I was getting sick of my slow overpowered steering so I decided to swap in a 84 trans am steering box. While doing this I discovered that the rag joint shaft is smaller for the 77 up boxes and the joint is riveted onto the intermediate shaft instead of bolted like the earlier units. I was able to use a 77-78 Impala unit which has the "energy adsorbing" feature. I had to cut a groove on the steering collum end since there was a "key" notch in the 77 A body and 77-78 B body shafts not in the 73-76 cars. Also the hose fittings have different seal types not the compression flare like the older units. The stock 77 hose threaded in but I had to really jam it in to get a good seal. I have a 77 engine which has a new pump style compared to 76 to 60 ish
As luck would have it, the steering was much faster and much better feel, but I picked up a few feet in turning radius and the imput shaft seal has blown out now.

About 6 months after I went through all this Car craft had a article about this swap. They recomended using a G body unit like used in Monte SS or Grand Nationals since they would have the proper turning radius. There was a company which sells a special rag joint to mate the new box to the old intermediate shaft (that would have saved some greif for me). They also had fitting adapters for the hoses. The question is I don't remember what the name of that company was. I just scored a 86 Monte SS box for $40 which seems to be clean and not leaking. I don't want to repeat my solution for the high pressure fitting again. Did they change the steering box fittings from 77 to 86? I was thinking about ordering a 86 MonteSS hose. I have a stock 84 TA return line nipple which the regular hose gets clamped on. The 77 box has a welded tube with a nipple while the 86 had a threaded line.

Wow I really rambled on there. Has anyone been crazy enough to try this?? Did I spend too much time on the throne dreaming up ways to screw up my car. BTW the blown seal was beacuse the return line got kinked due to the odd hose geometry I created with my adaptations.


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http://azonline.com/~jimmy/gearpg1.htm

Thats all you'll need!

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Rick Schaefer
72 El Camino
TPI 350/700r4
Aces #00140
TEAM CHEVELLE #00038
NCOA #16197

Another solution that I have done:
I used the guts of an '86 Trans Am and swaped them into my original housing. Still needed the new special rag-joint, but the fittings are original. This keeps the stock turning radius as well as the stops are incorporated into the housing. The site Rick suggested has more details and is where i got my rag joint.
I can't quite say how it turned out 'cause I have only been up and down my driveway once with a turn-around since (still restoring).

Thanks Rick for the link to my steering gear swap page. Glad someone is using it.

To answer the original question, Lee Manufacturing is the company to call (818-768-0371). Tom Lee and his wife really know steering gears. They will have the steering coupler you need and the integral pressure port seats used in the older boxes. Or you can just remove the seats from your old box and put them in the new box. As far as turning radius, if you use your original end cap, you will maintain the correct stops. But the best solution is Mark's solution. It is also the focus of my page. Put all the guts of the new box into your old housing. No more metric problems, no hose problems, but still need that new steering coupler.
BTW, GM changed to metric threads in 1980.

Good Luck,


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Jim Endrud - Gold #45
72 El Camino SS Clone
azonline.com/~jimmy (http://azonline.com/~jimmy)

Thanks for the Info!!
I already solved the rag joint problem, but I wish I knew about the retrofit ones.

I will probably get the fitting adapters for the new 86 Monte box from lee Mfg I got and see how the turning radius goes, It is supposed to be closer. Even with the trans Am unit the car drives fine, the problem is only noticable on certian u turns I used to clear fine were tight afterwards

I will keep the TA box after I pull it out and try swapping the gears into the original box I pulled out. I am assuming you need to use the late model imput shaft seals, but I will figure that out later

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