FINALLY, I got a copy of the service letter for steering box lube!

[Tom P.]

Lou Vernarelli, of Oakhurst NJ sent me a copy of a GM service bulletin that I've been wanting for a LONG TIME!
It's the service bulletin that says to use chassis grease instead of oil in the early steering gear boxes. This of course would also be applicable to 49-54 pass cars (same box/gear design).
Here is a copy for anyone who wishes to download, print and add it to their library.
Also, this is a picture of Lou's 57 drag car.

[Clem Z.]

Re: FINALLY, I got a copy of the service letter for steering box lube!

Lou Vernarelli, of Oakhurst NJ sent me a copy of a GM service bulletin that I've been wanting for a LONG TIME!
It's the service bulletin that says to use chassis grease instead of oil in the early steering gear boxes. This of course would also be applicable to 49-54 pass cars (same box/gear design).
Here is a copy for anyone who wishes to download, print and add it to their library.
Also, this is a picture of Lou's 57 drag car.

if you tried to road race a corvette back then you had better had chassis grease in the box or the driver would be a greasy mess as the oil came up the steering column into your lap

[Mike M.]

Re: FINALLY, I got a copy of the service letter for steering box lube!

if you tried to road race a corvette back then you had better had chassis grease in the box or the driver would be a greasy mess as the oil came up the steering column into your lap

no need for KY jelly clem.mike

[Dale S.]

Re: FINALLY, I got a copy of the service letter for steering box lube!

What track was the picture taken at? Dale

[Greg M.]

Re: FINALLY, I got a copy of the service letter for steering box lube!

Looks like Englishtown!

[Dale S.]

Re: FINALLY, I got a copy of the service letter for steering box lube!

thank you, Dale

[Joe L.]

Re: FINALLY, I got a copy of the service letter for steering box lube!

Lou Vernarelli, of Oakhurst NJ sent me a copy of a GM service bulletin that I've been wanting for a LONG TIME!
It's the service bulletin that says to use chassis grease instead of oil in the early steering gear boxes. This of course would also be applicable to 49-54 pass cars (same box/gear design).
Here is a copy for anyone who wishes to download, print and add it to their library.
Also, this is a picture of Lou's 57 drag car.

Tom-----


I believe the steering gear lube used in the earlier C1's was GM #1052182. This is about a 70 to 90 weight lubricant. It was once widely used in GM manual steering boxes across most GM car lines and for many years, well into the 70's and, maybe, later.

All 1963-82 Corvettes as well as, possibly, later C1's, used lubricant GM #1052084. This is approximately a 140 wt lubricant. It is no longer available but is replaced by GM #12377985. The latter is the one to use for ALL 1953-82 Corvettes.

[Mike M.]

Re: FINALLY, I got a copy of the service letter for steering box lube!

140 wt gear oil, as used in the trannys and rears of 30's chevys etc, and which at the time was referred to a 600 wt gear oil, is readily available from the antique resto shops such as the Filling Station. they are online and their parts are excelent. mike

[Clem Z.]

Re: FINALLY, I got a copy of the service letter for steering box lube!

Tom-----


I believe the steering gear lube used in the earlier C1's was GM #1052182. This is about a 70 to 90 weight lubricant. It was once widely used in GM manual steering boxes across most GM car lines and for many years, well into the 70's and, maybe, later.

All 1963-82 Corvettes as well as, possibly, later C1's, used lubricant GM #1052084. This is approximately a 140 wt lubricant. It is no longer available but is replaced by GM #12377985. The latter is the one to use for ALL 1953-82 Corvettes.

the problem with corvettes is that the steering box is very close to the hot exhaust manifold which heats up and thins out the oil and there is not much downward slope to the steering column to prevent the hot oil from running up the column

[Joe L.]

Re: FINALLY, I got a copy of the service letter for steering box lube!

the problem with corvettes is that the steering box is very close to the hot exhaust manifold which heats up and thins out the oil and there is not much downward slope to the steering column to prevent the hot oil from running up the column

clem-----


Yup, this can be a problem on any C1 Corvette. However, for a C2 or C3, if one finds that the steering gear lube runs up the column, it means that some joker has gotten in there and installed a C1 column. I've been told that Dr. Rebuild has done this a few times on cars used by "Brand X" for research purposes.

[Clem Z.]

Re: FINALLY, I got a copy of the service letter for steering box lube!

clem-----


Yup, this can be a problem on any C1 Corvette. However, for a C2 or C3, if one finds that the steering gear lube runs up the column, it means that some joker has gotten in there and installed a C1 column. I've been told that Dr. Rebuild has done this a few times on cars used by "Brand X" for research purposes.

the mid jers will just leak out the pitman arm shaft seal

[Joe L.]

Re: FINALLY, I got a copy of the service letter for steering box lube!

the mid jers will just leak out the pitman arm shaft seal

clem------


...and find its way down to the p/s control valve (on cars so-equipped) making the owner think it's his control valve that's leaking.

[Duke W.]

Re: FINALLY, I got a copy of the service letter for steering box lube!

Tom-----

All 1963-82 Corvettes as well as, possibly, later C1's, used lubricant GM #1052084. This is approximately a 140 wt lubricant. It is no longer available but is replaced by GM #12377985. The latter is the one to use for ALL 1953-82 Corvettes.

...having used the ...084 product for my steer gear rebuild, I can say that it is more aptly described as a "grease" rather than oil, and it is described in the Standard Parts Catalog as "Steering Gear Grease Lubricant, Hvy. Duty Corvette)". IIRC it was packaged in a soft plastic 14.5 oz. squeeze tube and somewhere I read, possibly the Chrevolet Power Manual, to inject the entire contents into the steering gear, which I did.

Duke

[Stephen R.]

Re: FINALLY, I got a copy of the service letter for steering box lube!

I just took a 59 steering box apart. I know that Chevy recommended going from the high weight oil to a grease. But for the life of me, I don't see how a "grease" could work its way into those sector shaft needle bearings and keep them lubed. Of course you would lube them upon install, but it seems to me, that the grease would have to maybe "melt" in order to flow into those bearings. Just an observation.

[Gary B.]

Re: FINALLY, I got a copy of the service letter for steering box lube!

It was recommended to me in the early `90s by some one in the Mid-Atlantic Chapter to use cpv grease. It has worked great.