I have a original’63 impala power steering gear box that I just installed but the tie rods, and relay rod won’t connect to the pitman arm. I tried messing with the tie rods but they can be adjusted only so far. Either i remove and move the pitman arm or move the steering shaft where it connects to the gear box. Isn’t the pitman arm usually clocked into the gear box? What do you guys think I should do?
Most pitman arms have a few teeth missing , clocked so it can only go on one way. Don't know chevys much
Can't see what you are showing us, but if the pitman clocking can get what you need, grinding away the blank teeth will get you there.
It is a stock factory ps gearbox. I’m installing PS to a ‘63 that didn’t have it before. I have all the parts for PS . The pitman arm or the wheels need to move so I can connect all the steerring linkages.
Here’s a photo, although it doesn’t show a lot, but I think you have to change the pitman arm when changing a standard steering ‘63 Impala to PS. The std. steering pitman has the tapered ball stud integral with the pitman, whereas the PS pitman has a tapered eye that accepts a tapered ball stud that will be on the PS control valve. The control valve is in back of the two hoses at the bottom. Also the control valve will require a different center link, the valve screws onto the center link at the left end of the control valve. This photo shows the control valve, to the left there is an internal thread, (NF, maybe 3/4-20, I’m not sure) where the center link screws in and you can also see the tapered stud that goes into the PS pitman. I think your manual steering pitman looks like this ^ If I’m all wet with this advice don’t be afraid to call me out, I’m going from memory on a ‘67 Nova with PS that I had decades ago.
You're exactly right. Dedicated power steering boxes didn't happen until 1965. Sounds like there's a bunch of mis-matched parts.
The pitman Arm has 2 "Guide Splines" and only fits one position Your original question doesn't make sense . If you have the power ram centerlink already installed you must have already changed the pitman. Or did you swap the steering box as well??? The power steering and manual pitman arms are totally different animals [1 is male taper and the other female taper]
I’m going to leave the pitman arm on since I don’t have a big socket to remove it. It’s original from a ps equipment impala so it’s supposed to be where it’s located. I’ll mess with the tie rods and steering column and see what happens.
Sounds less than optimal. If you get the nut off, you would then need a puller to get the arm off. If the box is not pointed straight ahead, you may have a problem with the steering shaft coupler being in a bind. Maybe a nearby HAMB member would give you a hand. I think you need it. Where are you located?
We’re missing some important information, are you saying you have an original ‘63 PS steering box? The steering gear is the same for manual or power steering, only the pitman arm and linkage is different. If you have the ‘63 box with correct pitman arm on it do you have the PS center link and PS control valve to connect your pitman to? IDK just what application this image shows but it illustrates the parts that GM used until they eliminated the control valve and slave cylinder. The Saginaw integrated PS boxes plumbed the hoses directly into the steering box, unlike into the control valve and slave as seen above. Post photos of your steering box and the linkage so we can see what you are working with.
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