Power steering box for 1970 C-10 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

diggerbob · 01-10-2022, 01:58 PM

I am looking to replace my tired old power steering box and am having trouble making up my mind between the new quick boxes offered by Borgeson and CPP. The rebuilt box by Red Head with a 15:1 ratio looks interesting too. Can anyone offer insight on the pros and cons of these 3 boxes to help me make up my mind?

bnorth · 01-10-2022, 03:30 PM

I can't speak to it for the C10 but back 10 years or so I had a Dodge w/ 1st gen Cummins and the common replacement boxes were Borgeson or Red Head. The Borgesons had a hit and miss reputation for puking seals or quick wear requiring routine adjustment for the gears. The Red Heads had a much better reputation. I never ended up buying either as I was able to adjust the lash of my stock box and it performed fine until I sold the truck.

jimijam00 · 01-10-2022, 04:07 PM

Red Head, a great family owned business, gets my vote.

RustyPile · 01-10-2022, 04:43 PM

My '71 came from the factory equipped with manual steering. A couple years ago, I installed power steering. I went with a Cardone rebuilt unit. I haven't had a bit of trouble with it.

**MikeB** · 01-10-2022, 06:00 PM

Check out AGR. No imported stuff here!

https://www.agrperformance.com/

**Thealien** · 01-10-2022, 06:13 PM

I have had two vehicles with Red Head Steering Gear boxes. I have had no issues and they operated as they were supposed to.

72again4x4 · 01-10-2022, 09:40 PM

Another vote for redhead. Have had two, no problems.

**sauxs** · 01-10-2022, 10:03 PM

Have you thought about Lee power steering? I used a Delphi box in my Camaro years ago and should have went with a Lee then. I recently ordered a Lee power steering box for the Camaro along with a pump to match it.
Excellent customer service and I ordered exactly what I wanted. Steering box and pump were made to order.
May want to consider Lee.

diggerbob · 01-10-2022, 10:13 PM

A Lee Steering box would cost me $720. Yikes. BTW, I read that he went through a decline 5-6 years (Altzheimers) and sold the business.

**Already Gone** · 01-11-2022, 02:23 AM

I bought a Borgeson and havent installed it yet. Nothing against Red Head but having to buy the box and pay a hefty core charge up front and then send send your core back and if they determine then get refunded your core if rebuildable. They wont let u ship the core ahead of time to determine if its rebuilable.

**OL SKOOL** · 01-11-2022, 09:54 AM

I bought this one from Rock auto over a year ago. The box is a Lares i believe for a 74 c10 3 1/2 turn to turn. It fit perfect on my 70 frame. It was only about 175.00 all in and came with the new rag joint. I see they have went up and i don't have a performance rating for you truck is still in pieces.

**Smitty** · 01-11-2022, 10:31 AM

I put a Red Head box in mine and have been happy with it.

RustyPile · 01-11-2022, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Already Gone

I bought a Borgeson and havent installed it yet. Nothing against Red Head but having to buy the box and pay a hefty core charge up front and then send send your core back and if they determine then get refunded your core if rebuildable. They wont let u ship the core ahead of time to determine if its rebuilable.

"Free shipping" charges are often hidden in the selling price.. Same with reman stuff that has no core required. Expensive shipping charges can be eliminated if you buy from a local parts store.. Many of the brands mentioned can be obtained at these local stores.. I paid $124.00 for my Cardone steering gear. Since I was converting from manual to power I needed a core. I bought one for 10 bux at a salvage yard.

**RoyL** · 02-12-2022, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diggerbob

I am looking to replace my tired old power steering box and am having trouble making up my mind between the new quick boxes offered by Borgeson and CPP. The rebuilt box by Red Head with a 15:1 ratio looks interesting too. Can anyone offer insight on the pros and cons of these 3 boxes to help me make up my mind?

Have you made up your mind? Can you even get a CPP 50014 now? Summit says estimated shipping date is 20-May-2022...

How much is the ratio a factor in your decision?

Stock is 16:1?
CPP 50014, 14:1
Borgeson 800132 12.7:1 (too much for a DD?)
AGR 204352 - ratio is "13-16:1" ?? says 3.3ish turns lock to lock.
RedHead 2856 - 15:1

diggerbob · 02-14-2022, 09:46 PM

I got my front end aligned by a guy who knew what he was doing. My plans to change out the steering gear are on hold now. It's amazing what a proper front end alignment can do for these old trucks. I had negative caster when I came in, but when I left, he had me at +2 on both sides. It is so much easier to handle now.

01-10-2022, 01:58 PM	#1
diggerbob Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bartlett, TN (near Memphis) Posts: 203	Power steering box for 1970 C-10 I am looking to replace my tired old power steering box and am having trouble making up my mind between the new quick boxes offered by Borgeson and CPP. The rebuilt box by Red Head with a 15:1 ratio looks interesting too. Can anyone offer insight on the pros and cons of these 3 boxes to help me make up my mind?

01-10-2022, 03:30 PM	#2
bnorth Registered User Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Salmon Arm BC Posts: 205	Re: Power steering box for 1970 C-10 I can't speak to it for the C10 but back 10 years or so I had a Dodge w/ 1st gen Cummins and the common replacement boxes were Borgeson or Red Head. The Borgesons had a hit and miss reputation for puking seals or quick wear requiring routine adjustment for the gears. The Red Heads had a much better reputation. I never ended up buying either as I was able to adjust the lash of my stock box and it performed fine until I sold the truck. __________________ 1970 C10 l/b 292/4spd Build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=811062

01-10-2022, 04:07 PM	#3
jimijam00 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: PNW Posts: 553	Re: Power steering box for 1970 C-10 Red Head, a great family owned business, gets my vote.

01-10-2022, 04:43 PM	#4
RustyPile Registered User Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Elkhart, Texas Posts: 1,864	Re: Power steering box for 1970 C-10 My '71 came from the factory equipped with manual steering. A couple years ago, I installed power steering. I went with a Cardone rebuilt unit. I haven't had a bit of trouble with it.

01-10-2022, 06:00 PM	#5
MikeB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: North Texas Posts: 3,623	Re: Power steering box for 1970 C-10 Check out AGR. No imported stuff here! https://www.agrperformance.com/ __________________ Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 36 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, recent AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 24 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then!

01-10-2022, 06:13 PM	#6
Thealien Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Pine Ridge Florida Posts: 4,138	Re: Power steering box for 1970 C-10 I have had two vehicles with Red Head Steering Gear boxes. I have had no issues and they operated as they were supposed to. __________________ Click on my Not really a build thread, yet NOT SO RUST FREE RUST FREE BLAZER LS ENGINE SWAP INFORMATION THREAD BOLT RESTORATIONS 4l60 to an NP205

01-10-2022, 09:40 PM	#7
72again4x4 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Loveland, CO Posts: 179	Re: Power steering box for 1970 C-10 Another vote for redhead. Have had two, no problems. __________________ 1971 K10 short bed step side, 5.3/th350/205, 3.73 gears

01-10-2022, 10:03 PM	#8
sauxs Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Mid MO Posts: 93	Re: Power steering box for 1970 C-10 Have you thought about Lee power steering? I used a Delphi box in my Camaro years ago and should have went with a Lee then. I recently ordered a Lee power steering box for the Camaro along with a pump to match it. Excellent customer service and I ordered exactly what I wanted. Steering box and pump were made to order. May want to consider Lee.

01-10-2022, 10:13 PM	#9
diggerbob Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bartlett, TN (near Memphis) Posts: 203	Re: Power steering box for 1970 C-10 A Lee Steering box would cost me $720. Yikes. BTW, I read that he went through a decline 5-6 years (Altzheimers) and sold the business. Last edited by diggerbob; 01-11-2022 at 01:44 AM.

01-11-2022, 02:23 AM	#10
Already Gone 70+ ( Old Skool Club ) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan ,Canada Posts: 9,149	Re: Power steering box for 1970 C-10 I bought a Borgeson and havent installed it yet. Nothing against Red Head but having to buy the box and pay a hefty core charge up front and then send send your core back and if they determine then get refunded your core if rebuildable. They wont let u ship the core ahead of time to determine if its rebuilable. __________________ 1972 C10 Custom/Deluxe 613 Highlander 406/700R4 1999 White Tahoe LS 4x2 with Z56 Police Package 1992 K1500 GMC Suburban Members I have personally met: MusicMan70 - HeavyD - ChewyChevy67 - StingRay -71SWB4x4 - 67 Burb - DeadheadNM - too much stuff - bc65 - das601 " Circumsatances Do Not Change Responsibility " " The Sky is not the Limit, Your Mind is." Marilyn Monroe .. RIP Charlie Watts 1941 - 2021

01-11-2022, 09:54 AM	#11
OL SKOOL Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: rochelle il. Posts: 355	Re: Power steering box for 1970 C-10 I bought this one from Rock auto over a year ago. The box is a Lares i believe for a 74 c10 3 1/2 turn to turn. It fit perfect on my 70 frame. It was only about 175.00 all in and came with the new rag joint. I see they have went up and i don't have a performance rating for you truck is still in pieces. Attached Images

01-11-2022, 10:31 AM	#12
Smitty Senior Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Spring Valley, Ca. Posts: 1,136	Re: Power steering box for 1970 C-10 I put a Red Head box in mine and have been happy with it. __________________ Smitty '71 Short Fleetside Spring Valley, Ca.

02-14-2022, 09:46 PM	#15
diggerbob Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bartlett, TN (near Memphis) Posts: 203	Re: Power steering box for 1970 C-10 I got my front end aligned by a guy who knew what he was doing. My plans to change out the steering gear are on hold now. It's amazing what a proper front end alignment can do for these old trucks. I had negative caster when I came in, but when I left, he had me at +2 on both sides. It is so much easier to handle now.



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