87 Monte Carlo SS steering box and first gen Camaro

[UNmolestedTA]

I noticed a wrecked monte SS in the junkyard yesterday and I removed the steering box out of it for my 67. I have read alot about the faster ratio boxes on camaros.net as well as here. The most popular box is from a 3rd gen IROC or trans am. Car Craft stated that 85-88 SS monte carlos are the most desireable but I can't figure out why since every one is using the 3rd gen. BTW, does anyone know what gears the SS's have in them I might go back and get it for my 10 bolt. Thanks

[Samckitt]

Factory Monte SS had 3.73:1 gears from 86 (I think) on, whenever the 200R4 OD tranny came out. Before that it was 3.42:1. BUT they were not all posi in them. To be honest I have never seen a Monte SS with a posi from the factory, they are out there, but evidently few & far between. Also, be aware that the Monte 10 bolt was not an 8.5" rear, it is 7 5/8".

As for the steering box, I know a few guys who have put the Z28 one in their Monte SS, evidently it is a quicker ratio than the Monte.

[amx2334]

All the info I've seen has the Monte SS and Z-28 at 12.7:1 ratio.

[Samckitt]

There is one on the Camaros that is a higher ratio. Don't remember if it is the Z28 or the IROC. One of the ways to tell if it had it was to check for 16" wheels. Evidently it is the higher ratio one.

[Samckitt]

Here is some info I copied from montecarloss.com:

1LE refers to the a road course suspension/car option on 3rd and 4th gen F-body to run in factory stock classes. Lots of goodies were installed on this limited number of 1LE cars. The bushings MAP is refering to are the 1LE rear LCA bushings which will work in all 8 positions in the rear of a G body. They are a higher durometer rubber (harder) and will help tighten up the stock SS. #10164152

Here's a link to info on the 1LE Camaro. http://www.camarosource.ca/main_new_site.php?url=new_site/rare_specialty/write-ups/rare_1LE.htm

The 36mm front sway bar and front rotors off the 1LE are used commonly on our cars.

The high effort steering box MAP is referring to were used on the F-body also. At the lower end of the steering box is a pressed in plug. The factory would stamp a two letter code on these 800 series boxes to show what specs the box was built to. Typically most SS used a YA box which is a medium effort, quick ratio (variable in some cases)with standard internal stops to limit left and right travel. The high effort, fast ratio XH box was used generally in F bodies which came with 245/50x16 tires, 16x8 wheels. These boxies would limit travel to prevent the tires from rubbing when turned full lock. When I installed my XH box several years ago I found it necessary to upgrade the P/S pump for higher output pressure. The XH box was lagging on slow speed maneuvers, need more flow and pressure. The parts house will sell a generic pump to fit both the F and G cars these days but when the SS was built it had a slightly lower pump output which was fine for the YA box. Here's a link to info Jeff D and I put together. http://jeffd.50megs.com/Pump_valve_mod_page.htm

There is a really nice new steering box available now for Delphi which is a drop in for most all cars with a GM 800 box. http://www.unisteer.com/mm5/merchant.mvc...e=STEERINGBOXES Very good price from Unisteer and not much more expensive than the AGR box.

The SS came with the GNX bushing install from the factory, it's #5, can be seen when you look above the frame in the spring upper mount area.

[UNmolestedTA]

Thanks for all the info. I take it that this steering box is much better than the one out of my 67. I am going to clean the 10 inches of grease off of this box and check for the YA code.

[ss1cars]

I have a ss box on my chevelle,it seems to be a good investiment,i love t.