I got the new adapter plate from rockabillykat the other day. Now my question, and I'm sure its already been answered, which pitman arm should I use with the Delphi steering box and what mods need to be done. I've been confused ( which ain't hard to do) 'cause I've read different threads on what to use for a pitman. Thanks for your help. Mark
I also just received the adaptor plate and he sent me a pm that said he would send some pictures and some instructions. So maybe they will be coming soon. I have read his post and a few others about the swap, But would also like to hear from anybody that has actually done the swap and driven the car to see how it has worked out for them. It seems to be great swap for our Fords and Mercs. It will be a great way to eliminate all the hyd hoses. and the lower slave unit. Ken
Hmmm, I never received any info from him after pming him my email address. Did you guys just order the bracket a week or two ago?
Retro, I have no pitman arm for my '54. I've also read where it needs modified to fit the Delphi box. Jay, It was ordered a while back and it came last Friday (April 29) I figured he was busy making the plates.
Hey Guys , I'm not familiar with the delphi box 'cos us dopey old flightless birds drive on the wrong side of the road! ( Kiwi's - New Zealand). But when I did the conversion on my wifeys '55 Ranchwagon I used a box out of a mid to late '80s Australian Falcon/fairlane which I think would be pretty much the RHD equivalent ? . There will be some pics in my Album of the conversion I did . I used the stock '55 pitman arm , just resplined it to suit the later box . Geometry is the main thing to be aware of when doing any suspension or steering swaps/mods. I grabbed 2 s**** pieces of 1" box and tacked them to the engine mount crossmember and the draglink (with wheels pointed straight ahead) before I removed ANYTHING of the old steering system . This ensured that when I positioned the new steering box (with modified '5 pitman fitted) I had no issues ensuring it was in the correct position . If you do have to use a pitman arm that is not the original for your car make sure it is the same length as your old pitman/idler arm - otherwise you wont have a draglink moving in the correct path .
I am going to just use a Jeep steering box and I read that you use your stock pitman arm for the conversion . Just curious on how you have a car and there is no pitman or steering box with the car ? Jim
you do use your stock pitman arm but the splines on the box are fatter and don't line up so you must grind them down on the pitman arm and have it resplined by heating the pitman and pressing a junk sector shaft from either a jeep box or a mid 80's chevy box since they have the same splines. i know a guy who'll do it for $25. if you send him the pitman already grinded
JPL streetrods is selling the borgeson kit on ebay for $600 + free shipping. The only mod needed is to shorten your steering column and add a ragjoint. it includes a new pitman arm. where as using the jeep box and doing all this stuff yourself will cost $300
Retro, The car was stolen from the owner I bought it from and was missing for 12 years. He bought the car in 1971. He had already started the P/S conversion with all new parts, including upper and lower control arms, power disc brakes, vintage air, etc. All that stuff was removed before he recovered the car. Found the car at a hot rod shop. He had to piece-meal it back together to get it home. He got dis- illusioned with it and sold it to me. This is the short version of the story.
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