Moved the drag link all the way in. It gave the proper steering radius. Took the car off the stands and the front wheels barely move. I am thinking my pitman arm is too short. I am 2-1/2” higher at the pitman shaft than the front link ball. and my kingpin to draglink vs pitman arm ratio is 1-1/2” off. Suggesting I need a longer pitman arm. HELP IS VERY APPRECIATED!
IMO, that setup is never going to work right. The steering box is way too high for a start. However. The pitman arm length and the steering arm at the spindle length need to be the same center to center. The pitman arm needs to point straight down at the center of steering box travel with the wheels straight ahead. Start there...
Thx for your reply. First build, Apparently I did step 999 before step 114. Now I have to work with what I have.
Yep, I agree. First center the box in it's travel, then attach the pitman arm pointing straight down. You might need to file a couple wide splines out of the pitman arm with a pointed file so you have infinite adjustment. Then make/buy a drag link that will fit. I'd bet your current drag link is too short if the tires are straight but the pitman is already pointing forward. And use the long location on the spindle arm. If you find the steering ratio is wrong, it's the box's problem not the spindle arm's problem.
She did have more turning radius. Until I took the jack stands out. Now she barely turns with the steering wheel. Looking into the pitman length.
You really need to inspect the box internals. I suspect bad damage. You could measure the total degrees the box will move without the drag link. You could also measure the total angle the spindle will move. If the box will move 90* and the spindle say 75*, the ratio of the arm lengths would be 90/75 with the spindle arm the longest.
The Jalopy Journal
