i have seen articles in the past that you needa hybrid ragjoint to adapt a 12:1 grand national / 442 / monte ss steering box into a gs /442 / gto / skylark /chevelle . i also believe you need to put metric fittiings on your old lines? or is there adapter fittings? i am sure this has all old news but i have some of these boxes 4 sale in the 4 sale section and just trying to get the right answers for everybody thanks http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=200337
If you want to put a metric steering box in an early a-body (66-72 at least) you will need the hybrid rag joint and the inserts for the gear box to allow your original type hoses to work. This is a simple thing and I did it with no problems. I believe this guy sells everything you need for about $100 or less. They do this for a living. http://lee-powersteering.com/steering-gears.htm
I went to Napa and ordered a 69 Chevelle SS 396 steering box. It's like a 12.x:1 ratio. No special rag joint needed. I kept my original rag joint and all I did was bolt the box on and it is like a different car. Don't over analyze like I did for so long. The Chevelle box is a DIRECT bolt in replacement.
When I went to NAPA the old timer behind the counter looked through the database. Nothing was found for Buick that was quick ratio (no surprise there) and I did not want to deal with the GN or Monte SS boxes because the lines are all different, you need a different rag joint yada yada. So I asked him, what about the Chevelle SS? Maybe it wasn't for 69 it might have been for 70, but I really think it was 69. I was pretty sure the 69 Chevelle SS396 wouldn't come with the pathetic 16:1 barge ratio my GS had. I think it was at least 12.8:1. Anyway, it is a MAX of 2.5 turns lock to lock now. Are you trans am racing or something that you need a quicker ratio than that? How much more do you want to spend to get another .8:1 ratio out of your gearbox? :idea2:
GSX's came with quick ratio boxes but they are not sourced easily. That's why I went with the metric GN box. Simple swap, completed it in less than a few hours. The changes added less than $100 and 30 minutes to the total swap time. Flushing the pump took about as much time as anything.
Anyone know where to find just the rag joint? o No: I'm using my GN box with the GN lines, so all I will need is the joint.
Yes, it doesn't give the exact ratio online, although the guy at the store saw it in his computer. Mine ended up 2.5 lock to lock, not 3. Total investment after core refund, $76.00. Or, you can pay $200-$300 if you must have a metric GN box with new hoses/adapters and rag joints. To each their own. http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Detail.aspx?A=NSP88277060_0186414671&An=599001+101969+50012+2012020
See post #8 in this thread: http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=130473 if your car has a manual box, they used the correct 3/4" coupler that'll fit the late boxes. Ken, those years of Chevelles often had the variable-ratio boxes. Spec'd at 13.1 to 16:1 ratio. A huge improvement over the old 17.5:1 boxes of the early cars!
i just compared the ss chevelle unit to the stock one for my 65 and the chevelle unit is listed @ 2.5 - 3.0 turns. the buick one is listed @ 3.5 - 4.25 turns. a direct bolt in also. i will be picking one up, i even think i have an old firebird one hanging around for a core so i can keep my origanal. good find ken :TU:
