Mid year steering box paint

[Rob M.]

It is my understanding that the steering box on a 65 could be natural or painted black. If painted, was it done prior to assembly? What about the big threaded part (on input shaft end) and lock ring. Were they painted also?
Thanks,
Rob

[Joe L.]

Re: Mid year steering box paint

Rob-----

When painted, they were painted after assembly. Everything got painted except the pitman shaft and the input shaft. There are often significant "holidays" on the adjuster nut, though (the large threaded device through which the input shaft passes and which is retained by the large stamped steel lock nut). The "holidays" may have been influenced by some sort of masking device which was used over the adjuster.

[William H. Baker]

Re: Mid year steering box paint

Also, any inspection marks would be located under the paint and show through

[Rob M.]

Re: Mid year steering box paint

Please explain the sequence used in '65 that results in inspection marks under the final paint. Where were the boxes assembled and what did the inspection marks signify?
Thanks for you help.
Rob

[Joe C.]

Re: Mid year steering box paint

Rob:

As far as I can tell, and some of the experts may add to this, "L" on the top of the steering gearbox signifies "leaker". Quanta illustrates this in their illustrations for midyear steering boxes, but I would not be inclined to use it .

Joe

[Larry Low]

Re: Mid year steering box paint

When I bought my car it had had a body off with a complete frame redo. Interesting enough they painted the steering box cast iron gray with a bright yellow 'L' across the top. Wonder where they got this info and why they did it this way. More interesting is the box actually leaks. Go figure!

[Joe L.]

Re: Mid year steering box paint

Larry-----

I expect that the cast blast paint was done to simulate natural cast iron while providing for corrosion protection. On the natural cast housings, the inspection marks were clearly visible; they were not painted-over since the box was not originally painted, at all.

The leak was likely the result of improper installation or installation damage to the pitman (sector) shaft seal. Another cause for a leak is the use of the wrong lubricant. Corvettes always used a special steering box lubricant (GM #1052084) which was the viscosity of chassis grease. Most other GM cars with manual steering gear used a different lubricant that was about equivalent to 90 wt gear oil in viscosity. Both of the aforementioned conditions are fairly common occurrences with 63-82 Corvette steering gear boxes.

[Joe C.]

Re: Mid year steering box paint

Larry:

According to the TIM& JG, all 1965 Corvettes with power steering were produced with a "natural" cast iron steering gearbox. Manual steering cars were either natural (unpainted) or semigloss black (spotty coverage).
As Joe L. related, you must use a good, high melting point chassis grease to lube your steering box, otherwise you risk the possibility of leaks.
I remember, a while back, that there was a funny story on this forum which told of an old Corvette assembly plant worker who shocked the spectators at an NCRS event when he responded to a query about the "L" on a steering box -----he said it meant "leaker". This story, although funny, is true.

Joe