My 69 project

[1969chevmalibu1969]

Just finished up with a ten day drain (Covid), but am feeling better. Back to it. Got some new bump stops to install.

 

[kmakar]

Just finished up with a ten day drain (Covid), but am feeling better. Back to it. Got some new bump stops to install.

No coughing on your screen... we don't want to get sick....

Back to work and stop slacking off!

 

[1969chevmalibu1969]

Thanks for the help got the bump stops in. Old ones in picture. Had to pick up two nuts they didn’t add to the lower stops. Thought it would have had it.

 

[1969chevmalibu1969]

Working on taking off the pitman arm and clean for paint. Gonna keep the steering box. Even if manual.

 

[1969chevmalibu1969]

Working on taking the pitman off to clean and paint. Keeping the Manila. Got a loaner tool from the auto store.

 

[1969chevmalibu1969]

Worked on getting my pitman arm off tonight. It was kinda a pain. Didn’t have a vice to hold it, so it was my knee and the floor. Got the loaner pitman removal tool from the auto store worked good.

 

[bikeron]

You might consider a better steering box...

 

[kmakar]

Worked on getting my pitman arm off tonight. It was kinda a pain. Didn’t have a vice to hold it, so it was my knee and the floor. Got the loaner pitman removal tool from the auto store worked good.

If you plan to keep the original steering box, you'd better consider having it rebuilt. I can almost guaranty with a certainty it will have excessive play.

 

[1969chevmalibu1969]

You might consider a better steering box...

Im goons keep it and reuse. Everything that I have here for the car I wanna keep, clean and try to reuse. I believe this is the original. Not to mention if I do drive it will be a straight line. I drove it back in the day. Although hard to steer I didn’t or don’t mind. Just curious why change? Thanks for the input.

 

[1969chevmalibu1969]

If you plan to keep the original steering box, you'd better consider having it rebuilt. I can almost guaranty with a certainty it will have excessive play.

Any suggestions on a restoration shop? Haven’t researched yet on rebuild. I do want to keep and reuse. Thanks

 

[kmakar]

Any suggestions on a restoration shop? Haven’t researched yet on rebuild. I do want to keep and reuse. Thanks

Not really, but I'm sure there are some here who've had theirs rebuilt.

 

[cage2592]

you can do the Jeep steering gear box mod or have yours rebuilt by Lee Steering in So. Cal or Hector Carillo who is on FB.

The one in our 68 Camaro is an AGR and the 70 Chevelle is a TURN ONE.

 

[Chevelle_Nut]

I did the Jeep mod on a 69 I had, but I used a box out of a 89 Caprice 9C1. Had to get the correct fittings from Lee Steering. It was a fun mod but I didn't really see that much of a handling difference.

I have had good luck with gear boxes not going bad, the seals are the main parts I would be concerned with and of course the rag joint.

 

[bikeron]

I did the Jeep mod on a 69 I had, but I used a box out of a 89 Caprice 9C1. Had to get the correct fittings from Lee Steering. It was a fun mod but I didn't really see that much of a handling difference.

I have had good luck with gear boxes not going bad, the seals are the main parts I would be concerned with and of course the rag joint.

Same here. They don't go "bad", but they do get "loose" where there is a lot of play. I like the AGR boxes that are Jeep based but already modified for our cars. Nothing loose at all and a bit faster in ratio. With big tires though you do need power steering.
If you want to use the same box then all AGR and see if they will do a rebuild.

 

[1969chevmalibu1969]

Same here. They don't go "bad", but they do get "loose" where there is a lot of play. I like the AGR boxes that are Jeep based but already modified for our cars. Nothing loose at all and a bit faster in ratio. With big tires though you do need power steering.
If you want to use the same box then all AGR and see if they will do a rebuild.

I will call around. You guys have given a few options thanks. Got a lot of good advice on this site. I do plan on keeping the original box. For as much as it’s going to get driven by myself I don’t expect anything to be an issue. If someone wants to change it later after me all to their own. When I started my build I planned to reuse everything I could. That’s changed a little as some things were way off. Also wanted it to be the same as it came trim tag wise. I do appreciate all the options and reasons of what you guys would do.

 

[Chevelle_Nut]

Same here. They don't go "bad", but they do get "loose" where there is a lot of play. I like the AGR boxes that are Jeep based but already modified for our cars. Nothing loose at all and a bit faster in ratio. With big tires though you do need power steering.
If you want to use the same box then all AGR and see if they will do a rebuild.

I love a Chevelle, turn a corner using 1 finger.

My Bronze Car has almost 260,000 miles on it, original steering gear and transmission has never been overhauled.

 

[cheveslakr]

I'm thinking you'll love that car even more if you rebuild that box yourself. Did a power box a couple years back, it gave me some hiccups, but came together just fine. Did another in probably a quarter of the time and no hiccups. I think it cost me less than $20 or so. Never opened a manual box before, the power box can, and did, have some excessive wear right in the middle of the bore travel, which can defeat the rebuild and force you to grab another box. The manual should be prone to the same setbacks, but don't let that scrub the plan, a rebuilder will be up against the same issue.

 

[cage2592]

Great point. And those guys I mentioned have always helped out even if you are not buying from them and want to do the work yourself.

 

[JohnC]

I can also vouch for Lee steering. I got some parts from them many years ago and they were nice enough to talk me through a couple of issues. At least in my experience they were great.
Mines got a 87 Monte SS box. Never rebuilt but 20 years less wear than the original. I mainly wanted less turns lock to lock. I didn’t feel mine was worn but if I had to do it again, I’d do what you’re doing and keep it as original as possible.

My greatest mistake was dumping my bench seat in favor of buckets.

 

[Chevelle_Nut]

I can also vouch for Lee steering. I got some parts from them many years ago and they were nice enough to talk me through a couple of issues. At least in my experience they were great.
Mines got a 87 Monte SS box. Never rebuilt but 20 years less wear than the original. I mainly wanted less turns lock to lock. I didn’t feel mine was worn but if I had to do it again, I’d do what you’re doing and keep it as original as possible.

My greatest mistake was dumping my bench seat in favor of buckets.

When I had a 69, granted it was a 4 door, I was never able to get comfortable in the car, the bench seat would not go back far enough, maybe it was the steering wheel position IDK. I had a 72 Monte with buckets and that thing had leg room. Both of my 72s have bench seats and I am good with them, it may have been a 4 door thing.