On the caprice cars some show 43deg 30min and some show 40deg 45min. Both these are on the spreadsheet (http://www.corvettefaq.com/acar/1985-96Caprice,MonteCarlo,BuickFastRatioGears.xls) as being able to be used. Just curious as to what those numbers mean...

The greater the number the more turn the box has in it. If you put a steering box in with less degree of turn than your turning circle will be reduced (think 18-wheeler making uturns). Been there /done that, it sucks big time.

what about the ratio? Do the quick ratio boxes just reduce the turns to lock and not decrease your turning radius?

Turnig degrees and box ratio are totally different things. Do not use lock to lock turns to determine which box you are looking at. The internal stops of a 14:1 box may be closer so you would think you had a 12.7:1 box. Ideally you want the 12.7:1 box with the 43+ degrees of movement. I believe only the Jeep and the Caprice box offer both the quick ratio and a good range of motion.

Most Chevelles use nearly all of the pitman shaft rotation (or sweep) that Saginaw designed into their steering gears.

The degrees on the spreadsheet are the sweep of the pitman shaft from dead center to full lock in one direction. You need to multiply by 2 to get the total sweep of the pitman shaft. If you are going to use your original power steering gear pitman arm, then you really want a replacement gear that will have roughly the same amount of sweep as original. Otherwise, your turning circle will become larger.

Some of the Camaro people mess around with longer and shorter pitman arms and idler arms, but that is another story.

Looks like the one I pulled is the "HL" code with the 40deg 45min. Is this going to haunt me later?

A few with the 9C1 code were also found on a couple in the yard but no FE1 or FE3 codes on those SPIDs just the 9C1. Would that have been the better box to get? Also none of the 9C1s had an alpha code on the end caps.

The HL alpha code steering gear should be just want you want. 12.7:1 fast ratio; some pretty serious valve effort; and full pitman shaft travel for a good turning circle.

Dennis, thanks for the info... would you be able to give a run down on parts I would need to complete the Jeep swap on my 71. Thanks, Detrick

2 line adapters (from Napa or Lee manufactering) and a steering coupler from a late 80's 2WD GM truck, I'll get the exact applicatin later unless Jim is around, he knows it off the top.