Steeroids Camaro, Firebird, Nova

Installation (pdf)

Installation Article

Camaro Overview

Firebird Overview

Nova Overview

Bump Steer Issues

Camaro/Nova Header Clearances

Steeroids Compared to Competition

U-Joint Binding

General Notes

OTHER KITS: When comparing our kit to others that may be on the market, we feel that our experience with manufacturing steering conversion kits helps us offer the best kit available. Our engineers have had years of fine tuning bump steer issues, header clearance issues, ease of install issues and geometry issues. We offer a COMPLETE kit - Everything you need to completely replace the old steering with the new Steeroids and get you on the road, without any hidden parts that you will need to find on your own or modify to make fit. Some other companies do not include pricey U-joint steering shafts or do not work with big blocks. Another consideration is weight. One company's kit's ship wieght is approx. 50 lbs. The Steeroids ship weight is 32 lbs. - significantly lighter than the stock setup.

OLDSMOBILE ENGINES: In the past, people have asked about the clearance issues using Oldsmobile engines. One customer with a 67 Camaro told us that the 455 Olds will fit, however they had to push in the oil pan about an inch and they had to make longer power steering hoses.

FLUID: Please do not run synthetic fluid through your rack unit until the break-in period is over, usually around 1000 miles.

OIL PAN CLEARANCE / LS1 CONVERSIONS: Most oversized oil pans fit. We are running 7 qt Milodons on our development vehicles. Generally, the edge of the rack sits about 3.5" back from the cross member. Pans with a deep sump in the rear could be a problem (for example truck pans.) A Moroso 20403 does not fit with a 402 Big Block.

Regarding the LS conversions, the only issue that we know of is with the oil pan - some slight modification may be necessary. We have customers that use the S&P oil pan without any problems. You can also use our header template to check clearances. You can see a little more by going to one of our customer's links and seeing how he addressed the oil pan clearancing: LS1 On Customer's Camaro.

Technical Information on Camaro Steeroids

Steeroids™ offers improved steering feel -recirculating ball steering is vague and unresponsive, especially "on center". Control is greatly enhanced.
Steeroids™ offers quicker ratio -power assist steering racks offer quicker ratios. Steeroids™ yields approximately 2.75 turns lock-to-lock (Power).
Lighter weight -Steeroids™ saves up to 25 lbs! (when compared to the stock steering system.)
Steeroids™ are a Bolt-On installation -absolutely no welding, or drilling. Installs with basic hand tools in approximately 3 hours.
Steeroids™ uses the stock pump -existing or readily available power steering pump and brackets can be used.
Steeroids™ are a complete kit -all necessary parts are included with the exception of the power steering pump.

Parts included with Steeroids™:
Rack and pinion
Adapter bracket (adapts rack to chassis through A-arm bolts)
Tie rod ends (Self cleaning & lubricating, teflon lined)
U-joint assembly
Power steering hoses
Misc. fasteners (grade-8)
Ididit steering columns also available! Choose from Steel, Powder Coated, Chrome & Aluminum style columns!

Manual Steeroids™ kits are basically the exact same kit as the power, although the rack has been converted from a power rack into a manual rack by removing the hard lines, capping the ports and drilling the internal cylinder to prevent pressure build up. Manual Steeroids racks are between 3 and 3.5 turns lock to lock.

When deciding on a manual or power kit, we usually recommend going with the power kits. Most customers have enjoyed more benefits from the power rack, since the quick ratio manual (~2.9 turns lock-to-lock) is still difficult to steer at lower speeds.

Technical Information on Firebird Steeroids

Steeroids offers improved steering feel -recirculating ball steering is vague and unresponsive, especially "on center". Control is greatly enhanced
Steeroids offers quicker ratio -power assist steering racks offer quicker ratios. Steeroids(tm) yields approximately 2.75 turns lock-to-lock (Power).
Lighter weight -Steeroids(tm) saves up to 25 lbs! (when compared to the stock steering system.)
Steeroids are a Bolt-On installation -absolutely no welding, or drilling. Installs with basic hand tools in approximately 3 hours.
Steeroids uses the stock pump -existing or readily available power steering pump and brackets can be used.
Steeroids are a complete kit -all necessary parts are included with the exception of the power steering pump.

