I have a '67 SS 396 Car that I want to upgrade to the "quicker ratio" steering gear. It has the stock '67 power steering gear & pump now. After driving my late '70's El Camino, the '67 feels like relatively low effort & large movement in the steering. I purchased a good used steering gear at Super Chevy swap meet. It is supposedly a Monte SS (mid '80s). I've searched the great posts & links on this site & not found confirming info on what gear it really is. It has approx. 2.8 turns lock to lock & the pitman arm travel is approx. 85 degrees, coming out at approx. 12/1 ratio if I figured it right. The stamped numbers on the cover (looking for "YA") have pretty well worn off, but it looks like 2 inverted "V's" or they might be "AA's" or an "M", none of which lead me to anything I've found. There are casting numbers on the body of the housing: 7826692 next to the 4-bolt cover on the side; 5693463 on the "cap" on the end of the gear; 7812145 on the 4-bolt cover itself; & a big "92" with the "9" over the "2" vertically on the body of the housing near the "cap" end. It has the 3/4" spline input shaft rather than the 13/16" (it actually measures .719" O.D. of spline). The pitman arm has a cast "GM-T 7828464 58A". The hyd. line fittings are the "O-ring" type & the smaller tapped hole of the 2 took a 18mm wrench to get the line off (the line wasn't there on the bigger of the 2 holes). If my pitman arm will transfer, I'm tempted to send off & get the kit to make it accept my new stock lines, leave the stock valve & spring in my pump, & give it a try. Can anyone shed any light on what gear it is & if it's worth a try? Thanks, Odie

Gear Ratio = #of input turns x 360/output angle

GR = 2.8 x 360/85 = 12:1

My spreadsheet says that the mid 80s Monte should have 78 1/2 degrees of output.

GR = 2.8 x 360/78 1/2 = 12.8:1

I would say that you have a 12.7:1 fast ratio gear. Don't forget that you will need a new flexible coupling to attach to the 3/4 input shaft.

Good luck,
Jim

Thanks Jim,
I think I'll get started by trying the pitman arm for fit on the newer gear. If it fits then I'll get the 3/4" flexible coupling & the aluminum adapter pieces to accept my double flare hoses. According to the info I found on one of the tech forums, I can use these adapters from Lee Mfg. & use the stock inch hoses/connections. Do you have any experience to confirm this? I also am thinking about trying the stock pressure relief valve. Is it mandatory that I upgrade the pressure valve when going to the quick ratio gear or is that just an issue of steering effort? The current stock gear/setup is almost too easy of effort for my tastes. Thanks for your help. Odie

I have not used the Lee adapters myself, but I have seen many comments that they work quite well.

You should try the stock pressure relief that came with your pump. You can check to see if you have suffecient pressure by having the car on a cement surface. Hold it in place with the brakes. Steer to full lock in both directions. If you do not run out of assist as you near full lock, you have sufficient pressure.

BTW, if you indeed have the Monte Carlo (YA)steering gear, you will find that your steering effort will be substantially higher than your stock gear. (The road feel should be better as well.)

The amount of pressure relief that is set in the pump will NOT affect how the car feels as you drive straight down the road. That road feel, is dictated by the valve in the steering gear.