Is there a difference? I read something about a round worm gear vs. a slotted worm gear, but I wonder if this is detectable when the car is assembled.
Mark R. Johnson
Mark R. Johnson
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CI v. Aluminum cover; Round v. Indexed shaft *NM*
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Re: '66 vs '75 Steering Gear Box
Mark------
The King of Cork hit the nail on the head; the only differences between a 1966 and 1975 steering box are the cover and the worm shaft end. The covers are completely interchangeable, though, so you can install a 63-E69 style cast iron cover on a later housing. The wormshafts can be interchanged, too, but it requires getting into the box to do it.
The good news is that the differences in configuration of the wormshaft end cannot be detected once the box is installed in the car. The bad news is that the later style, indexed wormshaft end cannot be used with the 63-66 coupling. So, to use a 1975 gearbox, as-is, in a a 1966 is not possible. It is possible to use the 1970 to 82 gearbox in a 67-69 Corvette, though. All you have to do for these is to use the 70-82 coupling assembly to make the conversion.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: '66 vs '75 Steering Gear Box
Joe,
Here's the story: I ordered a restored gear box for my '66. However, when it arrived it had a '76 cover plate (not '75 as I first stated). Anywho, I assumed I was sent an incorrect gear box.
After reading your post, I pulled the coupler off my '66 and it slipped right on the new box. The spline appears to be identical. It may be that the correct '63-'69 guts were a '76 box.
Is there anything significant about the coupler fit that I should be looking for? If not, then consider me fat, dumb and happy.
MarkComment
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Re: '66 vs '75 Steering Gear Box
Mark-----
What makes you think that you have a steering gearbox specific to a certain year (i.e. either 1975 or 1976)? The 1970-82 Corvette steering gear boxes were all the same. It's very possible that you have a box with the 63-69 wormshaft. If the 1966 coupler you have fits on the wormshaft, then you MUST have the 63-69 style wormshaft; the 66 coupler would not fit on the 70-82 wormshaft. Except for the wormshaft and the cover, all of the internals 63-82 Corvette steering gear boxes are the same.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: '66 vs '75 Steering Gear Box
Especially on exchange basis from a rebuilder....... CraigComment
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7:00 and all is well!
Joe,
Before the good doctor and you 'splained the difference in gear boxes, I was convinced the vendor had sent me the wrong part based on the stamped date and color (black vs. cast). I get stubborn that way... Anyway, the new gear box is bolted to the frame, with the correct cover and coupler attached, and all is well.
Thanks,
MarkComment
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