Steering box, what ratio is prefered..?

[pkk]

I just got my -68 Firebird Convertible back on the street after giving it a Resto-mod/ Pro-Touring touch.

It turns out the stock steering box is a bit too worn to cope with the sub frame connectors/ Hotchkis TVS/ QA1/ 4x SSBC disc-kit/ 8.5"front 9.5"rear x19" wheels.
Need a new one, and wonder what gear ratio I should go for.

I use my car on the road, for pleasure- not racing, but I'd like a firmer feel than this stock application.
AGR have some 12:1 and 16/13:1 boxes that looks qite OK to me, what do you think?

[Mingus]

I have a Lee 670 12.7 box and I love it. I built my car for daily driving and I was worried the fast ratio might make it "twitchy" but it works awesome. It also has great road feel. The 670 box has "rack & pinion valving" which supposedly gives it better feel. I bought it because they had a 4 month backorder on 800's at the time but I haven't regretted it. I have never tried a Lee or AGR 800 box, so I can't say what the difference is but compared to my stock 40+ year old 800 it's incredible. I learned about Lee from this site. It is more expensive but it seemed a lot of people on here had troubles with AGR boxes.
Mike

[pkk]

Allright! Will there be any clearance issues concerning my headers on this Lee box? Their homepage doesn't seem to be too informative...
Found this one at Summit: http://www.summitracing.com/search/Brand/Unisteer-Performance/Product-Line/Unisteer-GM-600-Power-Steering-Box-Kits/?autoview=SKU

Thanks!

[sik68]

Do you have power steering box already? If so, the 670 box should be no bigger or smaller than the one you already have...it's physically the same size as an 800 series box. What headers do you have?

As far as ratio, I like the 12.7 as well. It's definitely twitchy compared with most / all cars I've driven, but if you have enough caster, then it feels weighty enough that you always feel in control.

If you want to make sure you're spending money in the right places, see how much positive caster you can get out of a good alignment. It will stabilize the car and give your steering a bit more "feel" before you plunk down more coin on a steering box.

[406 Q-ship]

I have both a 12.7:1 800 series Lee box and a 14:1 800 series box from Lee as well. Both are great for all around driving and autocrossing. Like Sik said that caster will improve the feel of anything that isn't flat worn out.

BTW GM switched to variable rate steering boxes after 1968 and a straight ratio box is junk compared to the later variabel ratio boxes.

[John Wright]

Allright! Will there be any clearance issues concerning my headers on this Lee box? Their homepage doesn't seem to be too informative...
Found this one at Summit: http://www.summitracing.com/search/Brand/Unisteer-Performance/Product-Line/Unisteer-GM-600-Power-Steering-Box-Kits/?autoview=SKU

Thanks!

Here is another source for those boxes:

http://www.pro-touringf-body.com/chassis_components.html

http://www.customworksproducts.com/suspension.html

[pkk]

Great links!
Adjusted for more caster, and that helped, but the old steering box have to go...
Upper CA's are also added to my wishlist :-)

[JEFFTATE]

I have a '92 IROC -Z box..
It's 12.7:1.
You can pick them up cheap at most parts stores.