Technical Need help with a pitman arm

In my current steering setup I have a Saginaw 525 6.25 turn manual steering box. I have a straight 7" pitman arm on it. I would very much like to shorten that arm to increase the required rotations to go lock to lock. Right now the steering requires a little more effort to turn when not moving then I would like.





I have almost 10K on the rig

Anyone know of a shorter pitman arm that would fit this. I called Speedway and the only thing the gal came up with was for a power steering box. So thats a no.

 

Message sent.

 

Someone on here cut a section out of the arm, drilled out both pieces, then put a rod in the holes and welded it up.
Left a gap of rod, so all three were joined.

 

I believe the Vega pitman fits that box. They come in several lengths,and off sets.

 

Try SoCal, back in the day PeteandJakes used to do a flame cut version.I got one for a "525" that had no hole for the tie rod end and I was able to drill that myself. I think I did mine to 6.25". I'm not so sure that the Vega and "525" are the same so check with them on that as well.

 

I cut and welded one. I drilled and tapped each end. Screwed them together with a 3/8" grade 8 bolt (head cut off). I wanted a little angle on the bottom half, so I was able to turn it some before I welded everything together. Gene.

 

The end of your pitman arm looks like it is oval shaped. Looks like there is enough room to put a second hole. When shortening, it only takes a small amount to noticeably slow the steering ratio. Tapering the new hole correctly is important.

 

Heat and put a couple bends in it, to make it shorter.

 

I have welded them with no issues. Cut , V-grind, preheat, tig weld with like a 309 ss wire , pean as you go and post heat. Wrap in a non flammable cloth ( I use large welding gloves) and let it cool slowly.

 

I was looking at Summit racing, pitman arm part # CLP-VEGA-PA,and it shows it fits both manual Vega, and 525 boxes. This one measures 6.375,but there are many others out there.

 

Vega and 525 arms don’t interchange. The only Vega one that does is the Cosworth Vega which used the 525 box. Early Ford arms do fit at least 40-48.

 

A couple slight bends like this would slow it down.

 

I have cut, beveled, and welded up probably somewhere near 30 pitman arms.

Zero failures.

 

Most stock 525 arms are shorter. Mine was about 5" and was way too slow so I bought an after market 7". Made a big difference.

Dave