Power Steering Pitman Arm Question
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Jersey City
Power Steering Pitman Arm Question
Is the Pitman arm for the ford power steering box the same as for the manual steering gear box? The part number in my parts book (what I can decipher of it) seems to be the same for both, but the spline on the output shaft of the power steering box is about 1/8" larger (1-3/16" OD)than on the manual steering box I'm replacing and the old pitman arm doesn't fit. Do I have the wrong box or the wrong pitman arm?
Thanks
This is for a 69 F250 2wd camper special, and I believe the steering boxes are both Saginaw and not Bendix.
a picture of the PS box is here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/114010017362165565741/69F250CumminsSwap?authkey=Gv1sRgCPD7957iur32WA#5786670193028906418
One more post and I can attache pictures directly.
Thanks
This is for a 69 F250 2wd camper special, and I believe the steering boxes are both Saginaw and not Bendix.
a picture of the PS box is here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/114010017362165565741/69F250CumminsSwap?authkey=Gv1sRgCPD7957iur32WA#5786670193028906418
One more post and I can attache pictures directly.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
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From: NorCal
These Fordification articles should answer your question:
Steering/Suspension Component Variations - FORDification.com
How to Install Power Steering in a 2WD F100/250/350 - FORDification.com
Steering/Suspension Component Variations - FORDification.com
How to Install Power Steering in a 2WD F100/250/350 - FORDification.com
Senior User
Joined: May 2012
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Ever get this sorted out? I'm curious too as I plan a similar swap (ps for standard). But my intention is to leave the pittman arm on the ps box and attach it to my steering linkage. I'm hoping it's the same for the ps and stndard steering gear on that end (as it appears from these posts it's different on the end that attaches to the box). If my hope is correct, and the pittman arm for the ps gear will attach to my linkage, maybe you could go that route too if you have the arm for the ps gear.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 82
From: NorCal
Ever get this sorted out? I'm curious too as I plan a similar swap (ps for standard). But my intention is to leave the pittman arm on the ps box and attach it to my steering linkage. I'm hoping it's the same for the ps and stndard steering gear on that end (as it appears from these posts it's different on the end that attaches to the box). If my hope is correct, and the pittman arm for the ps gear will attach to my linkage, maybe you could go that route too if you have the arm for the ps gear.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Is the Pitman Arm for the ford power steering box the same as for the manual steering gear box? 
Absolutely not!
The part number in my parts book (what I can decipher of it) seems to be the same for both.
Manual Steering: C7TZ-3590-C / Marked: C7TA-3590-N
This is for a 69 F250 2WD camper special, and I believe the steering boxes are both Saginaw and not Bendix.
Absolutely not!
The part number in my parts book (what I can decipher of it) seems to be the same for both.
Manual Steering: C7TZ-3590-C / Marked: C7TA-3590-NThis is for a 69 F250 2WD camper special, and I believe the steering boxes are both Saginaw and not Bendix.
C9TZ-3590-C .. P/S Pitman Arm-Use with Ford (Saginaw) P/S / Marked: C9TA-3590-E / Obsolete / No Ford Dealer or obsolete parts vendor has any.
Applications: 1969/71 F100/250 2WD / 1972 F100/250 2WD before serial number M00,001.
All Pitman Arms have the marked ID number cast onto them / Serial number last 6 digits of the VIN
Bendix P/S: 1966/68 F100/250 2WD / 1969 F100/250 2WD before serial number D96,001.
Ford P/S: 1969 F100/250 2WD & F350 from serial number D96,001 / 1970/79 F100/250 2WD & F350 / 1976/79 F100/150 4WD / 1977 F250 4WD from serial number Y20,001 / 1978/79 F250 4WD / 1979 F350 4WD.
Sources: 1964/72 Ford Truck Parts Catalog & 1973/79 Ford Light Truck Parts Catalog, both available on CD's from hipoparts.com
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,209
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From: Black Hills of SD
What parts catalog are you using?
C9TZ-3590-C .. P/S Pitman Arm-Use with Ford (Saginaw) P/S / Marked: C9TA-3590-E / Obsolete / No Ford Dealer or obsolete parts vendor has any.
