Steering Box Upgrade

[Anthony69Runner]

My 69 runner manual steering box is shot. I'm looking to upgrade to a 20 to 1 or 16 to 1. But don't know which one. I don't do a lot of parallel parking. If someone has either one can you tell me the pro's and con's of both ratio's.

Thanks Anthony

 

[quikbird]

borgeson has a new box that is supposed to be smaller and lighter than the stock one. not sure on ratio.

 

[Rich B]

Wow, does anybody actually have power steering? Mine drove like a Mack truck. Nobody wanted anything power back in ‘69 and then pay extra lol. Took away from rear wheel output- what were we thinking? Even would disconnect belt from those horrible Mopar alternators (replaced every few years); takes HP to turn those.

How thoughts change from 50 years ago. Believe Chrysler developed the iceberg kit with huge heat syncs as part of alternator casing. May stand corrected on that. https://alternatorparts.com/iceberg.html Oops, that may be GM, did have a C4 Corvette at the time.

 

[Russ69Runner]

Yes the power steering take's about 10 hp from the motor so we use to say as well as the A/C. But the steering wheel is big enough that it should drive ok for now on mine. If you are racing the car then every bit of HP is important. We use to say 10 mile and hour faster for every sticker we put on the quarter window. Like muffler sticker that came in the box. Also Holley sticker's just keep adding up the HP with sticker's. End the end It was just a joke.

 

[BioMedTechGuy]

I have manual steering and brakes in my 70 V-code Roadrunner.
The only thing that bothers me is steering when stopped or barely moving.
I am upgrading to a ridiculous Wilwood 4 wheel disc brake system, but I am going with a manual Wilwood master cylinder because I prefer the feel of manual brakes and I can run whatever cam I want without concern about vacuum.
The purple stripe cam that was in the 71 steel crank heavy rods 440 6bbl is suspected to be the 292°/.509 by sound and performance.
I LOVE the sound!

 

[Anthony69Runner]

I ordered a Firm Feel manual 20 to 1 ratio steering box. Should have it by the end of the month. I love the sound of your car.

 

[Russ69Runner]

I have manual steering and brakes in my 70 V-code Roadrunner.
The only thing that bothers me is steering when stopped or barely moving.
I am upgrading to a ridiculous Wilwood 4 wheel disc brake system, but I am going with a manual Wilwood master cylinder because I prefer the feel of manual brakes and I can run whatever cam I want without concern about vacuum.
The purple stripe cam that was in the 71 steel crank heavy rods 440 6bbl is suspected to be the 292°/.509 by sound and performance.
I LOVE the sound!

Yes that is a bad ass sounding car just wish some one would have rev it up a bit.

 

[BioMedTechGuy]

Yes that is a bad ass sounding car just wish some one would have rev it up a bit.

Your wish...that's NOT the SRT Jeep you're hearing!
Volume up!

 

[Rich B]

Yup- that choppy erratic sound, if you hear it at a stop light or somebody looking for a parking space somewheres! My car has it but only with the TRACKEY. Don’t know if it’s fabricated or actual. 4 separate camshafts but what’s that supposed to be? The entire car shakes and rocks. Still, not the same as half a century ago no matter how much it’s emulated.

 

[Russ69Runner]

W

Your wish...that's NOT the SRT Jeep you're hearing!
Volume up!

Wow!!!! that is what I love to hear. Good JOB hope you beat the pant's off that jeep.

 

[Palmer Moe-par 68]

The available reproduction steering boxes come in 16:1 and 24:1. I'm not sure about any 20:1 ratio boxes. The 16:1 would be harder to steer at slower speeds and when stationary, but you would not have to turn the wheel as far to accomplish the same degree of turn as the 24:1. I recently installed a 24:1 steering ratio manual box, and from just rolling the car around with most of the full weight and skinnier than original tires, I can tell you it is definitely way easier to turn than the 16:1 when going slow or stationary. It is just about as easy as power steering, but without the typical play of power steering. The 24:1 should also be easier to use at high speeds since the turning ratio is less, making it less twitchy. I could only find one manufacturer that has a manual steering box in a reproduction/stock manual 24:1 ratio design. Most are the 16:1, or they don't specify. You could get either one from the factory, but I think most were the 16:1, and I believe the 16:1 was considered a higher option because it was "Quick Steering". Tire width will also effect the ease of turning when it comes to manual steering boxes. The skinnier the tires, the easier they are to turn.

