Steering upgrade?

[48-kb1]

What steering issues on my 65 vert do I need to look for while it's all wide open. Is the a preferred upgrade to do at this time.

[Phil Dally]

I would contact Seth about one of his quick steering boxes.

https://www.perfvair.com/corvair-steering-box/

[Lane66Monza]

Rebuild your steering box to remove the slop in it. Beyond that, what do you want. Safety improvements, quick steer?

Quick steer needs box and arms $$$$. Harder to steer in parking lots with wider tires, unless you are young.

Add collapsible intermediate shaft to replace (I assume) the long steering shaft most 65s had. Some had the 15" shaft. Either way, Seth Emerson may be able to help you out with the modification. You may have to put a 66 column in the car. I replaced the 15" shaft in my 66 with the collapsible shaft from Seth and a 67-69 having a 2" input shaft steering gearbox. Seth Emerson owns Performance Corvairs. Check it out.

Corvair GM Steering Box Rebuild.pdf

(543.97 KiB) Downloaded 10 times

[sethracer]

There are a lot of options. First thing is to ask whether you have an early or late 65. The early has the long shaft, the later ones have the coupler, identical to the 66. There are solutions for either now, using regular or quicker steering boxes and even adding collapsible sections for every year Corvair.
The easiest way to check a 65 (non-tele column) for early/late is to look under the dash where the column goes through the dash. The flange that bolts to the firewall either clamps over the steering column single bolt (early style), or the flange is spot welded to the column jacket, no clamp. That means the late style, like a 66. Different ways to make changes.

[48-kb1]

Thank guys I'll look to make sure but I think it's a long shaft. But I have a 66' parts car if that's what I need to use.
Yep it's a long shaft ! So I should grab the 66' column and set it up with a collapsible section for safety, and if I use fast ratio gear box I need to use fast steering arms ? Is that the desirable set up? Are there things to ck on the 66' column like bearings and such before installation ? Thanks again

[sethracer]

There are a lot of options. First thing is to ask whether you have an early or late 65. The early has the long shaft, the later ones have the coupler, identical to the 66. There are solutions for either now, using regular or quicker steering boxes and even adding collapsible sections for every year Corvair.
The easiest way to check a 65 (non-tele column) for early/late is to look under the dash where the column goes through the dash. The flange that bolts to the firewall either clamps over the steering column single bolt (early style), or the flange is spot welded to the column jacket, no clamp. That means the late style, like a 66. Different ways to make changes.

[Lane66Monza]

Seth: He says he has a long shaft. But has access to a 66 column configuration and will swap it into the 65, Llike I did with your collapsible intermediate shaft andthe 67 -69 steering box.

He needs to know if the fast box and arms is the way to go. My opinion is with narrow front tires, sure. Wide front tires, put on a 67 - 69 steel steering gearbox with the 2" input shaft. I put this config on my 66 More Door and with the P195/60R15 tires, I can turn it well enough at slow speeds. I would not want a fast steer (box and arms) modification with these tires.


I have 2 each disassemble and cleaned up 67-69 steel steering gear boxes for sale, if you decide to go this route. Link to ad below.

viewtopic.php?t=21083

1967-69 Corvair Steering Box 2 inch Shaft -1.jpg (99.34 KiB) Viewed 109 times

[48-kb1]

P.m. Sent to Al. Thank you

[sethracer]

(Apologies. I didn't mean to post the same thing twice.)

Since you have a 66 column, swapping it into a long-shaft 65 car is very easy. And any of the short input boxes will fit. The early aluminum will fit. (They are not recommended, for reasons of lack of strength.) Any 67-69 box will swap in, and the aftermarket boxes, now available in both regular and fast ratio, will also fit. I have supplied a center collapsible section that goes between the 66 column tip and the spline on the box. I started doing this with Flaming River 10 years ago when their quick box came out and now I supply them, along with non "Flaming River" boxes of both ratios. Send me an email (sethracer@aol.com) and I will send you a copy of the installation instructions. You can start with just the fast box, and, if it is not fast enough, add quicker arms later. All it would need is a toe-in adjustment. I like the idea of adding a collapsible section in the steering column, as did GM. The stamped coupler in the stock 66 system helped, but the 67-on Factory Collapsible column was a great idea, even in advance of the Government requirement.