Need help from the suspension gurus

[JGross]

I am converting my 65 C10 over to power steering and because the new gearbox will relocate the pitman arm I will need to reset the entire front suspension geometry. I have the welding skills and equipment to modify the parts but I lack the knowledge to know what to modify.

Here’s Where I’m At:

I have installed a power steering gearbox using an adapter plate welded to the frame. I made sure that the pitman arm angel matched the idler arm angel, however the drag link is now lower on the pitman arm side than the idler arm side.

This Is What I Think I Need To Do:

Relocate the Idler so that the drag link is level and parallel to the crossmember. Then I will modify the drag link so that the pitman arm and idler arm are parallel. This will be accomplished by adding or removing material from the drag link between the pitman and idler arm attachment points. When this is complete I will ensure that the steering gearbox is in the center of its travel then I will modify the drag link so that the tie rods are equal length when both wheels are pointing straight forward. I will also try to make sure that the angle of the tie rods match the angle of upper and lower control arms.

What else should I do?

Thanks

[slapthefunkyfour]

subscribed.

I'm trying to do the same thing to my 66 c20.

[Captainfab]

Do you have a pic of your steering box installation so I can see what maybe is going on?

[fryer1979]

Subscribed, curious as well.

[JGross]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Do you have a pic of your steering box installation so I can see what maybe is going on?

This isn't the best pic because it's raining and my wife yelled at me for taking her camera out in the rain.



These are the measurements I made of the drag link and pitman/idler arms.





You can see that the power steering box moved the base of the arms out 1/4 inch and dropped the drivers side of the drag link by 5/8 of an inch.

I will Fix the drag link drop by lowering the idler arm and I'm not sure that the pitman and idler arms being out of parallel by 1/4 is all that important, I'm hoping someone can let me know.

[Captainfab]

Honestly I wouldn't worry about the 1/4" out of parallel. I don't think that will cause any issues. I am however concerned about the 5/8" difference in height. Were you able to use the measurements in the instructions for the plate or did you move the plate forward?

[JGross]

For those following this thread I have started a new explaining what I'm doing.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=416586