I put a Monte Carlo SS steering box on my S10 and am having problems with it. Is the input shaft a 3/4" with 30 splines? I have a flaming river joint that is for a 3/4" input shaft with 30 splines and it seems like the input shaft is too large.

 

Hi, I don't know the answer, but maybe Mr Google does.
Something to check out until one of our member's that knows post an answer. Good Luck!



https://www.google.com/search?q=88+M...sm=93&ie=UTF-8

Click above link

 

ZQ8Blazer:
Welcome to the forum...
Apparently your flaming river joint is the wrong one for your application...
Your going to need to replace it with the correct 1 in order for you to get it to work properly.. Or get the correct steering gear box to fit it..

Heres what the size of your steering gear box should be..along with a picture... This is what your should look like... if not theres only 1 other they used that I Have also posted for you.
This a stock G-Body powersteering gear box...
1964-88 GM 800 Power Steering Box, 13/16 Inch 36-Spline Input


Note: Not compatible with OEM 45° flare fittings.
Application

• 1965-70 Chevy Full-size
• 1971-76 Chevy Full-size
• 1967-69 Camaro/Firebird
• 1970-81 Camaro/Firebird
• 1964-67 Chevelle/Malibu/A-Body
• 1968-72 Chevelle/Malibu/A-Body
• 1973-77 Chevelle/Malibu/A-Body
• 1968-74 Nova/X-Body
• 1975-79 Nova/X-Body
• 1978-81 Malibu/A-Body
• 1982-88 Monte Carlo/G-Body

Or it could also be this one that they also used....
1964-88 GM Power Steering Box, 3/4 Inch 30-Spline Input


: Not compatible with OEM 45° flare fittings.
Application

• 1965-70 Chevy Full-size
• 1971-76 Chevy Full-size
• 1967-69 Camaro/Firebird
• 1970-81 Camaro/Firebird
• 1964-67 Chevelle/Malibu/A-Body
• 1968-72 Chevelle/Malibu/A-Body
• 1973-77 Chevelle/Malibu/A-Body
• 1968-74 Nova/X-Body
• 1975-79 Nova/X-Body
• 1978-81 Malibu/A-Body
• 1982-88 Monte Carlo/G-Body

 

Thanks, that's a lot more info than I found on Google and I searched for hours.

I'll measure the u-joint, but the box says it's the correct one. Only thing that could be was that they put it in the wrong box.

I can't tell the difference in the two from the pictures, is there something I'm not looking at correctly? Can they be identified visually or do I have to count the splines and measure it myself? I noticed that both boxes were used on the 88 Monte's. Were both used on 88 SS?

 

You have the one with the 3/4 inch shaft...

Your joint fits the 3/4 inch shaft....

Then the spline count is not correct
Probably need the 13/16th inch shaft and need the 36 spline input shaft...

are you positive....
The joint is a 30 spline and not universal also for a 36? If its to large for a 3/4 30 count spline..
your only other alternative IMO is getting the 13/16ths shaft and the 36 count spline...

you need the larger steering gear or the correct joint..it can only be 1 of the 2...

Heres another tidbit that may help clarify the size issue:

.Quote:
The Delphi Saginaw Steering (formerly Saginaw Steering Gear Division, GMC) recirculating ball, model 700, integral power steering gear is a marvel of longevity. The basic concept and most major components that make up the gear assembly started production in the early 1960s and are still interchangeable with the steering gears being manufactured today. (Although the 700 model is rapidly being replaced by the Saginaw 600
Some of the interface changes that did occur are as follows:
1). The input shaft was reduced in diameter from 13/16 inch OD to ¾ inch OD in 1977. 2). Starting with the 1980 model year, the ports on the gear were converted from conventional 45 degree flare fittings with 5/8-18 UNF (return port) and 11/16-18 UNS (pressure port) female threads to o-ring connections with 16x1.5mm (return) and 18x1.5mm (pressure) female threads.

All of the fast ratio steering gears that we are looking to swap into our cars were produced between 1982 and 1998. Therefore, in order to install a fast ratio gear in your pre-1980 cars, you will need to accommodate one or both of the above listed changes.


I'm curious....
Why don't you or didn't you replace the S-10 steering box with the original one that belongs on it?
Why use one from an older Monte Carlo? What year is your S-10?

 

I haven't counted the splines because it's been freezing cold out. When I take a caliper and put it on my factory S10 steering box and then try to put it on the Monte Carlo SS one it won't fit and the joint acts like it's too small to fit and not that a spline isn't straight.

My flare fittings fit the box just fine so that makes me think it's the correct box.

2000 S10 Blazer. The 88 Monte Carlo SS steering box is a much quicker ratio than the factory one. Some of the S10's came with a quick ratio option, but it wasn't as good as this one. It's suppose to be a direct swap.

So I don't understand how this one could have the larger input shaft and the flares fit the box. I did notice one thing from the pictures and that's that the 1st one has a smaller smooth shaft at the end. Mine does not have that.

 

Then my advise to you...
Is either count the splines cold or not so "YOU" know for sure which spline you have...
Or put the project on hold til it warms up outdoors...

 

Yeah I'm in no hurry to get it up and going, plus next week is suppose to be 20* warmer out. But I'll count the splines. thanks for all your help.

 

YVW.. I like a good challenge...lol

Once you find out what spline it is and I would also measure the width of the spline to be sure we know exactly what size you have and we can go from there... May end up just having to use a rag joint to get it back up and running until we can figure out what to do.

Were here to help...

 

Thanks. One more thing. If it has the 13/16 input shaft can it still be a quick ratio?