Applications: 1969/71 F100/250 2WD / 1972 F100/250 2WD before serial number M00,001.
All Pitman Arms have the marked ID number cast onto them / Serial number last 6 digits of the VIN
Bendix P/S: 1966/68 F100/250 2WD / 1969 F100/250 2WD before serial number D96,001.
Ford P/S: 1969 F100/250 2WD & F350 from serial number D96,001 / 1970/79 F100/250 2WD & F350 / 1976/79 F100/150 4WD / 1977 F250 4WD from serial number Y20,001 / 1978/79 F250 4WD / 1979 F350 4WD.
Sources: 1964/72 Ford Truck Parts Catalog & 1973/79 Ford Light Truck Parts Catalog, both available on CD's from hipoparts.com
C9TZ-3590-C .. P/S Pitman Arm-Use with Ford (Saginaw) P/S / Marked: C9TA-3590-E / Obsolete / No Ford Dealer or obsolete parts vendor has any.
Applications: 1969/71 F100/250 2WD / 1972 F100/250 2WD before serial number M00,001.
All Pitman Arms have the marked ID number cast onto them / Serial number last 6 digits of the VIN
Bendix P/S: 1966/68 F100/250 2WD / 1969 F100/250 2WD before serial number D96,001.
Ford P/S: 1969 F100/250 2WD & F350 from serial number D96,001 / 1970/79 F100/250 2WD & F350 / 1976/79 F100/150 4WD / 1977 F250 4WD from serial number Y20,001 / 1978/79 F250 4WD / 1979 F350 4WD.
Sources: 1964/72 Ford Truck Parts Catalog & 1973/79 Ford Light Truck Parts Catalog, both available on CD's from hipoparts.com
So the 72 had a mid year split on the pitman arms? Seems like I might have a vague remembrance of reading something like that. I converted 2 72s, an F100 and an F250 and didn't have any problem but I don't remember what year of steering boxes I used. I guess I just lucked out.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
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From: NorCal
Yep... mid-year change.
From Fordification:
TOP (BOTH VIEWS): Late style, casting #D2TA-3590-BA
Used on F100 thru F250 with serial numbers M00001 (late '71) and higher
BOTTOM (BOTH VIEWS): Early style, casting #C9TA-3590-E
Used on F100 thru F250 with serial numbers prior to M00001
Here is a view of the bottom side of the early Pitman arm used on Saginaw boxes up through late-'71. You can see 'F100-F250 PWR STR' cast into the piece.
The Pitman arm used on '67-'69 F100's with Bendix power steering is marked C7TA-3590-L, and will not work with the Ford/Saginaw box.
From Fordification:
TOP (BOTH VIEWS): Late style, casting #D2TA-3590-BA
Used on F100 thru F250 with serial numbers M00001 (late '71) and higher
BOTTOM (BOTH VIEWS): Early style, casting #C9TA-3590-E
Used on F100 thru F250 with serial numbers prior to M00001
Here is a view of the bottom side of the early Pitman arm used on Saginaw boxes up through late-'71. You can see 'F100-F250 PWR STR' cast into the piece.
The Pitman arm used on '67-'69 F100's with Bendix power steering is marked C7TA-3590-L, and will not work with the Ford/Saginaw box.
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Senior User
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So like most "simple" swaps it can get complicated. I have been looking at the tech article on this swap on the Fordification site (which some of you will also have seen) and I note that it suggests swapping the gear, pittman arm and drag link. I wonder now if the reason for this is it avoids this problem of the different pittman arms and angles. I guess I'll find out soon as I plan to take the column, gear, pittman and drag link off my donor truck some time in the next week.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 82
From: NorCal
So like most "simple" swaps it can get complicated. I have been looking at the tech article on this swap on the Fordification site (which some of you will also have seen) and I note that it suggests swapping the gear, pittman arm and drag link. I wonder now if the reason for this is it avoids this problem of the different pittman arms and angles. I guess I'll find out soon as I plan to take the column, gear, pittman and drag link off my donor truck some time in the next week.
