Need to know fast. What gear box?

[deputycrawford]

     I am hoping to call Firm Feel within the next two days and order a gear box. Mine is leaking badly and I can't stand it any more. I am thinking of a Firm Feel Stage 2 power steering box. Can anyone give me a heads up of anything I should look out for? How do they work? How do they feel? Should I get the 73 and newer box for the larger pitman arm? Anyone have any insight as to what I should do?

[chargerbr549]

I installed a Stage 2 box in my 82 Mirada because I wanted more "road feel" but they really cut down the power assist in the box, I think I would have been happier if I had installed a Stage 1 instead and if I remember right they will adjust the box to your liking for free if you send it back in and pay shipping, that was about 7 years ago though. Otherwise it was a good product and they were good to work with. I would get the correct box for the year of car since on most stock unmodified cars I don't think you would notice any advantage of going to the bigger pitman shaft as opposed to the small shaft. Just my opinion though.

Kevin

[gordo1968charger]

i got a stage 2 in my 68,greatly improved the drive,with the bigger pitman arm there is header clearance issues,it would nt work with hooker competition headers.

[deputycrawford]

Thanks for the replies guys. Now I have a one for one. I was seriously thinking about the stage 2 box so I could get rid of the lazy sloppy feeling of the car. Now I have to ask them if they would go with a 1 1/2 stage....lol. Gordo, you say you like it alot on the 68. Am I thinking OK with getting rid of the sloppys? Anyone?

[gordo1968charger]

i had "jim rockford" sloppy steering before,its now jim dandy,mind you i did do a complete front end suspension rebuild as well.just a shame i can t get any positive castor now(did i have it before??)
thinking of some moog offset bushes or firm feel tubular arms.
that can wait til the winter as i m going to enjoy whats left of the summer!!

[gordo1968charger]

bad thing was there was a 2 week lead time plus a 3 week wait for the postage(i live in the u.k).worth the wait in the end though.think a stage 2 will be fine.dennis at firm feel said it was the most popular.

[Mike DC]

Check the rubber "rag joint" on the steering shaft too. 

A good one won't make much difference, but a really bad one might put just as much slop into the system as a worn steering box.

 

[kamkuda]

I just one from www.steerandgear.com at Carlisle.  I have not installed it yet but I got the firm version.  The normal power steering is too loose for me,