how much play should be coming from the gear box I have about 1/2 to a inch play.  My father had been driving the car with out power steering. He actually took the power steering a loose. S he had been strong arm in it for a while. could the gears be messed up in it?. will it be hard to change. buy a Used or new?

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There should be virtually no play in a healthy box.  They are adjustable if they aren't worn too much.  Adjust it a little, and drive it.  Keep doing that until it binds a little bit, and back it off until it doesn't bind.  Then decide if you can live with that amount of play.

If yours can't be adjusted enough, the easiest solution is to exchange it for a rebuilt or a new one.  We have one NOS brand new unit left in stock.

I wonder why disconnecting the power steering helped.  Possibly the valve needs adjusting, too.

Larry

how much is the unit?

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I want a new one. when my dad had the car he took it aloose so he could have more power because he thought the car would have more power be cause it had no power steering to run. I think he might have worn out the gears try to turn it in drive ways and around corners. That was to much work for me so I put it back together. I know the asist cylinder is leaking and I think the control valve. I guess thats why it feels like im driving in ice. 

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If all those components are bad and worn, If you are not woried about stock consider the rack and pinion Steeroids, you will not be disapointed. It will replace all the Box, control valve and acuator.

yea rraider1 I would love that but my pocket book will not allow it. I read on one forurm that some one was blueprinting the gear box and said it would make a big difference.

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ok im stuck in a ruttttttttttttttttt. The asist cylinder was easy to take off now im having trouble with the control valve. I unscrewed the bolt that holds the steering rod in the control valve. took the bolt off where it connects to the gearbox lever. I did not unbolt from gearbox large bolt. It still wont move. I can not get the tie rod off where it bolts into the steering rod. I used a pickle fork, I just tore up the boot. Still wont come out there either

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We get $495.00 for the brand new one, and $250 exchange for rebuilt.  As far as your disassembly problems, it sounds like you are doing the right things, and the car is just being stubborn.  When you take out the cross bolt, the valve should unscrew, although they can be tight.  And the pickle fork is the best way to get the tie rod off.  Make sure you have the right size and taper, and give it a good whack!

Larry

say larry to get the gearbox out do you have to drop the steering wheel? I know it has two bolts on the side and then at the control valve

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There are three bolts through the frame that hold the box on.  It then connects to the tie rods through the Pitman arm, which you transfer to the new box.  The steering column connects through the "rag joint", which is splined and clamped onto the gear box.

[QUOTE=frstvette]say larry to get the gearbox out do you have to drop the steering wheel? I know it has two bolts on the side and then at the control valve[/QUOTE]  

Frank, you didn't say if you have an auto trans or manual. On my '81 w/ 4 spd. I had to lift the steering box out by the alternator, otherwise you'd have to remove the clutch linkage to drop it out the bottom. May not be an issue with an auto trans.

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Jimmy B.
Just can't wait to get on the road again.

 
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I have manual trans so do I slide the steering wheel back then pull it out? 

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There's a bolt going sideways through the upper rag joint collar, once that's loose, if you spray some penetrating oil on the shaft right there and help spread the collar open a little, the steering box should pull off the steering column without pulling the column back up inside the dash. The rag joint will stay with the steering box.

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Jimmy B.
Just can't wait to get on the road again.

 
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That works.  I leave the rag joint on the column, and, once the box is unbolted from the frame, slide it down and off.  If you buy a rebuilt or have yours rebuilt, you need to take the rag joint off the box anyway.  And it is pretty easy to take apart the little bit of clutch linkage in the way if that seems easier than getting it out the top.

Larry

is the gear box the same for  power steering and non power steering? Seems like the gear ratio should be different.

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I'm with you Frank. Mine felt like close ratio compared to my wifes w/ auto tranny. But I'm sorry I don't know for certain.

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Jimmy B.
Just can't wait to get on the road again.

 
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I was talking about power steering and non power steering. dont they make non power steering gear boxes?

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I don't know that for sure, but it would make sense to me that it would be an option. Sorry.

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Jimmy B.
Just can't wait to get on the road again.

 
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All steering gear boxes from '63 to '82 had the same ratio, power or non.  There was one change in 1968 (?), in the input spline, but otherwise it is the exact same part, power or manual.

Larry

should not take long to wear out a gearbox because I could barely turn the steering wheel to get in the drive way or going slow around sharp turns

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ok I have every thing loose. Ran into one problem. I have headers and gear box will not come out. How hard is it to talke that lever on the bottom of the gear box off? What size bolt is that? My only choice is to take off lever or headers. lol I sure hope I can put all this stuff back together. I know one thing if not for you all guys here I would have been stuck long time a go. I sure thank all of you on this forum

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The pitman arm takes a stout puller to get it off, You can usually rent/borrow one from your local auto parts place.
The nut is 1 5/16", I think...it's been a while since I've pulled one off.
Good Luck with it, and be careful...that thing is fairly heavy!


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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
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