Parts included with Steeroids:
Rack and pinion
Adapter bracket (adapts rack to chassis through A-arm bolts)
Tie rod ends (Self cleaning & lubricating, teflon lined)
U-joint assembly
Power steering hoses
Misc. fasteners (grade-8)

Manual Steeroids kits are basically the exact same kit as the power, although the rack has been converted from a power rack into a manual rack by removing the hard lines, capping the ports and drilling the internal cylinder to prevent pressure build up. Manual Steeroids racks are about 3.5 turns lock to lock. Manual kits are a new addition to the Steeroids line. Racks currently are shipping separately directly from the manufacturer. Some of the paperwork and materials still may say it is for a "Power" kit, though all of the instructions and parts are the same for both kits.

Please Note: Unfortunately, the Steeroids kit does not work on Pontiacs with Pontiac engines without heavy modification done to the mounting bracket. The modification is quite extensive. The Pontiac motor mounts interfere with the rack bracket at the primary mounting locations. Engines out of other GM vehicles do not seem to have this clearance issue, but the Pontiac engines definitely do. In addition to the mounting bracket having to be modified, there also leaves a hose connection issue. The Firebird motor mount brackets extend back from the cross member about 4" toward the firewall. The power steering line hook-ups end up directly under them - to close to the bracket to get the hoses on (about 1/4" from the end of the adaptors for the hoses) and then interferes with putting the second a-arm bolt through the bracket. Some customers have tried using custom hose applications - but we do not know if they have had success or not. At this time, we do not have a better solution for Firebirds with Pontiac engines. We do not have advice or support to offer when it comes to making these modifications, nor do we recommend it. Modifications to make it fit would be quite extensive, and the structural integrity of the mounting bracket would become compromised. We also cannot stand behind any of our products that have been modified. There do not seem to be any problems, however, when using a Chevy engine with the Firebird.

Technical Information on Nova Steeroids

Steeroids offers improved steering feel -recirculating ball steering is vague and unresponsive, especially "on center". Control is greatly enhanced
Steeroids offers quicker ratio -power assist steering racks offer quicker ratios. Steeroids(tm) yields approximately 2.75 turns lock-to-lock (Power).
Lighter weight -Steeroids(tm) saves up to 25 lbs! (when compared to the stock steering system.)
Steeroids are a Bolt-On installation -absolutely no welding, or drilling. Installs with basic hand tools in approximately 3 hours.
Steeroids uses the stock pump -existing or readily available power steering pump and brackets can be used.
Steeroids are a complete kit -all necessary parts are included with the exception of the power steering pump.

Parts included with Steeroids:
Rack and pinion
Adapter bracket (adapts rack to chassis through A-arm bolts)
Tie rod ends (Self cleaning & lubricating, teflon lined)
U-joint assembly
Power steering hoses
Misc. fasteners (grade-8)

Technical Information on Bump Steer

Bump steer is an issue that regularly comes up regarding our kits. Bump steer is difficult to eliminate completely, but we have done our best. Our kit definitely gives better performance than the stock systems offered. Our custom tie rod ends include an adjustment spacer so that you can adjust the bump steer according to the suspension settings and ride height of your vehicle. This allows you to adjust the tie rod angle so that it matches the angle of the lower A-arm, giving you the least amount of bump steer.

Please note: If you are considering putting this kit on a drag car that is pulling the front end completely off the ground, you will want to have something to limit your suspension so that it does not drop completely. If the suspension can drop all the way down, you will experience some toe issues when it first lands.

Technical Information on Header Clearances

The following is a list of headers that our customers have told us have worked for them. Our systems are not limited to these headers by any means, but you can use them as a routing style reference for your own headers. It is the routing style that is important, not the name brand. You can look these up to see if yours have similar routing styles. We are currently trying to find someone out there who has angle plug heads and headers that will fit, so please let us know if you have some!

Camaro, Firebird & Nova:

Small Block:

- Dynomax Shortie – Customer had clearance issue with a custom steering column...?

- Dynomax 289-86001 - No Problem

- Flo-Tech #92451 (Full Length) - No Problem

- Heddman #68270 (Full Length) - No Problem

- Hedman #65020, 65003 – DOES NOT FIT

- Hooker Supercomp – DOES NOT FIT

- Hooker #2451-1 (Full Length) - No Problem

- Patriot Clipster mid-length headers - No Problem

- Sanderson CC1 (Center Dump) – DOES NOT FIT

- Stahl - DO NOT FIT W/ 427 SB (Road race version may fit, but have not tried...)

