Im thinking of buying the AGR box, with a new coupler, are there any problems with the pitman arm? or any problems at all with this box. I read many guys have AIR BAGS?? what are they, what do they do for you, and how are they installed? inside the coil spring?

Frank

Frank,

I just installed the AGR quick-ratio box in my 66 this past summer... HUGE improvement. Not only is the ratio quicker, but the box is so much tighter than my old one (1978 Trans Am). The road feel is incredible... I even thought my old tilt column was loose, but found out it was all in the old box...

No Problems with the pitman arm, but you do need a Chevelle (A-body) Power Steering Pitman Arm... If your car has Power Steering, you can just use you old arm.

My only complain is that the steering is much stiffer when parking/sitting still... Not bad, but no more "one-finger" steering... It might be my "cheapo" rebuilt pump though... The sterring is actually a little stiffer all-around, but that adds to the feel...

You can order the box with the old-style Inverted Flare hose fittings and the old Chevelle-size rag-joint, OR go with the newer rag-joint ("hybrid"), and/or the newer Metric O-ring hose fittings...

It was a direct bolt-in...

Funny thing is, I purchased the box to utilize the stock Chevelle rag joint, but I had forgot that I changed that years ago to accomodate the 1978 Trans Am box I had installed... Back to the wrecking yard (didn't have time to order one and wait)...

I had previously purchased a used Caprice Police box (9C1 package) and a rebuild kit, but I never got around to rebuilding that box... My existing box was making noises (and binding slightly), so I needed the new box ASAP... Luckily, I got the box from Summit when they had one of their discount codes (actually cheaper than if through AGR directly)...

As for the air-bags, there are two common setups...

Air bags have been used for years to add additional support. These are the bags placed INSIDE the existing springs... On a Chevelle, these are mostly used on the rearend (mainly the right (?) side, to preload the suspension, and help the car launch straight, resisting the chassis twisting.

Lately, Air-suspensions have been used to raise and lower the car as desired... These usually REPLACE the springs altogether. These bags don't supplement the stock springs, but take their place... This allows people to have their car extremely low at shows, etc, but to raise them to higher levels when driving one the road...

I also have an AGR box.

They are kinda stiff at first. Mine loosened up after about 6 months of daily use.

How is the steering radius? the main reason i want an AGR box is that my 87 TA box has the worst turning radius on earth!

Originally posted by cody:
How is the steering radius? the main reason i want an AGR box is that my 87 TA box has the worst turning radius on earth! Easy fix for your T/A box. Remove the internal stops. Do a search; there have been several old posts about this. Basically you need to use the cap from your original steering box (the T/A box has "risers" on the cap which limit forward piston travel) and you'll have to remove the piston and yank 2 snap rings out of the back of the box which limit the rearward travel of the pinion. I had the same problem with poor turning radius (I used a box out of an 87 IROC) until one day I finally got fed up and tore the box apart. I removed the rear stops, installed the cap off my original p/s box, and voila, full steering radius again!

Troy

thanks for the responses, tony, is there a difference in the newer rag joint and the old style chevelle? i would need new hoses with the metric fittings.

Some of the changes that did occur throughout the years of 700 gear production are as follows:
1). The input shaft was reduced in diameter from 13/16 inch OD to ¾ inch OD in 1977.
2). Starting with the 1980 model year, the inlet and outlet ports on the gear were converted from conventional 45 degree flare fittings with 5/8-18 UNF and 11/16-18 UNS female threaded ports to o-ring connections with 16x1.5mm and 18x1.5mm female threaded ports.

All of the above changes were covered in a paper that I wrote that is available at www.corvettefaq.com/A-car.asp (http://www.corvettefaq.com/A-car.asp) download the following paper: A-Car Fast Ratio Steering Gear Instructions

Good luck,

tony, is there a difference in the newer rag joint and the old style chevelle? i would need new hoses with the metric fittings. The differences are as Jim stated, the size of the input shaft changed. As for the new hoses with metric fittings, you won'y NEED them (unless you want them.). While the "factory" quick ratio boxes use the metric O-rings and the newer style input shaft, AGR has boxes designed for the old styles...

Lee manufacturing has brass seats that can be installed in a newer boxes to utize older Inverted Flare hoses connectors. I personally think the Metric O-rings are better, but then you will probably have to get aftermarket hoses which could be expensive...