Hi All,

Thought I'd post an update - I've been working on the front yard lately and am just now getting back to this project ;(

I managed to get a hold of a stock pitman arm, and it looks like it will solve all of my previous clearance issues but has introduced a new problem. It looks like the previous owner didn't align the steering box correctly and the pitman arm does not travel exactly perpendicular to the bottom of the frame. It is at a very slight angle so that when the pitman arm swings towards the back of the truck the top of the pitman arm is binding to the frame. It is not off by much, and the drop drag link did not encounter this problem (wish he would have aligned with the stock pitman arm though ).

At this point, I'm not sure what I should do to fix this. My choices as I see them are:

1) Grind down the top of the pitman arm just enough to clear the frame, probably not very much, maybe 1/32" of an inch. If I force the pitman arm manually now it will clear, just binds so I know it would not need much.

2) Grind down the bottom of the frame where the pitman arm is binding. Again, not much would have to come off.

3) Do a little of both 1 & 2 until there are no clearance issues.

4) Try and fix the power steering box mounting. I am not sure if I am up to this, I have never welded and I would probably have to hire somebody to do it for me.

5) Shim the pitman arm? Haven't really thought about this and not sure if it would be a good idea.

I am thinking number 3 might be the best option, since the arm is only binding, not really hitting. Does anybody think grinding off roughly 1/16 to 1/32 off off the frame, pitman arm, or both would present any problems?

Once I get this resolved, it looks like the stock pitman arm will work out much better than the drop arm. I will just have to decide between a drop drag link or raised C arm. I'm leaning towards the C arm as I already have a stock drag link that I could use.


Thanks,
Doug

 

You should remove the steering box and make sure all the welds are good, and all are completed. Its amazing how much a poor welding job can warp steel! If the last owner never completed the job, you may be in for a big surprize when you go to all that work to correct his mistakes.
Good Luck.