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Technical Pitman Arm with reverse taper

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by NB141FD, Jan 31, 2023.

  1. NB141FD
    Joined: Apr 15, 2015
    Posts: 139

    NB141FD

    Does anyone know of an early Ford Pitman Arm with a reverse taper? I would like to mount a pitman arm similar to the one shown in this pic: [​IMG]
    I know I could ream a 7° taper on the inside but was hoping to find an arm with the taper already on the engine side of the Pitman. My current setup hits the radius rod on minor bumps. TIA
    Tony
     
  2. Mart
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 4,893

    Mart
    Member

    A 32 arm has the joint on the inside.
     
    porknbeaner likes this.
  3. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 20,408

    alchemy
    Member

    Why not just taper it halfway from the other side? You like to spend money on extra parts?
     
    olscrounger, dana barlow and Tman like this.
  4. BINGO!
     
    dana barlow likes this.

  5. sdroadster
    Joined: Jul 27, 2006
    Posts: 420

    sdroadster
    Member

    Is that what the correct taper is, 7 degrees?
     
    Pete Eastwood and seb fontana like this.
  6. Pete1
    Joined: Aug 23, 2004
    Posts: 2,254

    Pete1
    Member
    from Wa.

    The previous suggestions are good, all except the half way taper BAD SCENE.
    You can go to truck tie rod ends and you will have enough meat for a full taper.
    They are 3/4 instead of 11/16.
    Be sure to square the tube ends and use jamb nuts.
     
  7. seb fontana
    Joined: Sep 1, 2005
    Posts: 8,444

    seb fontana
    Member
    from ct

    reaming half way from other side will work fine if you put a step on the face of the nut to match the old taper dia. only need about .030.
     
  8. Pete1
    Joined: Aug 23, 2004
    Posts: 2,254

    Pete1
    Member
    from Wa.

    If he plans on any racing, it won't pass tech.
     
  9. '29 Gizmo
    Joined: Nov 6, 2022
    Posts: 766

    '29 Gizmo
    Member
    from UK

    You can buy split taper sleeves. Drill the hole through, put the sleeve in with the taper in the side you want it then assemble. The split alows the sleeve to expand and lock in the bore.
     
    34 GAZ likes this.
  10. Xman likes this.
  11. Pete1
    Joined: Aug 23, 2004
    Posts: 2,254

    Pete1
    Member
    from Wa.

    gary macdonald likes this.
  12. Do a search and you will see that the ones that are 50-50 are usually forged and or thicker than the cheap junk passed off to hot rodders.
     
  13. Pete1
    Joined: Aug 23, 2004
    Posts: 2,254

    Pete1
    Member
    from Wa.

    Ok, no sweat, I will take your word for that.
     
  14. NB141FD
    Joined: Apr 15, 2015
    Posts: 139

    NB141FD

    Thanks Mart, so I wouldn't have to taper the engine side of the arm and it would fit an F1 box?
     
  15. NB141FD
    Joined: Apr 15, 2015
    Posts: 139

    NB141FD

    Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I have to buy a new pitman arm anyway because my current one upload_2023-1-31_17-8-30.jpeg
    looks like this. I had to heat and bend it to get it away from the radius rod. I'm not happy with it because of the effect on my steering and I have no confidence on the metal's integrity. I'll check out the 32 pitman arm and if it doesn't work out I'll check into reaming the backside of a standard arm.
     
  16. dreracecar
    Joined: Aug 27, 2009
    Posts: 3,476

    dreracecar
    Member
    from so-cal

    How would tech even know ???
     
  17. Pete1
    Joined: Aug 23, 2004
    Posts: 2,254

    Pete1
    Member
    from Wa.

    Ve haf vays uf making you talk...lol
     
  18. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 20,408

    alchemy
    Member

    A real 32 pitman will cost ten times what any other year pitman will cost. From 35 through 48 Ford used a bunch of different arms that will fit the box. Some will need a slight tweak to bend it, and some will need a taper from the other side. And maybe one of them might just fit perfectly without any mods. Sorry I don’t have a list of the tilts and taper directions.
     
    gary macdonald likes this.
  19. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 8,801

    Marty Strode
    Member

    Pete, more like "making you tech" !
     
  20. 31Apickup
    Joined: Nov 8, 2005
    Posts: 3,367

    31Apickup
    Member

    Saginaw 525 boxes also have the same spline.
     
    RMR&C and HotRod33 like this.
  21. Yup, never saw "tech" unbolt a pitman or steering arm..................ever. And Tech was small caps and in quotes because most of them are failed racers that can't fabricate....................
     
    Atwater Mike, sko_ford and 2OLD2FAST like this.
  22. brading
    Joined: Sep 9, 2019
    Posts: 704

    brading
    Member

    Just a thought could the hole be TIG welded up then drilled and tapered from the other side.
     
  23. Illustrious Hector
    Joined: Jun 15, 2020
    Posts: 452

    Illustrious Hector
    Member

    I'd be unhappy too. Is there any way to tuck the radius rods closer to the car's center line?
     
  24. Mart
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 4,893

    Mart
    Member

    A 32 arm on an F1 box in a 32.
    32pitman.jpg
     
    gary macdonald, big duece and Tman like this.
  25. alphabet soup
    Joined: Jan 8, 2011
    Posts: 2,017

    alphabet soup
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Too hard to lower the mounting point of the wishbone, and even get a little more positive caster out of the deal? Im doing the same thing right now on the Jalopy I'm working on. Gene.
     
  26. dreracecar
    Joined: Aug 27, 2009
    Posts: 3,476

    dreracecar
    Member
    from so-cal

    Only because Ive been welding for 40 years, I would cut it off, flip it and weld it back on (the big end)
     
  27. Heat it and twist the arm 180 degrees like in the old days.;)
     
  28. Mart
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 4,893

    Mart
    Member

    You might not necessarily need a 32 arm, although one would be ideal.
    Here are 2 steering arms that would work. One I have put a kink in it to emulate the kink in the 32 arm. You ought to be able to find one of these part numbers. These are tapered from the steering box side. You might need to re-clock the splines. A simple filing job by all accounts.
    IMG_20230201_174756[1].jpg
     
    29Roadie likes this.
  29. Jay McDonald
    Joined: Apr 6, 2020
    Posts: 117

    Jay McDonald

    built dozens of arms that way for dirt track cars, never had a problem even in that harsh environment.
     
    Tman likes this.
  30. alphabet soup
    Joined: Jan 8, 2011
    Posts: 2,017

    alphabet soup
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I don't know, enough to know...is that a '32 or an A frame? If it's an A, what steering box does it look like?
    I see it fits with a SBC. A modified F-1??? Thanks, Gene.
     

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