69 Camaro Manual Steering Box

[COPO]

Thanks for the great detailed photos. So all the manual boxes are the same, only the pitman arm different on the z's in 69?

[Lynn]

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I need a little education on identifying a 69 Camaro steering box. Casting #'s. date code location, etc. Were all of the manual Camaro boxes the same except for the pitman arm?

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Manual steering box is Saginaw (large "S" on side) casting 5679142. Date code is right below the casting # and will not id the year, only the day of the year. Mine has 162 and came on an 08A of 69 car. Above the casting # is the single digit 7, but I am pretty certain that does not stand for 1967. It is the original box from my 27,500 mile 69 Z.

Pitman arm has number 3953227 followed by GMTIB.

The box is quite common. If you type that number in on an ebay search, you will even find several from AMC products from the late 60's. GM just put on a longer pitman arm and called it "fast ratio" but it is still 4 turns lock to lock off the car.

The only stamped numbers are on the main body (unlike the power steerig boxes that were stamped on the aluminum cover) on a very small machined pad. On my box those numbers are: A17C9. If I didn't know the box was cast in June (162nd day of the year) I would think the code was something along the line of January 17 third shift 1969. Anyone know?

BTW power steering and manual steering boxes used different pitman arms, and they are not interchangeable. Different size shaft.

Most of the 69 PS boxes I have looked at are double stamped like the photo above.

If you want to see pics of my manual steering box, with pitman are still attached, PM me and I will email you some.

Hope this helps.

Lynn

[68SSCamaro]

I bet the numbers are A1709, assembly on the 170th day of 1969. This is right after the 162 casting date.

[Lynn]

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I bet the numbers are A1709, assembly on the 170th day of 1969. This is right after the 162 casting date.

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Don't think so. Pretty clearly a C:

http://s74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...urrent=007.jpg

Here is one of the casting number and date. The casting numbers are not raised, but rather concave. The date numbers are raised.

http://s74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...urrent=001.jpg

Anyway, hope this helps.

Lynn

[Kurt S]

I'd say it's supposed to be a 0, but isn't.

[Lynn]

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I'd say it's supposed to be a 0, but isn't.

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Thanks Kurt. Have you seen other steering boxes with a "C" substituted for an "0" kind of like they substituted "I" for "1" on engine stampings? Doesn't seem like the "0" at Saginaw would wear out nearly as easily as the "1" at Flint.

So would the "A" represent first shift?

Lynn

[Kurt S]

I've never seen that substitution before. I'd say it was a mistake that the setup guy made. If you find another box built the same day, it will have the same error.

[Lynn]

Thanks Kurt. Just noticed a mistake I made in an earlier post. I stated the manual box was 4 turns lock to lock out of the car. It is more like 6.5 turns.

Lynn

[JohnF]

Lynn, I have a car built 08C and my steering box was manufactured on the same day as yours. My 0 also looks like a C.

John

[Lynn]

Just goes to show how well Kurt knows his stuff.