[Fisherguy]

My 69 SS was restored back to stock by the previous owner, right down to the manual steering the car came with which is great but it's really a pain drive without PS.

I've att'd a pic of the manual box, what would I look for if I wanted and original looking PS box, pump etc? I see a lotta sites sell quick ratio boxes by CPP and others but I want one that looks like it came on a stock 69 SS. One thing I've noticed is a lotta boxes are setup for 4 attaching bolts, mine only has 3.
Do the ones you buy come black? Then I'd need to strip the paint and spray a "cast iron" paint?
I want the car to look stock, getting new tires for the 14" magnums and I'm thinking next winter I'll swap in that new Tremec 5 spd.
Thx
Will

 

[69SS454]

You can buy all of it at your auto parts store. I got most of mine from RockAuto. The '69 pump and brackets are a one year only and the brackets are really a bad design. I would suggest buying a different year. I doubt you will be able to find a pump with the correct oval reservoir but they are available separately. They all come with the later year's flat 'ham can' reservoir now. The '69 pump has the return line facing a certain way to clear the bracket. I fought my way thru the '69 pump and brackets but I won't do it again. I had to cut it all up and weld it to get it all to work. I think all of the boxes come with 4 mounting holes. You will just use 3 of them and let the other hang empty. You will need a different rag joint, pitman arm, steering box, pump, pressure hose, return hose, pulley, belt, and pump brackets.

 

[Fisherguy]

You can buy all of it at your auto parts store. I got most of mine from RockAuto. The '69 pump and brackets are a one year only and the brackets are really a bad design. I would suggest buying a different year. I doubt you will be able to find a pump with the correct oval reservoir but they are available separately. They all come with the later year's flat 'ham can' reservoir now. The '69 pump has the return line facing a certain way to clear the bracket. I fought my way thru the '69 pump and brackets but I won't do it again. I had to cut it all up and weld it to get it all to work. I think all of the boxes come with 4 mounting holes. You will just use 3 of them and let the other hang empty. You will need a different rag joint, pitman arm, steering box, pump, pressure hose, return hose, pulley, belt, and pump brackets.

How do I know the one they sell me is the real deal it came with? Will it be black ya think?
If you were me you'd the pump, brackets, hoses etc for a 70 then?

 

[weidhopper]

If you are going to add power steering you might want to think about going to a quick ratio steering box. I added power steering to my 69 and used the 69 brackets would not use them again I would recommend the brackets for the 70/72 big block you will have an easier time getting a power steering pump to fit. I had to relocate the return line to the bottom of the reservoir to clear the bracket. 69 is a one year only power steering pump mounting system. I used a 1990 Caprice police box,69 Chevelle power steering pitman arm,a metric adapter fitting for the high pressure side and was able to use the original factory rag joint.

 

[Fisherguy]

If you are going to add power steering you might want to think about going to a quick ratio steering box. I added power steering to my 69 and used the 69 brackets would not use them again I would recommend the brackets for the 70/72 big block you will have an easier time getting a power steering pump to fit. I had to relocate the return line to the bottom of the reservoir to clear the bracket. 69 is a one year only power steering pump mounting system. I used a 1990 Caprice police box,69 Chevelle power steering pitman arm,a metric adapter fitting for the high pressure side and was able to use the original factory rag joint.

What box did you put in exactly, does it look stock?
Will definitely look for 70 parts, sounds like someone had a brain fart with the PS on 69's.

 

[69SS454]

What box did you put in exactly, does it look stock?
Will definitely look for 70 parts, sounds like someone had a brain fart with the PS on 69's.

I am pretty sure all of the boxes are the same from the outside, just some different turn ratios. Not sure what color it should be from factory.

 

[weidhopper]

I don't know the number of the box I used. I did a search for 1990 Caprice police steering box. It has a 12.7 to 1 ratio and the same turning radius as a Chevelle. Found one on BUYAUTOPARTS $224.95 free shipping that's about what I paid for mine

 

[Fisherguy]

Not sure what I'm gonna do, havee heard a lotta stories about 69 PS brackets being the sh!ts, about PS pumps with the plumbing facing the wrong way and seems to be tough finding "stock 69 Saginaw" in any PS box box for sale.

 

[69SS454]

Not sure what I'm gonna do, havee heard a lotta stories about 69 PS brackets being the sh!ts, about PS pumps with the plumbing facing the wrong way and seems to be tough finding "stock 69 Saginaw" in any PS box box for sale.

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[weidhopper]

I would use the 70/72 brackets makes fitting a power steering reservoir easy. The box at BUYAUTOPARTS uses a 68/86 casting 2.75 turns lock to lock. Part # 82-00305QR. Should look like the factory box

 

[1966_L78]

Don’t worry about the ratio as much as the input force required to initiate assist.

the biggest improvement with the Caprice or Jerp Grand Cherokee is the firm feel provided by the larger torsion bars. Unless you are auto-crossing or into speed parking, the ratio isn’t a huge deal.

IMO.

note that later boxes (1978 and later?) used a different hose fittings , so you’ll either need adapter Seats, or hoses off a newer vehicle ( I recall early 80s Camaro?).

there are places like Lee and Carhex that rill rebuild your core ( if you can fine one), and even convert the ratio. Companies like AGR sell one that has all the newer quick ratio/firm feel internals and the old style box... they sell a black resti box, but it’s pretty easy to paint the box with “cast iron “ paint, especially when it’s clean

 

[1966_L78]

Don’t worry about the ratio as much as the input force required to initiate assist.

the biggest improvement with the Caprice or Jerp Grand Cherokee is the firm feel provided by the larger torsion bars. Unless you are auto-crossing or into speed parking, the ratio isn’t a huge deal.

IMO.

note that later boxes (1978 and later?) used a different hose fittings , so you’ll either need adapter Seats, or hoses off a newer vehicle ( I recall early 80s Camaro?).

there are places like Lee and Carhex that rill rebuild your core ( if you can fine one), and even convert the ratio. Companies like AGR sell one that has all the newer quick ratio/firm feel internals and the old style box... they sell a black resti box, but it’s pretty easy to paint the box with “cast iron “ paint, especially when it’s clean

be careful buying a box based on “ turns lock-to-lock “, as that’s typically because they have shorter throws ( too short for Chevelles), based on internal stops in the box.

even with a quick ratio box like the Jeep or Caprice ( same throw as the Chevelle), they are still 3.1 turns lock to lock...

 

[Fisherguy]

82-00305QR

Everyone of those parts places sell steering parts but the one you mentioned is the FIRST one I've seen the mentions "Original Saginaw" in the description.

link

I'll be lucky to drive the car much more than 1000 miles a year, anything will be better than the crappy manual steering it has now but I want it to look original like the rest of the engine compartment.
Thx
Will

 

[weidhopper]

I don't think you're going to know the difference. Don't over think it

 

[69SS454]

I don't think you're going to know the difference. Don't over think it

Agreed. The stock box is just fine. I'm not sure why everyone thinks it needs to be better. I like the 1 finger steering.