Hard to Handle

[sovain]

Are power steering boxes any better than manual boxes in terms of road feel?My bro has manual box that he got out of a parts car(70 SS camaro)that i can have and put in my 81Z28:machine:

[86Cutlass383SR]

Is this a track car, occasional street car, or daily driver? Personally I don't care for a manual box in a street car. Maybe I'm getting lazy in my older age but the constant turning of city driving is too much of a chore. I don't know about road feel but I believe a manual box has a slower ratio to make up for the increased effort to turn the wheel.

If you wanted to go with a used steering box, look for a mid to late 80's IROC box with 16" wheels. Look for code XH on the round part of the end. These have a higher road feel than the 15" wheel Z/28's (supposedly coded YA?) and the regular f-bodies. I've heard these will bolt on to a 1st gen and so should also bolt into a 2nd gen.

[2ndgenhunter]

The 12:1 box from 85 up iroc is a direct swap on an 81. Just did it myself.

[86Cutlass383SR]

I've got one on my 86 Cutlass and I love it.

[sovain]

it`s for the occasional track outing and some weekend driving.it`s comes free,thought i could take advantage of it.

[86Cutlass383SR]

If you don't mind tugging on a manual box, then I'd say go for it. For the investment you'd have in it, you could swap it out later if need be.

[2ndgenhunter]

I think the shaft on the 70 is different size from steering shaft on the 81. You might want to check that.

[Randy67]

The steering shaft (input shaft) is smaller on the 81, it is the same as the manual steering box (uses the same coupler per some suppliers).