Senior User
Joined: May 2012
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Yes, I did. It says "i believe it will attach to the existing linkage but (from what I have deduced from various tech articles) the angle of the PS pitman arm's drag link end will change the linkage's alignment and interfere (rub/scrape) with the radius arm's pass-thru holes." Your post #7 shows several different pittman arms through the late 60s early 70s. Are you saying all of these will result in the problem you identify in Post 5?
By the way, I'm sorry you're frustrated. Hard to be a genius.
By the way, I'm sorry you're frustrated. Hard to be a genius.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 82
From: NorCal
Are you saying all of these will result in the problem you identify in Post 5?
One issue with the Fordification articles referenced in post #2 is that they don't state why the late linkages have to be used when using the late pitman arm - it just says to use 'em. However, my assumption is that someone in the past prolly already figured out the incompatibility so we can only deduce as to why and roll with it.
No worries.... we're here to both help and learn.
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Jersey City
Nope. The pics show the difference between the early and late pitman arms. The late pitman arm has an angled head and changes the link angle whereas the early arm is straight.. combine that fact with what is normally suggested (to also install the matching later model steering linkages) and one may deduce that there would be an issue coupling the late arm with early linkages... and where would the angled head likely create an issue? - at the through the pass-thru holes of the radius arms.
One issue with the Fordification articles referenced in post #2 is that they don't state why the late linkages have to be used when using the late pitman arm - it just says to use 'em. However, my assumption is that someone in the past prolly already figured out the incompatibility so we can only deduce as to why and roll with it.
No worries.... we're here to both help and learn.
One issue with the Fordification articles referenced in post #2 is that they don't state why the late linkages have to be used when using the late pitman arm - it just says to use 'em. However, my assumption is that someone in the past prolly already figured out the incompatibility so we can only deduce as to why and roll with it.
No worries.... we're here to both help and learn.
I thought I needed a D2TA-3590-BA arm then thought maybe it was the C9TA-3590-E that I needed. I have yet to find either but I did find a D2TA-3590-FA Which has a different offset than the BA but I can work with that.
I'm still only about 23.64% sure I have any of this correct. The one lesson I did learn is to buy a steering box WITH the Pitman arm next time.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 785
From: Simi Valley, CA
C7TZ-3590-C .. Pitman Arm-Use with Manual Steering / Marked: C7TA-3590-N (See post 6).
1967/71 F100/250 2WD / 1972 F100/250 2WD before serial number M00,001.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
C7TZ-3590-F .. Pitman Arm-Use w/Bendix P/S / Marked: C7TA-3590-L
1967/68 F100/250 2WD / 1969 F100/250 2WD before serial number D96,001.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
D2TZ-3590-B .. Pitman Arm-Use w/Ford P/S / Marked: D2TA-3590-BA
1972 F100/250 2WD from serial number M00,001 / 1973/79 F100/250 (includes 1975/79 F150) 2WD Regular & Super Cabs under 8100 lbs. GVW
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D2TZ-3590-D .. Pitman Arm-Use w/Ford P/S / Marked: D2TA-3590-FA
1972 F350 from serial number M00,001 / 1973/79 F250 2WD Super & Crew Cab over 8100 lbs. GVW / 1973/78 F350 / 1979 F350 2WD
1967/71 F100/250 2WD / 1972 F100/250 2WD before serial number M00,001.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
C7TZ-3590-F .. Pitman Arm-Use w/Bendix P/S / Marked: C7TA-3590-L
1967/68 F100/250 2WD / 1969 F100/250 2WD before serial number D96,001.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
D2TZ-3590-B .. Pitman Arm-Use w/Ford P/S / Marked: D2TA-3590-BA
1972 F100/250 2WD from serial number M00,001 / 1973/79 F100/250 (includes 1975/79 F150) 2WD Regular & Super Cabs under 8100 lbs. GVW
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D2TZ-3590-D .. Pitman Arm-Use w/Ford P/S / Marked: D2TA-3590-FA
1972 F350 from serial number M00,001 / 1973/79 F250 2WD Super & Crew Cab over 8100 lbs. GVW / 1973/78 F350 / 1979 F350 2WD