Has anyone switched over to that new aftermarket Rack-and-pinion conversions kits. read an article in Vette sometime ago and was wondering how much more it inproves the handling.

It will not improve the handling as far as the ability of the car to grip or corner. Suspension and tires have to do that. It will change the feel and response of the steering wheel. You may find different ratios are available. It will change the effort and road feel as well. If you can't turn the wheel fast enough to suit you for your driving, the faster ratio will be handy. I can't tell you much more than that. You need to look at each system specifications, and compare to what you already have.
Personally, I don't think it's worth it, but I don't race. It will also be a bit lighter than stock. Again if you are racing, it may help.

Ken Styer

Well electricblue, I have done the conversion
(not the steroids kit),I had to make my own as its right hand drive.I have let a couple of my mates drive it (they have a 79 and an 81) and they say the difference is like chalk and cheese!!a totaly different car to drive. All I can say is, do it!!, you won't regret it. You will have a lot better feel of the road.
I still don't understand the comment about only needing a rack and pinion for racing??
I hope this has helped you.
We are lucky being down under as we don't have a driving season.

There are several people on the Corvetteforum who have done it. Most used the Steeroids kit. I think the only complaint I have read was some problems with bumpsteer induced by mounting location. You might do a search over there.

Thanks for the comments guys Always nice to know someone willing to help

I didn't say you only need it for racing, I said if you were racing it would help. For the kind of driving I will be doing, it would feel much better, but it would not really help. It's different for everyone. I like the stock setup just to keep it a bit original.

Ken Styer

Just remember that the steroids kit is a bolt on system and if by any chance you are not happy with it you can easily go back to the old setup. But believe me once you drive your c3 with rack and pinion you won't go back. By the looks of your car, it seems to sit quite high in the front compared to the back, you may want to level the car out as well. The best advise you could get is ask (steroids) to give you a few people to ring,who have done the setup, so they can give you thier opinion on what they think.
And not someone who has'nt even drivin a c3 without rack and pinion, remember it's your car and you do what you want (modified c3 yeah) it looks good.

Hey ElectricBlue-sweet looking vette you have there. I have done the "Steeroids" conversion on my '77 L-82, and I have one work to say about it...WOW!!!
Other than the price tag, I have nothing to say about the system that isn't positive. It is a true bolt-on system, and the components that they send you are top quality.(for the price, it BETTER be.)
All the bearing ends are race quality stainless ends, in fact, all the metal that isn't aluminum is stainless, save for the brackets, that are powdercoated to high heaven. If one of these brackets ever breaks, I'll run naked through my town square, and I don't think that's going to happen.
The hoses, and the universals look like they belong on an Apache helicopter, that's the quality Speed Direct puts out.
The hardest part of the job is removing the old steering system, installation is a snap.
As for the handling, there is no comparison to the stock steering box. The ratio of the rack system is much tighter, and with a monoleaf spring up front also, my baby will out corner anything in this area. Including those rice-burning wannabees. "I got NOS in my Saturn, wanna go for it??"
The only thing you need to take into account is that, when you throw away your old system, your front end will be about 40 lbs. lighter, this is where I made the decision for the front monoleaf spring. There are several spring rates to choose from.
I am incredibly pleased with my investment for my baby. And I can tell she appreciates it greatly. She rides like a C-4 and will kick the snot out of anything that wants to take a curve with her.
Thanks for checking out my ranting. Just thought I'd put my opinion in.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

The corvetteforum just had a group purchase on Steeroids that ended the first week in December. The lowest price was $945 shipped. There's supposed to be another GP this spring. If you can wait that long its worth it to take advantage of the savings. You just need to keep tabs on their C3 general section.

Gribble -
I'm originally from Hazleton, so I know Wilkes-Barre pretty well. Let me just say this, if one of your brackets break, I hope it's in the summer!!!!!!!