Steering box

[Rex T.]

Is there a difference in mid-year steering boxes (power vs. non-power) and later steering boxes (68-???)? I've seen several for sale on EBAY recently and they all look the same. Thanks in advance for your help. Rex #8089

[Mike M.]

Re: Steering box

midyear steering gear box COVER is cast iron like rest of box whereas sometime in early 70's , cover became alum.perhaps c-3 owner/expert can further elucidate. as far as power vs now-power steering midyear boxes, there ws no difference.mike

[Joe L.]

Re: Steering box

Mike and Rex-----

The difference is as Mike says; the 63-68 covers were cast iron. Very early 1969 may have been cast iron, too. However, I have a friend with an original owner 69 that was built in October, 1968. His car has the aluminum cover. My Septemeber, 1969 car has the aluminum cover, too.

For the entire range of 1963 to 1982 there was no difference between manual and power steering boxes (manual steering ended with the 1976 model year, though). However, the pitman arms for power and non-power WERE different. The pitman arm is not really part of the steering box assembly but often "comes with" used boxes (because someone doesn't want to go to the trouble of removing it, you often get a "free" pitman arm).

[Scott C Pfuehler]

Re: Steering box

Rex, the 69 or so and up boxes had a different spline on the steering column shaft than the midyears which will require a different bottom half of the rag joint. Scott