8:1 steering ratio

[ssanto]

Check my math on this one...

The race car I got is a NASCAR road race chassis. It was previously running an 8:1 steering box (which didn't come with the car). I need to purchase a box and have been reading threads on here for a lot of 1st gen Camaro builds that say 10:1 is good and 8:1 would be a bit aggressive for a road course.

My Gen1 Camaro has 5.25" Pittman arm whereas the race car has a 5" Pittman. So the shorter arm on the racecar will make the 8:1 gear box feel slower.
And the comparison ratio would be 5.25 / 5 = 1.05

My Gen1 Camaro has 5.25" steering arms on the spindle where the race car has 6.5" steering arms. So the longer steering arm on the racecar will also make the 8:1 gear box feel slower.
And the comparison ratio would be 6.5 / 5.25 = 1.24

So if I take the 8:1 gear box and adjust "what it feels like" by the differences in Pittman and steering arms, I get:
8 * 1.05 * 1.24 = 10.42

So the 8:1 gear box in the racecar will feel like a 10.42 box would in the Camaro. Meaning it probably isn't too fast.

Sound about right?

[stab6902]

As long as your measurements are correct, that sounds right to me. You also have to take wheelbase into account, but I'm assuming your NASCAR chassis is 110" and your Camaro is 108," so that'll make very little difference. Steering wheel diameter also has an impact on perceived quickness.

[UMI Tech]

If you know what chassis or series it came from, Turn One would know. Heck, they probably built the original box for it...


Check my math on this one...

The race car I got is a NASCAR road race chassis. It was previously running an 8:1 steering box (which didn't come with the car). I need to purchase a box and have been reading threads on here for a lot of 1st gen Camaro builds that say 10:1 is good and 8:1 would be a bit aggressive for a road course.

My Gen1 Camaro has 5.25" Pittman arm whereas the race car has a 5" Pittman. So the shorter arm on the racecar will make the 8:1 gear box feel slower.
And the comparison ratio would be 5.25 / 5 = 1.05

My Gen1 Camaro has 5.25" steering arms on the spindle where the race car has 6.5" steering arms. So the longer steering arm on the racecar will also make the 8:1 gear box feel slower.
And the comparison ratio would be 6.5 / 5.25 = 1.24

So if I take the 8:1 gear box and adjust "what it feels like" by the differences in Pittman and steering arms, I get:
8 * 1.05 * 1.24 = 10.42

So the 8:1 gear box in the racecar will feel like a 10.42 box would in the Camaro. Meaning it probably isn't too fast.

Sound about right?