I know this has been covered many times and I spent a couple hours searching and reading through other threads but I could not find a definite answer to this. should an 82 Z28 have come with the quick ratio steering box? i cleaned the front cover off it and there is no ink marking on it, it is the original box from the 82Z and I figured it is likely the quick ratio box but am not 100% sure.. is there a particular RPO code that specifies the 12.7:1 box? Thanks, i searched forever and could not find for sure if the 82 Z28 should have came with this. I know I could just drive it, but its a parts car and has no drivetrain, anyone know for sure?

 

I would think so... Parts guy at the local store gave me the wrong ratio box once, nearly crashed the dang car 'cause the steering was so slow Got the right one and it was back to normal.

 

autozone has the 2.5 ratio rebuilt. I made the mistake of replacing mine a while back with a standard one, I just put the 2.5 rebuilt one in. I haven't driven it except in the neighbor hood yet as I need an alignment but am looking forward to the new ratio.

 

You could always count it out and compare it to the count from one in a plain Camaro.

 

I got 2.5 turns lock to lock on the Z28 box, compared to 2.75 turns on a box pulled from an 83 Sport coupe. Z28 had the alloys, sport coupe had steel rally wheels. don't know if that makes a difference.

 

LOOK for the rased letters on the top of the box theres even part numbers

 

Here's some general information (I'd like to give credit, but I don't recall where I found the info):

• “WS” – 1982-1992 Camaro – 12.7:1 ratio (just like your Z/28, this may be the box that you Z originally had).

• “XH” – 1985-1992 Camaro – 12.7:1 ratio (this box was also installed on Z/28’s and other high performance Camaros; it has slightly more steering effort required than the WS box.) NOTE – I believe this box was used on cars originally equipped with 16” wheels.

• “WN” – 1982-1985 Camaro – 14.1 ratio.

• “WP” – 1982-1985 Camaro – 13:1-15:1 variable ratio (used in Berlinettas, least steering effort required of all third gen. Camaro steering boxes).

• “JL” – 1986-1992 Camaro – 14.1 ratio (base Camaro steering box).

 

Sometimes a fellow doesn't have to search. The answers just appear in a thread!
Thanks James.

 

Yes, there are raised casting numbers on top of the box. however they mean nothing about the ratio. the same box casting was used in Camaro boxes, and your grandma's Buick.

 

Thanks for the info, but I'm already aware of this. As I stated in my first post the ink marking on the front cover is long gone. I was just trying to figure out if the fact that is is a Z28 makes it a quick ratio box, or did they put the standard boxes in some Z28s as well?

 

Oh beleive me. I've searched through every steering box thread I could find and I never found anything saying that if it is from a Z28 then it is for surely a 12.7:1 box. Did any Z28's ever get the 14:1 box? or were all Z's a quick ratio? Like I say, all the ink marks are gone and it has a lock to lock of approx 2.25- 2.5 which makes me beleive its a quick ratio, however I've found some info in other threads that state the lock to lock has to do with the wheel size, and not the ratio.