-contemplating faster steering....

[Vette/Berlina-coupe]

BerlinaBob here- -Back when I owned a C1 '53/Vette(one of the hand-built pre-production 300, which I sold in prestine condition for only $2k--- and which years later appeared in Hemmings-mag. for $100K with my wonderful transparent-top!) and a C1 '54/Vette (w/tripower/camed CaddieV8 that only weighed 2,550-lbs); --one could buy at Chevy/parts-counter a so-called "fast-steer" Pitman-arm (which was like original but longer). Wondering if such an animal is available for C3-Vettes, -as it made the car much more responsive to control, --and great for those occassionally needed evasive-maneuvers! If not available, --am thinking of pulling the Pitman-arm from the S.-gearbox Sector-shaft, and slicing the arm mid-way, then install a tubular-steel sleeve (of chromoly-steel) mig-welded in place to lengthen the arm maybe 50%(netting commserately faster steering-rate)... ---Whatdo'yah-think gearheads?

[Vette/Berlina-coupe]

BerlinaBob here: -well obviously nobody thought much of my initial notion about how to achieve "faster-steering" in a C3, so put away that hacksaw, ---I've indeed run across a much better solution which can net you a substantially more responsive steering action. Although I am not recommending this outfit (know nothing about them, -and there are likely sources less costly), --but a company that actually offers a reduction from the C3's sluggish estimated 17:1/Steering-ratio down to 12:1 is at: www.flamingriver.com , and they offer both a bolt-on exact-copy (external appearance) retrofit/Steering-box iteration for $400, as well as a gearhead's retrofit-kit option (which should be half that figure, --but is $300); ---you can call'em: 800/648-8022 for additional info.. Nowthen, would like to hear from anyone having experience with this nifty C3 item; ---or perhaps know where one can obtain a quality "fast-steer"-kit for le$$. Please advise...

[GerryLP]

Berlina,

I recall reading that some C3's had a "close steering" hole where the steering rods connect to at the steering spindles. Can anyone verify this? :help

One could switch them during install. It is a hole further from the axis of the front wheel spindle that gave the close steering.

My 81 does not have this feature.

[JohnZ]

The C2's (and some C3's) steering arms had two sets of holes; the hole closest to the spindle gave the "fast" ratio, and that's where the factory installed the tie rod ends on cars with power steering (and installed an aluminum rivet in the other hole). This arrangement had an overall ratio of 17.6:1. Manual steering cars used the hole furthest from the spindle (for reduced effort), and had an overall ratio of 20.2:1; the "fast" steering hole was left open for those who wanted a faster ratio and didn't care about the increased effort.

[Jack]

Originally posted by JohnZ
The C2's (and some C3's) steering arms had two sets of holes; the hole closest to the spindle gave the "fast" ratio, and that's where the factory installed the tie rod ends on cars with power steering (and installed an aluminum rivet in the other hole). This arrangement had an overall ratio of 17.6:1. Manual steering cars used the hole furthest from the spindle (for reduced effort), and had an overall ratio of 20.2:1; the "fast" steering hole was left open for those who wanted a faster ratio and didn't care about the increased effort.

My 71 w/ pwr steering is equipped & configured just as John advises.
JACK

[GerryLP]

I thought that it was something like that...Thanks JohnZ and Jack for the clarification...