Flaming River manufactures...
Flaming River manufactures a completely new three-bolt mounted steering box that is a direct bolt in. We're happy to report there were no clearance issues.
For anyone who's ever replaced a leaking power steering box, you understand how easy the task would have been had the engine been out of your car. We've heard the grumblings and were smart enough to take advantage of the fact that our tired 305 from our Project Crossfire Z was removed and resting on the shop floor and tackled the chore of replacing our worn out stock steering box. With our Z28 equipped from the factory with the quickest Camaro piece offered (12:1 ratio providing three turns, lock-to-lock, of steering travel), our performance gains from this swap would come from the advanced internal mechanics of the new Flaming River box and the solidifying of the steering shaft assembly. And of course, we were also eliminating a major source of oil leaks.
Once again, we employed the services of Joel Rode of Hot Rod Specialties in Upland, California, to help upgrade our steering components using Flaming River's complete Third-gen Camaro Steering Box Kit (PN FR1565, $1,250). The kit comes complete with a brand new (not rebuilt or refurbished) Flaming River steering box and slip shaft assembly with nickel-plated billet steel universal joints.
With the engine removed we...
With the engine removed we had a clear shot at the stock steering box from the engine compartment. If the engine were in place, we would have to access the box from underneath the car.
A single bolt holds the rag...
A single bolt holds the rag joint coupler to the splined steering shaft. Forty years of wear and tear makes it necessary to employ the persuasion of a pry bar to separate.
The coupler is attached at...
The coupler is attached at the firewall end with a second bolt that will also need to be removed.
After removing the cotter...
After removing the cotter pin and castle nut from the pitman arm, and the three steering box mounting bolts on the inside of the framerail, the old box can be removed. This is a good time to replace the Pitman arm if it hasn't been done recently.
The Flaming River unit features...
The Flaming River unit features a trivalent chromium-free plated finish that provides ten times the corrosion resistance of a painted box. The box also employs a rack-and-pinion valve spool for quicker, smoother, more precise steering and handling response.