CLE_berlinetta

We have a pretty stock '83 Berlinetta with a lot of slop in the steering... We've pinpointed it to the box as the shaft out from the firewall appears to turn 1:1 with the wheel.

We replaced the box with a rebuilt OEM Saginaw from a local chain parts store but it too had slop. Replaced it again with another one and saw even more slop. We tried to tighten the allen/lock not on the top a quarter turn but it seems to have made things worse.

Barring any disassembly and rebuild ourselves - we'd like to move beyond this and go the route of a new box altogether. Granted it would be 3-4x the $$ the piece of mind and slop resolution might be worth it.

* Can any of you please recommend a good NEW box ready for a '83 Berlinetta? Ideally one which would bolt on without any fabbing, new bolt patterns, fitting adapters, etc.

Summit has an AGR Billett for just over $400. Seems steep, but has good reviews. Seems a bit generic so not positive how well it would plug and play with the stock set up.

First time here - thank you in advance for your insight!

fokeyman

Have you checked the steering coupler/rag joint to see if it is the culprit? It's just before the box. If a helper turns the wheel, the intermediate shaft and the gearbox input shaft should move as one. If the Intermediate shaft spins more than the input shaft, that rag joint may be shot. Just a thought.

CLE_berlinetta

I remember thinking I saw the shaft going into the box turning but the wheels not. But I will definitely take a closer look. Thank you!

John in RI

iTrader: (167)

The Berlinetta steering Box was specific to that car: It was a variable ratio box. I'm betting the rebuilt units that you got were 15" wheel Z28 equivalent,....... Replace that with IROC level parts and you will notice a HUGE difference in your steering system !!

Regardless of how good the rag joint looks,... replace it with one from a Z28, IROC or Trans Am. IIRC the stock rag joint in a Berlinetta is a 7ply and the performance Thirdgens used a 'stiffer' 5-ply Rag Joint.

83 Crossfire TA

iTrader: (2)

Good luck with that... yes, the original parts were better, but the rebuilds that you get at the parts store are just whatever they got as a core on the last one they sold. I've also found that there are tons of different brands of rebuilds and for the most part I only saw 2 different rebuilds in the boxes based on the paint and rebuilder's stickers).

Here you can see a couple of videos of me testing various rebuilds, but it got to the point where I got a couple of the local stores to order a bunch in and I would actually stick a degree wheel on them in the store and test what came in the box: