I am going to order a Firm Feel box for my '67 Coronet R/T. What are the pros and cons of a Stage I versus Stage II. Thanks for any input.
Firm Feel steering box
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Johnpat
Well-Known Member
Have a 66 Hemi Satellite stage2,great
road feel.
Got rid of the steering that felt like driving
with melted butter,one finger steering no
Road feel.
Also not constantly moving steering wheel to
run straight down the highway.
road feel.
Got rid of the steering that felt like driving
with melted butter,one finger steering no
Road feel.
Also not constantly moving steering wheel to
run straight down the highway.
Crash520
Well-Known Member
I have stage 2, wish I had of gone stage 3. Whilst I love what I have and it’s nothing like original, stage 3 would have been just that little bit better, stage 2 is not heavy by any means
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I have a Stage 3 with the Fast Ratio arms. It almost feels like manual steering. If you like that sort of thing, that is fine.
At this point, I think that I would actually prefer a bit more assist. The steering doesn't chatter or feel UNassisted, it just feels a bit heavier than I'd like. The setup felt pretty good with the stock ratio idler and Pitman. The Fast Ratio increases the effort over and above any stock steering gear.
I have considered the Borgeson steering chuck. If one were starting from scratch and had no core to trade, the difference in price isn't a deal breaker.
At this point, I think that I would actually prefer a bit more assist. The steering doesn't chatter or feel UNassisted, it just feels a bit heavier than I'd like. The setup felt pretty good with the stock ratio idler and Pitman. The Fast Ratio increases the effort over and above any stock steering gear.
I have considered the Borgeson steering chuck. If one were starting from scratch and had no core to trade, the difference in price isn't a deal breaker.
There's possibly a 12 week wait for their boxes. It was worth the extra $ to expedite.
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I wouldn't even consider a Stage I.
I've used the Stage II in the last two builds and like them, but they were C bodies so my feelings were the Stage III would be overkill. All depends on the type of driving you plan to do.
I've used the Stage II in the last two builds and like them, but they were C bodies so my feelings were the Stage III would be overkill. All depends on the type of driving you plan to do.
JimKueneman
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I have Stage III in the Coronet and Stage II in the Duster. Since the Duster was the daughters I felt the III was too stiff in a parking lot. You can barely single hand palm turn the Coronet sitting still. The II in the Duster is still not overly sensitive like stock (Stage I) but you can easily one had palm steer it sitting still. I love the III on the open road and love the II in town.
I run a Level 3... but mine's thru Steer n gear...
70chall440
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I have a stage III in both my Challenger and my Cuda, I love them. I intend to use the same thing in my 71 Charger and 70 RR
ckessel
Well-Known Member
I put a 3 on my 65. Dick was hesitant about that due to the heavier feel. My daily driver is an 04.5 3500 2x Cummins 4 door dually. Has a rack and pinion. The 3 had a lighter road feel than the truck. It will depend on what you are used to.
I have the FF Stage III in the Coronet and love it. At the steering wheel it feels like a modern sport sedan. Along with boxing the K frame and LCA's, larger T-bars, Bilstein shocks, the Coronet handles like a modern sedan.
Rubberduck
Well-Known Member
Same here. Have stage 3, feels like a modern car. One of the best improvements I made on my Charger.
Hey Dennis - I didn't know you had upgraded to stage 2. Right on.
I've driven Dennis's car with Stage 1 and my 68 B body Plymouth has Stage 2.
Per Firm Feel, please note that Stage 1 is described as the stock police box. It's a bit firmer than a regular stock box.
Please also note that as KernDog says above, if you add the fast ratio idler/pitman, now your moment arm is longer and steering effort goes up. Stage 3 with the fast ratio arms will be too much for most. At one point I had Firm Feel Stage 2 with the fast ratio arms. It wasn't quite as heavy as manual steering, but almost. It felt great at highway speed or even a curvy road at about 40-50 mph, but around town 20-30 mph it got a bit tiring. I've since removed the fast ratio arms and kept the stage 2 and the car is much easier to drive, although now at highway speed i wish it was a bit firmer. If I had to do it again I think I would either go Stage 3 with no fast ratio arms or stage 1 with fast ratio arms.
One thing with the stock boxes and the Firm Feel modified stock boxes is there will always be a dead spot in the center of the steering wheel path. It's part of the design and to my knowledge cannot be eliminated. I've thought about going with the Bergman/Borgeson coupler/box to eliminate this issue, but have never driven one, so not sure. Some say they're a bit too firm and you also need to be aware of the pump compatibility/adaption so as not to have an over-pressure situation and cause a leak in the short term.
Aren't these things the greatest since sliced bread! What a kick driving my '63 with firm-straight - no wander steering. Great investment including other items to improve suspension, stability, radials, etc. These drive tons better than they ever did off the dealer's lot brandy new. I'm old enough to remember driving the old rides ma and pa had and mine back when before radials were around...
Stage II on it's way.
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