Question: 1963 through 1967 Corvette Sting Ray Production with RPON40 (Power Steering)

[2010corvette]

Hi,
Have question.
When regular production option N40 was selected on C2 Corvette order sheet, were these Corvette tie rods adjusted at St Louis for the quicker steering gear?

:thanks:

 

[Tom Bryant]

It's my understanding that manual steering used the outer holes on the steering arms and power steering used the inner holes for a faster ratio. I've never had a p/s mid year but have always moved the rods to the fast steering holes.

Tom

 

[2010corvette]

Hi Tom,
Thank You for your input/reply.
After adjusting the tie rods to the inner holes without power steering, was the steering unmanagable? Did you need front wheel alignment after adjustment?
Also did you adjust your shifter for a closer throw or was your Corvette equiped with the two speed power glide transmission?

 

[JohnZ]

After adjusting the tie rods to the inner holes without power steering, was the steering unmanagable? Did you need front wheel alignment after adjustment?
Also did you adjust your shifter for a closer throw or was your Corvette equiped with the two speed power glide transmission?

I'll chime in here too. With manual steering set on the faster ratio, the steering effort isn't appreciably different; those of us who learned to drive back in the day when power steering was rare didn't think anything about it. When you move the tie rod ends from one pair of holes to the other, you need to re-set the front toe-in. You can't use the outer holes with power steering (it'll damage the power cylinder seals) - that's why the factory installed aluminum plugs in the outer holes on power steering cars.

I have the stock shifter, set to the "short-throw" position on my '67, and prefer it to the stock "long-throw" setup.

 

[Tom Bryant]

Absolutely agree with John. I much prefer the fast steering holes and the short throw on the shifter. Very little difference in effort between the two settings on the steering. My wife's '81 is the only Corvette ever in this family with either p/s or p/b.

Tom