Body Inspection sheet and some other stuff.

[stage169]

I know my seatbelts now. It is sales code J3 (= A39 & A85).

I also think my car has the Rallye Road control package. I have cleaned off my steering box and found some numbers. The date code on the box is Oct. 23 1968 (cast). On the cover on top is a date code of Oct. 29 1968 (stamped) and it has a cast number on it 5686555 (small numbers). Here is the only reason I think its the 15:1 ratio steering box - my assembly manual shows a power steering assembly part# of 5699262 and the manual box part# 7802333 but nothing about an optional steering box. They are all seven digit numbers (the two power box #'s are close) and I'm thinking that the box cover might actually have the part number on it. If anyone with a 69 gets the time and wants to check theirs let me know please. The local Buick dealers here don't have the info. Or if anyone has the part number for the optional 15:1 steering box let me know. Thanks, Brian

[stage169]

5686555 I'm sure is just a cast number for the side cover. From what I've been able to tell the only way to visually identify the ratio your box has is if there is still the decal or ink markings on it. After all these years you would be lucky to find it.

I did find some infromation on how to tell what ratio your box is though. Count the turns of your steering wheel lock to lock. Multiply that by 360. Then divide that number by the degrees the pitman arm travels (lock to lock). I used my kids protractor and measured 80deg. My steering wheel took 3.25 turns lock to lock. That times 360 equals 1170. Divided by 80 equals 14.6. If I would of used 78 degrees for the pitman arm sweep the number would be 15. I hope this is correct that means my steering box ratio is 15:1 which would also mean my car came with the Rallye Road Control Package.

I hope some of you guys will help out here to confirm/deny what I'm saying. There were only two power steering boxes for 69 for the 43-44000 (Special, Skylark, Sportwagon, GS350 & 400) series cars. The standard power steering option had a ratio of 17.5:1 and the optional was 15:1. If (and a big if I don't know if the pitman arm sweep would be the same for both but it does make sense to me) the pitman arm sweep remains the same then the standard steering box ratio of 17.5:1 would mean the steering wheel would turn just under 4 times (around 3.875) lock to lock.

I certainly appreciate any help you guys can give. Maybe I'm right and maybe I'm wrong but this is the closest I've come to finding out which box I have. It will be interesting to see how many turns your steering wheel takes to go lock to lock. Thanks, Brian

[thepartsman]

Brian...sounds like your one cast number away
from needing some therapy....:grin: ...like some others I know
including myself.....


1969 GS 400

Cover cast number is 5686555 used by saginaw from 1960-1974.
Gear cast number is 5691676.

1971-72 GS ratio is 14.6 to 1, non GS is 17.6 to 1.

So you are probably dead on :TU:

[stage169]

:shock: True but if its Buick related thats OK.... right?:grin:

I'm learning a lot. Many years ago I thought I knew about my Buick but when you get into it I just barely scratched the surface.

Thanks BTW with the number help. I saw in my other post (The Bench) you gave me the 69 GS 400 gear box cast # (along with part #'s). Of course I was lost I didn't even see the first cast digit on mine and it took a couple times reading the post before the light went on. I was surprised my assembly manaul had casting numbers in it instead of part numbers.

I hope I'm right. I'll be confident if somebody checks theirs and lets me know. Brian

[stage169]

Plain and simple in the 1969 Buick Chassis manual.

43-44000 series cars turns of steering wheel stop to stop.

optional 15:1 steering is 3.52 turns.

standard 17.5:1 steering is 4.12 turns.

Wish I would of saw that in the first place.:o