The exellent article on this site about this subject said there are threads on the subject here. Can you point me to them? Also a a pictorial from a Mr. Walston about building a pitman arm? The search option isn't working at this time. Thank you.

 

Welcome to the forum look at the link below for that information. Also to find the posts you will need to click on the search button above and search for them. Right now they have the search feature shut down except for FTE Club Members only, so you will have to do your search when the traffic on the site is lighter.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/article/...60_Trucks.html

 

Check out my gallery

 

This brings up a good topic (especially since I just found an 84 Toyota box for my 56)...has anyone grafted the lower section of the Ford arm to the upper section of the Toyota arm? I am not a certified welder but it seems like it should be possible...

 

Check this out

http://www.geocities.com/zeener96/toyota.htm

 

I mounted the toyota box ahead of the axle in my 49 (its a long story). When it came time to make the pitman are I took the stock toyo unit, cut it in half, spun one end 180 degrees and welded it back together. (yes I had a certified welder do the welding and I gusseted it a bit)

When I was first thinking of it I read the article that Dick just posted and was going to go that route. I've slept alot since then and for the life of me can't remembe why I didn't

Bobby

 

The original pitman arms are cast, and cast does not weld the greatest. If it cools too fast it can become brittle and the last thing you want to have happen is to have it break while driving................AHH NO STEERING!!!!!

So that is why we embedded the cast components in a piece of plate. That way the cast is surronded by plate and brittleness is not an issue.

 

IMHO the work and safety aspects of building your own pitman arm just doesn't make sense over buying one already made like Mid Fifty sells unless you are going with the manual steering box. I had to split the Toy pitman arm and shaft nut to get them off the Toy box. I believe the Ford pitman arm is forged rather than cast tho.

PS: Welcome to FTE!

 

AX

I agree, when we built ours, there was not one available for a 57-60. The arm is different from the earlier years. I believe CPP makes one now very similar to the one we made.

As far as the cast verses forged, you could be correct.

 

Walston, I wasn't being critical of you building your pitman arm, I knew why you did it.
I was replying to the original poster about building his own by combining the Ford and Toyota arms.

 

No worries, people from Ohio are not sensitive.

 

I love this place! What a great resource. Thank you.