90 SS 454 steering box, worth it?

I have an opportunity to pick up a steering box that (supposedly) came from a 90 SS 454 truck. Is it anything special, worth getting, or just same ol, same ol? jt

they are identical to the regular steering boxes, nothing special.

454SS = Quick ratio.
Stock 400 steering boxes are a 14.4-1 ratio. The 454SS is a 12.7-1.
This will reduce the amount of turns down to 2.25 - 2.75, lock-to-lock, from the original stock box's 3.25 - 3.5.
12.7:1 ratio boxes found on some of the higher performance factory muscle cars from the 70s and 80s.
The 1969-1976 Camaros.
1964-1976 Chevelles, Malibus and Monte Carlos used an optional quick ratio 12.7:1 unit.
Q/R gearboxes were original equipment on 1983-1988 Monte Carlo, 1983-1984 Hurst Oldsmobile, 1985-1987 Olds 442, and 1984-’87 Buick Grand Nationals.
Most of these gearboxes are the four-bolt mount but there are two different three-bolt mount gearboxes that were used as well.
To keep things simple, all of the 1970 and later Chevelle, Camaro, Nova and Firebird have the same steering box bolt pattern as the truck's, so searching for these gearboxes eliminates any mounting problems. Aside from the mounting, all of these gearbox units are interchangeable.
Use the 400's factory idler & pitman arms with these boxes.
Another thing to keep in mind when interchanging between earlier and later GM gearboxes.
The power steering hose fittings are not the same. Later fittings are metric with an O-ring incorporated, where the earlier gearboxes use the standard inverted-flare fittings.
You could search out an original Q/R box, identified by a 'YA' stamp on the end cap.
Some aftermarket vendors such as RedTop, BlueTop & AGR make Q/R boxes down to a 12.1 ratio.
*GM warns NOT to use a Q/R box in 4x4's.*
Apparently, it's a stability concern.

Four wheel drive, two wheel drive, or all?

No 4x4's came from the factory with a Q/R box.

Jess, I'd kept it original SS as these trucks are demanding a lot of money at sale. Dale

I sure could use a 12.7:1 box on Frank!

Y'know, with the availability of newly rebuilt Q/R boxes, buying a used one would be the last of my priorities, because...

"3.70 14 bolt 5 lug rear" !!!

Actually, it's 3.73, but anyways...that's the only rare bird/unicorn-ish/needle-in-a-haystack part really worth grabbing from a 454SS.
Well...that & the model-specific bucket seats.
Anything & eveything else from a 454SS is generic production line GMT400.

sewlow said:

Y'know, with the availability of newly rebuilt Q/R boxes, buying a used one would be the last of my priorities, because...

"3.70 14 bolt 5 lug rear" !!!

Actually, it's 3.73, but anyways...that's the only rare bird/unicorn-ish/needle-in-a-haystack part really worth grabbing from a 454SS.
Well...that & the model-specific bucket seats.
Anything & eveything else from a 454SS is generic production line GMT400.

Click to expand...

"Anything & eveything else from a 454SS is generic production line GMT400."

Hush your mouth! the 1990 454SS has a unique moonie cluster, too. (I forget now if they're 100 or 110 mph) - not that I'd care about getting a moonie cluster, but, ya know it is specific to the 454SS. 1991 has the needle cluster w/tach, also 454SS-specific, and again still moonie-era electronics so it would work easier for a 1988-1991 moonie truck cluster swap. 1992-1993 110mph cluster the rarest hen's teeth of them all, being those were the lowest production 454SS's of the bunch.

Don't forget the valance fogs, buckets for them, switch, and associated harness. Hen's teeth.

But yeah, 3.73 on that 14 bolt, go get it quick...! I mean like yesterday.

Richard