Steering upgrade.

[Psalm65]

Keep in mind I'm still learning.
But along my search and question asking I've came across (forgot where) someone telling me to swap my Skylark's steering for a F body's steering, he said it really woke his car up regarding his turn radius and steering?

Has anyone tried this or even heard of it?
Any links?

[gssizzler]

Yes your original steering box is a 4.75 lock to lock , so almost 5 turns of the wheel! Just going to a late 70's Z28 or turbo regal in the 80's you will get to a 3.75 I think!? Most rebuilt or upgraded boxes are 2.75 or 2.5 so you can turn quick and switch lanes fast! Very responsive so you have to be careful if you have any over correctons! My Post car has a 2.5 which I think  is a late model IROC  Z  box? Steers great!
Just switch out the pittman arm and you might have to use fittings on the hoses! Many vendors carry the boxes! Even RockAuto!

[cwmcobra]

You can also have your stock steering gear rebuilt with a quicker ratio.  That's what I did.  I haven't driven it yet, but it's the original steering gear and everything bolted up the same, including with the stock Pitman Arm.  The rebuild was done by Hector on V8 and he has lots of favorable feedback.

 

Chuck

[GS66]

I bought a box from Hector too. Great upgrade!

[dsags]

Me three.

Dan

[WkillGS]

Don't use the F-body box.
It's a fast ratio, but the stops are different and it doesn't have as much travel, increasing your turn radius.
The 1980's Grand National, 442 and Monte Carlo SS boxes are fast ratio and have similar travel as our stock boxes. They do have metric fittings and require hose adapters or a different pressure hose.

Best bet is a Hector conversion or just buy a rebuilt one from your local parts store. Lots of info avail if you do a Google search.

[elagache]

Dear Ronnie, Kevin, Chuck, Jim, Dan, and mid-60 Buick owners who like to take the curves with style,

You can also have your stock steering gear rebuilt with a quicker ratio.  That's what I did.  I haven't driven it yet, but it's the original steering gear and everything bolted up the same, including with the stock Pitman Arm.  The rebuild was done by Hector on V8 and he has lots of favorable feedback.

Unfortunately, it isn't that easily to figure out where Hector is on V-8 Buick.  Here is his profile page so that you can contact him:

http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?members/carhex1.19133/

Cheers, Edouard 

[Buick_65]

You can also have your stock steering gear rebuilt with a quicker ratio.  That's what I did.  I haven't driven it yet, but it's the original steering gear and everything bolted up the same, including with the stock Pitman Arm.  The rebuild was done by Hector on V8 and he has lots of favorable feedback.

 

Chuck

I had mine rebuilt, and modified for quicker ratio.  I don't really like it.  It doesn't feel as linear, and loads the belt/pump a lot more than the standard ratio.

[elagache]

Dear mid-60s Buick owners with an eye to what's new,

Sorry Ronnie if this turns out to hijack your thread, but a friend of mine has a 1971 Chevelle Malibu which he has done up as a mild custom.  One of the upgrades he made was to switch from a fix to a variable ratio box.  According to him it has all the virtues of a quick ratio with none of the faults at low speed.  What have you guys heard about such things?  Are the good  or evil? . . 

A curious mind would like to know! 

Cheers, Edouard 

[Psalm65]

Hector from La Puente, CA?
If so I have his phone number and was in contact with him today, real nice guy but I did not know he offered that service. If anyone needs his #, I can PM it.
No need to be sorry, the more info the better.
Thanks for everyone's input and leads.
I appreciate it.

[Psalm65]

"What's a car if I can't do Donuts properly"

[WkillGS]

One more thing.... you might need a different rag joint to connect the new steering box to the steering column. IIRC there are 2 different sizes used on the '65. 3/4" shaft on the manual steering box and 13/16" on the power steering box. The late fast ratio boxes usually use the smaller 3/4" shaft.

[Psalm65]

 Thanks Walt

[Super65lark]

You can also have your stock steering gear rebuilt with a quicker ratio.  That's what I did.  I haven't driven it yet, but it's the original steering gear and everything bolted up the same, including with the stock Pitman Arm.  The rebuild was done by Hector on V8 and he has lots of favorable feedback.

 

Chuck

I had mine rebuilt, and modified for quicker ratio.  I don't really like it.  It doesn't feel as linear, and loads the belt/pump a lot more than the standard ratio.

Was wondering if someone would say this. I enjoy my super slow, pinky finger driving. Feels just right to me.

[GreatScat1965]

For the what it's worth department, the steering geometry on our cars are set up for bias ply tires. If you are using a radial tire you need to change the alignment specs. There have been many articles written about this over the years. The big problem is the upper control arm geometry doesn't like to cooperate with 'radial" retrofit specifications.

Thanks,
Jerry