I am interested in updating my steering gear. The jeep box looks like a good idea for cheap. but I think after a rag joint, hose adapters, and the possibility of getting a less than great box outta the junkyard this could be a reasonable alternative

I looked on rockauto and saw they offered a lares pn#974 quick ratio box w rag joint for $200 as a replacemnt for my 72 supreme, this may be a decent alternative to the jeep box as its listed for my car so I assume the hoses will bolt right in (no adapters) and it comes w the rag joint.

has anyone tried the lares 974 and have any opinions on it ??

 

If it's a stock spec. box, it will probably be variable ratio, with the tight ratio at the edges and the sloppy ratio in the middle, or else it's a floppies ratio overall (my recollection is about 15 or 16:1 stock, with the Jeep box about 12.5 or 13:1). The jeep box is also less boosted, with better road feel. The stock box will bolt right in - no adapters.

Your choice, either way.

- Eric

 

Grrrrrr.

Curse you autocorrect.

Curse you mobile version that you can't edit.

I meant sloppy, not floppies

 

Thanks eric

I looked around some for lares 974 I found one forum that had a discussion Ill list below and I sent and EM to lares.

FYI lares is located in cambridge MN and the units are made/remaned in the USA

my reply from lares was " The part # 974 is a direct bolt in for your car it will work the original hoses & pitman arm . It is 2.5 turns lock to lock "


the forum discussion I found is below

Well i called lares today and the guy told me the 972 is the 4 bolt design wich is more acurate for restorations, and the 974 is a 3 bolt design that is more genaric, he said either will work, you just dont use the 4th bolt hole with the 974.

Since im going pro-touring originality isnt an issue. So im probably gonna order the 974 and replace the original coupler. Im also still wondering if I need to use the longer pitman arm with this setup as well.

If anyone has any experience with either of these gear boxes please let us know.

Ok I just went out in the garage and noticed my steering box has 4 bolt holes and is only using 3 of them so I called Lares back.

This is what is going on, the 974 is a newer 3 bolt casing that they converted to fit early cars(like ours). They changed it to accept the flared fittings, the only other diffrence is the gear the coupler fits on is a little smaller, thats why you get a new coupler with it, so it all matches up. And I also asked about the longer pitman arm, and they suggested not to use it, that it would make it to quik.

This seams like the easiest way to go. One manufacturer 2 lines, 3 bolts, swap, and your done.
Id still like to hear from anyone who is using one of these steering gears and get some feedback"





So the lares box is listed as quick ratio 10:1 and its 2.5 turns lock to lock. does anyone know what the jeep CG is lock to lock

 

Just make sure that the new box does not have internal stops in it that will limit travel. If you have a good rapport going with the reman folks, then ask them.

GM A-bodies & the JGC boxes have no internal stops, they get the full sweep of the steering.

Many other cars require less steering travel, and have stops built into the box. (camaros, 80's monte carlos & Grand nationals). These boxes also are quick ratio, and bolt right in- but their travel is limited and you'll be doing 4 & 5 point turns.

 

Okay, I just looked this up in the Lares catalogue.

Their offerings in this range are as follows:
• 970 — OEM w Casting #6 or 76
• 971 — Race car
• 972 — 10:1 Fast Ratio
• 973 — Budget (3 Bolt Mount - includes new coupler)
974 — 10:1 Fast Ratio; Budget (3 Bolt Mount - includes new coupler)

All of these ate the proper dimensions and connections to fit in darn near any GM car from '64 to '76, as well as a bunch of other brands. (In '77 they changed the fittings, I believe, though it could have been the input shaft diameter).

The jeep GC box is about 2 3/4 to 3 turns lock to lock, if I recall, with about a 12 or 12.5:1 ratio, so that Lares box sounds tighter.

Questions I would ask them include what torsion bar they use - heavier brings on the boost sooner for a lighter touch and less road feel. The Buick Grand Nationals, etc. Had a very light one (0.195, if I recall), and what size is the piston. I believe the three bolt models had the smaller piston, which was originally used in midsize and smaller, but the bigger piston was used on full size and pickup trucks. I have a small piston jeep unit in my Delta now and it's working fine.

The Lares unit sounds like a good idea, especially if it has the lighter torsion bar.
The difference between the two units sounds like it's the outside casting, which is unimportant, but could also be the piston size.

Sorry if this post is disjointed - typing on cell phone.

- Eric

 

good input thanks ben

I dont have a good rapport w the reman guys I just sent them an EM, but we havent resorted to calling each other profanities yet either so thats good i guess

anyways i just sent them another EM and lares responded that the 974 does have internal stops, does that automatically disqualify them or is it possible that it would still work as well as the original box just quicker

 

It's a question of where the stops are. If these boxes are spec'd for your application, they should be fine.
Check the catalogue - you'll probably see those later Camaro, etc. boxes, which are otherwise pretty much identical, have different numbers, and one reason is probably the stops (as well as the fittings).

- Eric

 

another option...

call these guys, and just get a 12.7:1 box configured for your car.

http://www.redheadsteeringgears.com/

They are local to me. I just had the one in my friends 66 442 rebuilt w/ 12.7:1 internals. Was $289, no core, and we opted for the stock grey/aluminum paint. The box is awesome. They were done the next day.

My neighbor just got a 15:1 upgraded box for his 67 chevy truck. I've driven it and its amazing the difference. (stock in those year trucks was like 20:1 or something rediculous)
His was $240 w/ core swap (they had this one on the shelf ready to go)

The JGC box i put in my car last year has never been right (i think its not really a JGC box) and decided I'm going to have them do the same upgrade to my original box that my friend had done.

No second guessing anything if you do it this way. All your factory stuff will bolt right back up.

 

Eric / Ben thanks for your inputs

garys68 confirms the jeep box is 2 3/4 turns lock to lock

ben i saw your other post reccomnding the redhead boxes. it lookslike a good option but its ~33% (gear plus coupler) more ! for me I need to spend my cutlass money carefully

Im not sold on anything yet

Eric Ill do as you mentioned and see what #s the catalog shows for later camaros and post back here

 

I was on a budget.
Jeep box with 90 warantee $50. Btw, steering boxes are pretty reliable and long lasting.
Coupler $50.
Hose $10. Mine was 85 monte carlo since I had an O ring metric pump too. But you can cut off your pump end inverted flair and double flair the pump side of the metric hose.

 

I got a Lares coupler from Advance Auto for about $20.

... And you can only reflare the end if you've got a decent straight run of tubing into the steering box - if it comes out, then bends 90° right away, there's no room to grip it with the flaring block (and if the run is straight for too long, the line will be poking out and in the way of something.

- Eric

 

Hope this helps:

http://www.chevelles.com/techref/ftecref29.html

 

yeah it does thanks

and as the above link mostly states many GM cars 83ish to 98 ish all show the same box as the jeep GC (in the lares catalog) lares # 1353

that includes 82-05 s10 and s15 variants and the 83-88 cutlass (not 442 etc)

the camaro 84-92 shows the same lares replacement box (# 1353)but not for the sport suspension.

MX442s link cleared up many of the metric, std, hose, pump, gear, coupler questions/doubts I had too thanks