into this. We used to like to retrofit
>70
>Chevelles when I was foolin' with them (you listening, Steve?) with the
>box
>from the WS6 TransAm because it had a quicker ratio and a stiffer
>torsion
>bar for better "feel"
>
>Travis,
> I'm listening. Have you tried to find a WS6 box lately? Even the
>"Goat" guys would like to find one!
> Anyhow, In a couple of weeks I'll have the stock box out of the coach
>and we'll have it on the bench for a little show & tell. If it's
>adjustable via the book & turns out tighter than the NAPA box I have,
>it'll go back in the coach. The guy who owns the place where I store
>myself & the coach has a lot of savvy in this area & he's curious too.
>Steve Ferguson
>San Diego
>
>
 
Just talked to Tom Lee (Lee Mfg. 818-768-0371) about my dilemma. He is a
very interesting individual. Seems to really know his stuff! He gave me some
info I thought I should pass along.

If you are changing out your steering box he suggests mandatory removal of
the pump for cleaning and new hoses. Ideally replacing the pump at the same
time is better. Why u ask (I asked anyway)? He said if you do the box only
there is alot of sludge and contaminants left elsewhere. A few heat/cool
cycles and these loosen due to the newer fluids just added and poof... worn
out box in no time. Duh... sound familiar? Sure does to yours truly since
thats just exactly what I did. I flushed it a lot but didn't clean the pump
and left the old hoses.

Word to the wise... pull your pump and clean it good or best just add the
cost of a new pump to the deal and do it right... ONCE! Jim Bounds gave me
these pump numbers: 20140 for the threaded shaft, 60316 or 20-860 for the
smooth shaft (w/bolt hole) and said the cost is about $100. I will look on
the GMCMI cross reference for numbers as well.

Not a pitch: Tom will rebuild my box for about $240 roughly with all the
latest enhancements like needle bearings, etc. If I send him my pump he will
flow test it on the bench along with the newly rebuilt box to verify the
flow is correct. He mentioned older pumps have less flow and less flow means
a wider sweet spot so even with a newly rebuilt box with this old pump could
be a problem in and of itself. Also ratio is not a problem. Tell him what
you have he can help you decide.

Very good tips from someone that has the experience and is good enough to
share it w/us.

Nate 75GB (Trick 'r Treat) Omaha
 
Don't know if it makes any difference but, will the flow rate, if it is
changed, affect the windshield wiper system? Does he change the flow
rate, or is the flow rate a fixed non variable? Good work Nate. I like
where this is going. Darren

>
> Just talked to Tom Lee (Lee Mfg. 818-768-0371) about my dilemma. He is a
> very interesting individual. Seems to really know his stuff! He gave me some
> info I thought I should pass along.
>
> If you are changing out your steering box he suggests mandatory removal of
> the pump for cleaning and new hoses. Ideally replacing the pump at the same
> time is better. Why u ask (I asked anyway)? He said if you do the box only
> there is alot of sludge and contaminants left elsewhere. A few heat/cool
> cycles and these loosen due to the newer fluids just added and poof... worn
> out box in no time. Duh... sound familiar? Sure does to yours truly since
> thats just exactly what I did. I flushed it a lot but didn't clean the pump
> and left the old hoses.
>
> Word to the wise... pull your pump and clean it good or best just add the
> cost of a new pump to the deal and do it right... ONCE! Jim Bounds gave me
> these pump numbers: 20140 for the threaded shaft, 60316 or 20-860 for the
> smooth shaft (w/bolt hole) and said the cost is about $100. I will look on
> the GMCMI cross reference for numbers as well.
>
> Not a pitch: Tom will rebuild my box for about $240 roughly with all the
> latest enhancements like needle bearings, etc. If I send him my pump he will
> flow test it on the bench along with the newly rebuilt box to verify the
> flow is correct. He mentioned older pumps have less flow and less flow means
> a wider sweet spot so even with a newly rebuilt box with this old pump could
> be a problem in and of itself. Also ratio is not a problem. Tell him what
> you have he can help you decide.
>
> Very good tips from someone that has the experience and is good enough to
> share it w/us.
>
> Nate 75GB (Trick 'r Treat) Omaha

- --
Darren Paget
76 Experimental
Another Fab Day
paget
http://www.TZEplus.com
 
WHOA!

Yesterday, in Digest #131, Nate Chase posted some really good info on
steering boxes. One passage really jumped out at me. That was "He mentioned
older pumps have less flow and less flow means a wider sweet spot so even
with a newly rebuilt box with this old pump could be a problem in and of
itself."

I don't recall seeing this relationship discussed before. If I'm reading
this right, we may just have discovered why so many experience "wiggle" or
"wander" even after extensive work on their suspensions.

If this is old news, just ignore the ol' man on the "day late" digest list.

Regards,

Dave (& Dege), '76 Royale, Santa Barbara, CA ("digester")
 
Several weeks ago I posted the following, and haven't seen any response.

"Yesterday, in Digest #131, Nate Chase posted some really good info on
steering boxes. One passage really jumped out at me. That was "He mentioned
older pumps have less flow and less flow means a wider sweet spot so even
with a newly rebuilt box with this old pump could be a problem in and of
itself."

I don't recall seeing this relationship discussed before. If I'm reading
this right, we may just have discovered why so many experience "wiggle" or
"wander" even after extensive work on their suspensions.

If this is old news, just ignore the ol' man on the "day late - digest
list". But if I missed the response(s), how's 'bout hittin' me again. I
need to know if I maybe should be checking my PS pump before I have the
front end done over.

TIA,

Dave (& Dege), '76 Royale, Santa Barbara, CA
 
Dave,
Call Tom Lee at 818-768-0371. He is the one that told me this info. Since
I changed mine out the second time it seems fine now (One year NAPA warrenty
not lifetime as I thought it was).

Nate '75GB (Steering fine now!) Omaha

>>

Date: Sat, 20 Nov 1999 00:10:19 -0800
From: Dave Lowry
Subject: GMC: Steering Boxes

Several weeks ago I posted the following, and haven't seen any response.

"Yesterday, in Digest #131, Nate Chase posted some really good info on
steering boxes. One passage really jumped out at me. That was "He mentioned
older pumps have less flow and less flow means a wider sweet spot so even
with a newly rebuilt box with this old pump could be a problem in and of
itself."

I don't recall seeing this relationship discussed before. If I'm reading
this right, we may just have discovered why so many experience "wiggle" or
"wander" even after extensive work on their suspensions.

If this is old news, just ignore the ol' man on the "day late - digest
list". But if I missed the response(s), how's 'bout hittin' me again. I
need to know if I maybe should be checking my PS pump before I have the
front end done over.

TIA,
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
GMCMI Fall 2026 Rally
Applied GMC

Share this page

Share this page
Top Bottom
Back