Steering Box Ratio

[mrr1999]

Hey guys-

I'm finally getting around to putting my 69 Camaro together and I am looking for a better steering box. Aside from deciding who to get it from, I am a little stumped on which ratio to go with. The car has a full Hotchkis TVS suspension and a 454. This will be strictly a street car, so no track time in the foreseeable future.

What is the best ratio to get for a tight, modern feel without over-steer? Thanks!

[Blake Foster]

12.7 :1

[mrr1999]

Thanks, Blake. Is that good for freeway driving, too?

[XcYZ]

I agree with Blake. I had a 12.7:1 box in my car, thought it was great, no complaints.

[Blake Foster]

good for everything.
auto X road race, parking lots

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by mrr1999

Hey guys-

I'm finally getting around to putting my 69 Camaro together and I am looking for a better steering box. Aside from deciding who to get it from, I am a little stumped on which ratio to go with. The car has a full Hotchkis TVS suspension and a 454. This will be strictly a street car, so no track time in the foreseeable future.

What is the best ratio to get for a tight, modern feel without over-steer? Thanks!

AGR recommended a 15:1 rack for the street when building my Nomad and for the '55 Post car.

[Hotchkis]

Choice of steering ratio is more of a preference of the driver and how you’re going to drive your car. Boxes with 12.7:1 ratio are great for a car that’s going to see a lot of autocross time and some road course time. It’s a little much if you’re going to spend lots of time on the street and especially the freeway with a vehicle like the first gen Camaro with more bump steer that will require more steering input with the tighter 12.7:1 ratio. The typical first gen Camaro box (16:1) requires a lot of steering input in order to maneuver the car. A happy medium is a 14:1 steering box. It’s not so low that your car will over-react to steering input on the freeway and you’ll get ample control of the steering when you want to have fun at an autocross. That’s why we offer a performance 14:1 steering box on Hotchkis.net

[Blake Foster]

And now your totally confused!!

i say flip a coin. best 2 out of 3 wins.

[mrr1999]

Haha. So....if I build myself a 13.35 ratio everybody should be happy.

I'm starting to get it now.

[JKnight]

I do find that my 12.7:1 is a bit quick for my preferences. But the Lee steering feel is really good overall, so not worth changing. I've been thinking of going to a bit bigger steering wheel to offset some of the sensitivity.