Quick ratio box swap lesson

[malibu80]

I thought it was going to be straight forward swap. Turned out to be a nightmare. Swapped out my regular box in my 83 Malibu for a quick ratio box. I bought a remanufactured Monte Carlo SS box from the parts store. Go to put the box in and I find out the pitman arm from my 83 is too small for the new box. Well not a problem. I'll just get a new pitman arm. After some phone calls, nobody makes a aftermarket pitman arm and GM discontinued the part 3 years ago 😢 . What to do! My only option is to find a box out of the wreckers. A few days earlier while surfing Craigslist I remember seeing a Monte Carlo SS in the parts section. I called and I ended up buying the whole box just to get the pitman arm. The story doesn't end there. I welded in a piece to tie the 2 frame braces together earlier and I find out that the tubing now hits the new steering box (new box larger than the old). Luckily, I have an extra set of braces laying around. Time to refab it all over again.
One part of the swap that did go according to plan was modifying the pump internals 🙂 .

 

[Oldsmoletick]

Modifying pump internals???

 

[patmckinneyracing]

How did you modify the pump internals?

I may have been the one who suggested this swap (can't remember as I've mentioned it alot to a couple people) and I may have neglected to mention the pitman arm. I forgot that the malibu pitman arm, after I mic checked it, is one hundredths smaller than the monte carlo pitman arm. As for all the all the other trouble your have, I had no trouble at all putting mine in my 80 malibu and I have all the same bracing you have, the two braces that reach from the center k frame out the the frame rails and the gran prix brace. Mine is a remanufacture as well and it was simply a bolt on deal, minus the pitman arm. I just went out to the local yard and pulled a pitman arm as g bodies are plentiful down here.

 

[JBreu]

Pat,
What is the real benefit with this whole swap anyways? I read about using jeep shafts and other things....I dunno, maybe it's just me..But I really don't see anything wrong with the stock steering I have in my '84 Monte???? Just curious is all!!

 

[beermonkey9417]

the quick ratio steering box is better to some because its less turns lock to lock. that is helpful for racing and lazy ppl lol. i, on the other hand, have a stock box with no power steering and it is quite a work out at slow speeds to turn. hope this helps.

 

[JBreu]

Beermonkey,
Thanks for the input...I run mine down the 1320 now and then, with power steering, and on the streets, I enjoy what I have..... 🙂

 

[patmckinneyracing]

The benefit, as mentioned, is that instead of the stock box which is 3.5 turns lock to lock, the quick ratio box found in monte ss's is only 2.5 turns lock to lock. I did this swap because my stock O-ring box leaked like a siv and buying a remanufactured quick ratio box from autozone seemed like a better deal than rebuilding what I had. At the same time, this box gives what feels like a "rack and pinion" setup. It is very firm but gives the benefits of power steering. My box had a lot of slop so I can't give an accurate opinion of the stock box. I built my car to handle better than a g body ever did so with one less turn from lock to lock, the steering is very responsive compared to that of modern cars.

 

[Longroof79]

FYI, if you had the 605 steering box with the round cover on top, the pitman arm from that box will not fit the 800 series box with the 4 bolt cover on top.
As for re-valving the power steering pump, this modification helps with steering assist when converting to a quick ratio box.
However, it would decrease, or minimize the extra effort turning the wheel.
I've gotten used to the extra steering effort.
I personally like the quick ratio box and recommend it to people who enjoy better handling, more responsive steering, and road feel.

 

[79loserbluebu]

What cars are everyone getting for the swap? I bought a quick ratio box from a 83' HO from a member on here off of CL, and left the stock pitman from the Olds and it bolted right in. Only thing I needed to change was the lines but that was a snap since I'm using a serpentine setup and both the box and pump used metric threads. Used a P/S high pressure line from an 83' or 84' Monte SS.

 

[patmckinneyracing]

My knowledge of the quick steer ratio box is from monte carlo ss's and thats what I said to the guys at autozone and they found it on the spot. Gave them my stock core piece that had the circle on top and paid 120 for the new box.

I already mentioned the pitman arm not being the same cause the pitman from the 605 series is .010 smaller where the splines of the box go in.

It really isn't that much extra effort, but the thing handled and felt like a dream after that swap.