91 RS LT1 swap...

ok, so when the car had the 305 in it, the steering really -really- sucked. it was ALL over the road. a sports car shouldn't handle like a 70's Cadillac.

I tried adjusting slop out of the box, but it just made the wheel tighter and harder to turn when it was going all over the road. lol.

so i decided to upgrade a little, and i bought the 2.5 turns lock to lock steering box they have to replace the 3.5 that was in it.

I put it on and didn't drive the car for 8 months while doing the motor swap.

now that i am driving the car, the steering needs to be finished, but i'm not sure what it needs.

(aside from struts)

the steering is a lot better, but...

i still have about 6" of play in the steering wheel. The car drives straight when you let go of the wheel, but if the road curves or turns, you obviously have to follow it.

Basically, you can move your hand around 6" before the box engages, and once it does engage, it slingshots you across the road because of the close ratio. particularly annoying on narrow roads with curbs.

so... how do i fix that?

I also have a 99 camaro SS with a G2 package on it, and that freakin thing handles with surgical precision (aside from the slight under steer from the 295's on the back.)

What do i need to get my 91 to drive at least a LITTLE closer, if not considerably closer to the 99?

i'm not talking about performance aftermarket stuff necessarily... i don't want a $8000 front suspension setup...

(however body flex is a serious reality in that car.. omg... i'd like to minimize that too)

 

check the front frame around the steering box to be sure there's no crack in the frame. might want a wonder bar on the front if you don't already have one. check the rag joint in the steering shaft, too. sounds like the most likely problems, to me. anyone else have any thoughts?

 

Check the idler arm, centerlink, ball joints, tie rod ends, and wheel bearings. It would be my bet that one (or all) of them are bad. Also check for cracks behind the steering box as was said above, have them welded and reinforced if there are any, and get a Wonder Bar.