Trying to get my steering setup so I can get headers bought/made for my pickup.. Running stock front A bones split with the bars in top and the top of the radius rods notched slightly. When I steer to the left the rod end hits the oil pan My thought is to make the drag link longer and point the pitman arm straight forward.. With the rod ends centered in their threads the pitman arm pints toward the p***enger side this is with the box centered in rotation also Any thoughts on if making the drag link longer wouldn't work. Or maybe putting a recess in the pan a bit? Thanks in advance..
I went out and looked at the stock Vega box I have with stock pitman arm and the drag link goes in from the bottom on that one with the nut on top. The box I have is 4-1/2 turns lock to lock and with it centered the pitman arm is pretty well straight ahead. Are you actually centering the box or are you centering the travel lock to lock? Meaning that if you pop the drag link out, turn the wheel all the way to the left and then count turns as you turn to the right and then turn back exactly 1/2 the number of turns where does the pitman arm end up? Not with the wheel centered, that comes later but with the box turned to exact center of it's travel where is the pitman arm sitting? It should center straight ahead or real close to straight ahead and if it does you need a longer drag link. If I had room alongside the tie rod for clearance for the rod end on the drag link without any issues I'd re-taper the hole on the pitman arm and put the rod end in from the bottom and be done with it.
Unkl Ian is right - go to speedway motors - #7022924 Vega Pitman arm tapered on both sides for Ford to attach drag link top or bottom.
Could you have the box mounted too high? I notice the top mount bolt is on top of the frame. On our 32 frame we mounted the box where the top bolt actually goes through the frame and not on top of it. The frames are different, I understand, but this might be a solution?
Center the box, rotation wise. Put the pitman arm on, pointing directly forward. Make a longer drag link.
I really hate to bust your bubble, but it looks as if you mounted the box a bit too far back on the frame. Every Vega or 525 GM box I've seen mounted fell in place and the drag link and tierod were parallel, the same distance from the ground, and there was always clearance for everything. Moving the steering box forward and lowering it a bit and using a slightly shorter sector will solve your problem. The sector should be close to parallel to the ground
Did you center the box before you ordered your drag link? Why does the pitman hang to the right when you are supposedly centered? Looks to me like you need a longer drag link.
https://www.google.com/search?q=vega steering pictures&espv=2&biw=1600&bih=775&tbm=isch&imgil=V1DKAoL7IDA-mM%3A%3BvkYWWstVebQb_M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.autotradercl***ics.com%252Fcar-article%252FSteering%25252B101-152297.xhtml&source=iu&pf=m&fir=V1DKAoL7IDA-mM%3A%2CvkYWWstVebQb_M%2C_&usg=___cbPm_cJHkOfV_QwoFW5Di_Rf9w=&ved=0CDEQyjc&ei=A6TkVMbQLcyjgwTe3YP4Cw#imgdii=_&imgrc=V1DKAoL7IDA-mM%3A;vkYWWstVebQb_M;http%3A%2F%2Fwww.autotradercl***ics.com%2Fimages%2Fa%2Fcms%2Fimages%2Farticles%2Fguides%2Fsteering-101%2F152467.jpg;http%3A%2F%2Fwww.autotradercl***ics.com%2Fcar-article%2FSteering%2B101-152297.xhtml;1802;956 As mentioned the drag link should be parallel with the tie rod,but also on the same plain.http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachments/picture-017-medium-jpg.1150726/ Can't tell where your tie rod is but maybe you can bend the pitman arm down and be on the same plain? Pete
Turn it over. Nothing magic about the taper just take a grinder / dremel and taper it from the bottom.
To answer a few of the replies.. The box is centered as far as lock to lock The drag link and tie rods are on the same plain up and down and parallel Can't put the link on the bottom of the pitman arm due to being to close to the radius rods. Also wouldn't be in the same plain as tie rods then. The drag link was from a aftermarket front end kit I bought for a previous car with a dropped axle. I centers the box then out the arm on to connect to the drag link. More then likely causing the issue. Had the box mounted level with arm pointing forward at one time with tie rod and drag link parallel and on the same plain. I believe the ends were threaded out pretty far. But had to tilt the box to get steering u joint to clear and not bind... Bars are level and parallel (kinda hard to tell from the pictures) Plan for tonight is to go home pull the pitman arm off, double check the box being centered, run it straight forward and extend the draglink and see where that gets me.. Will post the results Thanks for all the suggestions, this is a learning process for me being my first build.
I think early Ford V8 arms have same spline as small GM manual boxes...one arm I have has the drag link end slightly tilted from plane of the arm, quite possibly enough to create a bit of clearance there. You could also add a washer to each front mount stack for a hair more... The arm I have in mind is one of the two used between 1937-48, can't remember which. Will try to ID that tonight, if my memory holds up.
I realize you're being a bit tongue in cheek...but for others who might be inclined to agree with that train of thought...lets say you do dent the pan and get additional turn radius. With that much angle already built in to the pitman arm it wouldn't be out of the question that it potentially could put the tierod end past center and lock the steering hard left. You don't start hitting things until you have the obvious problems addressed...and from the little we CAN see in those close up pics, the angle of the pitman arm seems to be excessive. Once that issue is solved the oil pan problem might not even exist anymore!
Rotation centered lock to lock Pitman Arm centered in steering arm's radius. Move box forward if you can
The early Ford arm Bruce mentions will fit a GM 525 box, but not a Vega box which has a smaller shaft.
Thanks for all the tips and info! I guess i tend to get caught up with over thinking and thinking about to many things at once.. Made sure the box was centered and moved the arm straight forward and imagine the results... Tire hits before the drag link does. So problem fixed for that.. Should take the hammer sometimes and make a indentation in my head.. Also the drag link is up just a bit but I don't have it tightened on the pitman arm at all yet. Compared to out on the spindle and the tie rod ends.. Also pretty parallel to each other. Thanks again for all the info!! Now to lengthen the bar a bit for more thread engagement.
That was one thing I for some reason didn't even think of! Should have known better but that's how ya learn I guess better now then at 70! Thanks again!!!!
Exactly, if the tire hits or rubs you haven't really fixed anything. You need to install proper spindle stops on the axle to prevent the tire from contacting where it shouldn't.
How much suspension travel have you got before the ch***is squishes down on the steering (tie rod and drag link)? I see they are sandwiched between the frame and the radius rods. Just a thought.
This is my solution to extend the drag link 1.125" Figure it will give me an easy way to turn it when installed. Stumbling through self learning to run a mill and lathe I have here..
Offset pitman was my answer. Here was the old install the drag link was hitting the oil pan. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/is-there-a-dropped-pitman-arm-for-a-vega-box.323944/
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