- Stainless Works - DO NOT FIT W/ 427 SB

- Stan's Headers #175Y (Tri-Y) - No Problem

Big Block:

- Heddman routing style works best. #68190 (1 3/4" tube w/ 3" collector) - No Problem

- Hooker Super Comp – DOES NOT FIT

- Hooker Compettion 2" #2457-1HKR – DOES NOT FIT WITHOUT DIMPLE

- Hooker (?) 2 1/8” fit with dimple

- Lemons Headers (see links page!) - Up to 2 1/2" primaries, no problem! Many sizes available. (Includes tall deck & raised port heads)

- Patriot Mid Length Headers - DO NOT FIT

- Sanderson – DOES NOT FIT

If you currently have Steeroids and see any conflicts, or if you have any additions to this list, please email ken@carchemistry.com so that we can update this page.

If you think that your header may fit, but you are not sure, the template link below should help you determine where our u-joint assembly is located. Just draw a line between the end of the steering column and the location of the pinion on the rack shown by the template. Note that the template is not to scale, so you will have to print this one, then cut your own out of cardboard.

Steeroids - Compared To The Competition

Steeroids - Apples to Apples:
When comparing our kit to others that may be on the market, we feel that our experience with manufacturing steering conversion kits helps us offer the best kits available. Our engineers have had years of fine tuning bump steer issues, header clearances, ease of install, steering unit loads and proper geometry. We offer COMPLETE kits - Everything you need to completely replace the old steering with a new Steeroids and get you on the road, without any hidden parts that you will need to find on your own or modify to make fit.

Brand U Camaro:
Brand U claims zero bump steer, but in fact they do have a small amount of bump steer within 1 inch of travel up or down from middle position. Anything beyond one inch suspension travel and the bump steer becomes much more significant. Their system is non-adjustable for this issue. The suspension has to be exactly at that ‘sweet spot’ location or you’re going to have problems. The Steeroids kit is completely adjustable and allows varying ride heights, especially lower ride heights. A one-size fits all system just wont do. Ours can be fine tuned to your preference for ride height.

Ours weighs 10 to 15 lbs less than Brand U’s kit.

The price of Brand U’s kit can be misleading. A cheaper kit is missing universal joints to connect to steering column and the power steering hoses. Because of this it takes more time to collect parts, requires the owner to provide measurements and dimensions for a complete kit and the cost adds up to the as much as $200 more - and don’t forget to add the extra shipping charges. Steeroids comes complete with everything you need to install it on your car.

The pinion on the rack sits further inboard to the centerline of the car than Steeroids – therefore restricting which headers will fit. We have a much greater range of header fitment.

While Steeroids doesn’t have as much ground clearance (the difference is maybe ¾”), your headers will still hang lower than any part of our kit. We have MANY customers out there with lowered vehicles that have no problems at all.

The Steeroids rack is not a custom modified unit so replacement parts are easy to find. This is not the case for brand U’s rack. Additionally, our tie rod ends fit the stock steering arm while maintaining a tight turning radius - it’s not some unknown metric item.

Brand F Camaro:
Brand F uses big, bulky “cradle” mounting brackets which add significant, unnecessary weight to the car. These brackets also take up a lot of space that could be used for header tubes.

Brand F also uses slow steering ratio racks (unless you call 4 turns lock-to-lock fast!) Ours are about 2.75 turns lock to lock.

If you have a big block, good luck fitting this steering. Steeroids fits small and big blocks with headers and aftermarket oil pans. We even provide you with part numbers that fit.

Bump steer isn’t even addressed with the Brand F kit. Ours is adjustable to best match your car’s ride height.

The bottom line is that we provide the most complete and in-depth tech support because we want you to succeed with our products. We don’t want to just sell it to you, we want you to be happy with the performance. We want your car to drive significantly better than it did with your old steering! Steeroids™ - Feel the road!

U-Joint Binding

Occasionally you will feel a stiff spot in the steering wheel - approximately every 90 degrees. Binding of the U-Joints causes this. To relieve the angle of the U-Joints and eliminate the binding, loosen the steering column and slide it back toward the driver as far as possible. This should lessen the angle in the U-Joints and eliminate any binding issues.

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