Saginaw 2.75 turn vs. 4.25?

[Travis Nichols]

Planning a saginaw conversion on my 69. Read most of the tech aritcles and the all said a 4.00 or a 4.25 turn box. Have a stock car buddy who has boxes with 2.75 and 3.25. Are these boxes to tight to use on my 69? Mostly street driven, 33's, sbc. Thanks

 

[HI^C]

Where in IOWA? in NE

I have a astro box on mine it is saginaw box, but mounts up different. It is about a 2.75 turn and i feel it to be too much for high speeds. although it took some getting use to but now i like it, doesnt see about 55mph though.

 

[hammerhead]

Just takes a different driving style Like HI^C said it can be too much for high speeds.

The other advantage to a 4 turn box is the steering ratio for dead engine steering. With a four turn you can still turn some if your engine dies. With a 2.75 you better have a high-lift if you want to turn it dead engine... or some BIG-A$$ arms...

 

[brian]

not sure what i have, i know it's not a 4 turn, but i don't think it's a 2.75 either, as it's 3turns and change LTL.
same thing, buddy that ran late models gave me a box.
i have to say i like it. it's in my DD that see's 55+ish every day. not too bad really. it's not twichy at speed, and at parking lot speed i don't have to turn the wheel forever, to complete sharp turns.

 

[66fj40x2]

I ran 3 turn box on my 40 briefy and did not like on the highway at all. A little to jumpy for me in a such a short vehicle. I'm running a 4 turn box now and it's very stable. All personal preference I guess and you'll get used to whatever you go with.

 

[cruiserjones]

Sneeze and you're in the ditch...

You want the 4 turn for sure!

 

[albee]

How do you tell what type of box you have? Do you count turns of the wheel from stop to stop?

 

[secretagent]

I have a 2.75 turn and I'm tossing it, it sucks on the highway or at speeds over 45. Go with the 4 or 4.25 turn it'll prolly keep you from crashing

 

[nailbender]

The pitman arm length also effects how it drives. I have a 2.75 and had to try differant arms to get happy. If your useing a cheap or free box no big deal, they all mount up the same so changing it isn't a major pain. There is a change on the input from 13/16" to a standard 3/4" sometime in mid 70s for Saginaws going with the later size keeps things simple.

 

[rlong]

Yea the 2.75 turn sucks. This is on a 69' 40 with 33 x 9.5's and I can drive it, but you don't let the untrained drive it. It feels like you could roll at the tip of a ..well Lancruiser.. I had my kids lurn on it but I was warnin them alot. I want to go to 4/4.25 whatever.

I thought about changing pitnam arms but figured I'd need one about 18" long! : )

Bob in CO

 

[ridgerunner]

Why not a scout box?

 

[66fj40x2]

How do you tell what type of box you have? Do you count turns of the wheel from stop to stop?

The easiest way is to count the revolutions stop to stop. I was also told, and don't know how accurate it is, that most newer boxes with three mounting bolts are three turn boxes and older four bolt are four turn...prolly just count the turns

 

[haystax]

I've got a 3.5 turn 4bolt box, same casting numbers as those w/ 4.25 and everything, not sure how you tell the difference, just have to turn it and see.

If you're mostly street, I'd at least get the 3.5 and porbably hold off til I found the 4.25, I stretched my front axle out about 4" and that seems to be fine with the 3.5, I hardly get to see the speedo top 55 though, the SBC may put you in the ditch a little quicker than my tired 2F.

 

[lone gunman]

i have the 3.25 turn stop to stop saganaw box in my 76 FJ40 with V-8 and its great around town and on trails, but scary on the highway if you barely turn the wheel your in the other lane. look for the 4.25 box if possible and dont go by the casting # count the turns, trust me i know. i have a 4.25 box in the garage waiting for instal this spring.

 

[pbgbottle]

i have the close ratio box on my 40 too . i never let anyone else drive it ,i'm scared they might roll it .i'm used to it .i've been told not to use the 2.75 tho on 4x4's because of something about . torque or power or something of the box not sure of the terminology . but if you wedge your front wheels up against something .your steering box may not have the power to force the wheel to turn away from a rock or tree . when you try to turn the wheel . the power steering pump will just squeal ,but with the 4 turn box .the box has more torque to force the tires to turn even when wedged up against something . you can then steer it out or away from the object . the 4 turn has more power . to force the wheels to turn . or something like that . if that makes sense

Jake

 

[haystax]

Naw, they all have the same power, some of the boxes are "variable" ratio but power comes from the pressure of your pump, the boxes are all built the same way, just different threads on the spool that works the pitman shaft.

 

[pbgbottle]

COOL! that makes sense thanks for the info . i like the quicker turning box . (2.75) once you get used to it .you won't no the difference . i occasionally take mine up and beyond (100 km ) whats that
60-65 mph . no problem . . just don't panic . or you may roll it .

Jake

 

[hammerhead]

Yeah... and don't sneeze...

 

[Romad]

I just got my saginaw box in from NAPA today and it's a 3 1/2 turn box. They say with the part number, NSP88277080, there is no way to determine how many turns the box will be until it arrives. I called two different NAPAs in my state and the tech hot line but they all say the same thing, they can't get order me a 4 1/4 turn box, they can only order by part number. Any one else run into this same problem?

 

[haystax]

Wow - quite a dig to find this one.

I believe you can order a box for a '68 Impala and turn in your whatever core and get the right box. Dunno, never worried about it that much after I got used to mine.