I had a problem with installing mine however. i tried using a power steering column with a manual steering box, and from what I have found in research, they were different. Can someone confirm that the power steering column is different from the manual steering column, and more specifically that the power steering column is shorter and has a smaller diameter spline hole where it connects to the box. Thanks!

These are the two sites selling a 24:1 stock manual steering gear. They are both exactly the same product and are exactly the same price. They come in the factory grey that manual steering boxes had, as opposed to the black that power steering was painted in.
https://www.carsteering.com/buynow/1968/Plymouth/Roadrunner/Manual_Steering_Gear_Box/82-70085_AN
https://www.buyautoparts.com/buynow/1968/Plymouth/Roadrunner/Manual_Steering_Gear_Box/82-70085_AN

Hope this helps!

 

[Anthony69Runner]

The available reproduction steering boxes come in 16:1 and 24:1. I'm not sure about any 20:1 ratio boxes. The 16:1 would be harder to steer at slower speeds and when stationary, but you would not have to turn the wheel as far to accomplish the same degree of turn as the 24:1. I recently installed a 24:1 steering ratio manual box, and from just rolling the car around with most of the full weight and skinnier than original tires, I can tell you it is definitely way easier to turn than the 16:1 when going slow or stationary. It is just about as easy as power steering, but without the typical play of power steering. The 24:1 should also be easier to use at high speeds since the turning ratio is less, making it less twitchy. I could only find one manufacturer that has a manual steering box in a reproduction/stock manual 24:1 ratio design. Most are the 16:1, or they don't specify. You could get either one from the factory, but I think most were the 16:1, and I believe the 16:1 was considered a higher option because it was "Quick Steering". Tire width will also effect the ease of turning when it comes to manual steering boxes. The skinnier the tires, the easier they are to turn.

I had a problem with installing mine however. i tried using a power steering column with a manual steering box, and from what I have found in research, they were different. Can someone confirm that the power steering column is different from the manual steering column, and more specifically that the power steering column is shorter and has a smaller diameter spline hole where it connects to the box. Thanks!

These are the two sites selling a 24:1 stock manual steering gear. They are both exactly the same product and are exactly the same price. They come in the factory grey that manual steering boxes had, as opposed to the black that power steering was painted in.
https://www.carsteering.com/buynow/1968/Plymouth/Roadrunner/Manual_Steering_Gear_Box/82-70085_AN
https://www.buyautoparts.com/buynow/1968/Plymouth/Roadrunner/Manual_Steering_Gear_Box/82-70085_AN

Hope this helps!

This company firm feel rebuilds your steering box and gives you three choices of ratios you want. 24 to 1
20 to 1 and a 16 to 1.

 

[quikbird]

Borgesson makes a steering box that is 1/3 the weight and smaller. cost is $629. no idea if it works better. just talked to the sales lady at the goodguys show

 

[ACME A12]

Yup- that choppy erratic sound, if you hear it at a stop light or somebody looking for a parking space somewheres! My car has it but only with the TRACKEY. Don’t know if it’s fabricated or actual. 4 separate camshafts but what’s that supposed to be? The entire car shakes and rocks. Still, not the same as half a century ago no matter how much it’s emulated.

Ti-VCT - Twin Independent Variable Cam Timing. Not fabricated; it's real. The PCM retards the camshafts when the TracKey is engaged moving the power band upward and producing a lopey idle.

 

[Russ69Runner]

Thought that is what you wanted when you cam up the motor to get the extra HP from the motor.

 

[Johnnyscarnuts]

I like my car with manual box, steers awesome, keeps your for arms in shape haha
one less fliud to worry about leaking too

 

[Russ69Runner]

Yep don't have to go the gym in the evening's. I get my work out lifting Six packs of beer. Now where is my beer assistant at I need another cold one????? **^^%$#@^^

 

[BioMedTechGuy]

At my age, I can take solace in knowing that if I have a heart attack and die, it will be behind the wheel of my Roadrunner, in the process of parallel parking...

 

[BioMedTechGuy]

... hope you beat the pant's off that jeep.

3 out of 3
Put him on the trailer. C-ya!

 

[Russ69Runner]

We can always put him on the roll back like I did Basket case's car.