Steering Linkage Interference

[luvbowties]

Originally Posted by PGSigns

Our trucks don't use a sway bar with the links. They are attached to the lower control arm with a clamp that uses the two holes in your arms. Your bar is a good 3" higher than the stock bars. The other issue almost looks like the steering box is to far back. Do you have the old pitman arm to look at the length compared to the one you have? Or the part number of the new one?
Jimmy

Here's a pic of "our" sway bars. Not familiar w/yours: it MAY work; I just don't know.
Sam

[CRGRS 66]

Originally Posted by 65 C20

I just added P/S to my truck a couple of months ago.
I used a Moog K6131 pitman arm with no trouble.
I have a 65 C20 and the sway bar mounts differently than yours.
Like you I don't know all the names of the front end parts, but where the sway bar connects to the lower A arm (I will call it) it has the same type of rubber bushing and clamp as where the sway bar connects to the frame rails. It sits lower than your connection.
As far as how far the pitman arm goes on the steering box shaft I have approx. 5/8" space. The nut that I used was the same nut as the manual box and it was quite a bit thinner than yours.
I am not sure if sway bars are different for 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton or not.
What pitman arm do you have?
Cal.

Originally Posted by PGSigns

Our trucks don't use a sway bar with the links. They are attached to the lower control arm with a clamp that uses the two holes in your arms. Your bar is a good 3" higher than the stock bars. The other issue almost looks like the steering box is to far back. Do you have the old pitman arm to look at the length compared to the one you have? Or the part number of the new one?
Jimmy

Originally Posted by luvbowties

Shaft from your steering box is too big for eye in your center link(drag link). Else, reverse is true. They must match; and when hole & shaft match, pitman arm goes further up onto the st. box shaft.

You were correct when you noticed pitman arm did not go on far enough. Corrected, it will raise driver's end of center link--and tie rod ends--and should then clear both sway bar(if the bar is correct) and the frame when turning the other way.
Enjoy your project.
sam

Originally Posted by luvbowties

Here's a pic of "our" sway bars. Not familiar w/yours: it MAY work; I just don't know.
Sam

Thank you everyone.

The sway bar is from CPP (ADDCO unit) ordered specifically for my 66. No clearance issue on the passenger side, which is why I am suspecting that I have the wrong pitman arm. This pitman will not go any further onto the spline shaft.

Any chance someone could send me some rough dimensions on the K6131 pitman arm? I have not been able to find any dimensions on line yet. I may have the K6130 (manual steering unit), and I don't have the old pitman arm either. The nut pictured is a nylock nut from the fastener store... in my infinite wisdom I tossed the original pitman arm as well.

[Hansome]

Having read your post and seen your pictures i have come to the conclusion that.....

1) the sway bar is correct for the year but looks like you've been sent/ordered the rear swaybar mounts/ bolts

2) here is a tech article which would help you
http://www.earlyclassic.com/tech.asp...%20Sway%20Away

3) this will solve your main problem eg being able to turn and steer the wheels

Hope this helps

D

[CRGRS 66]

Originally Posted by Hansome

Having read your post and seen your pictures i have come to the conclusion that.....

1) the sway bar is correct for the year but looks like you've been sent/ordered the rear swaybar mounts/ bolts

2) here is a tech article which would help you
http://www.earlyclassic.com/tech.asp...%20Sway%20Away

3) this will solve your main problem eg being able to turn and steer the wheels

Hope this helps

D

Thanks for posting.
This is the sway bar I bought, and as I mentioned.
http://www.classicperform.com/Store/...ck/6372SBK.htm

There is no clearance issue on the passenger side, but as I mentioned earlier, the drag link is perilously close to the cross member.

[pdxhall]

Are you sure that's not a 4x4 pitman arm. It looks to have more drop than the one I put on but I don't have a real good picture. I just did mine last week with a 79 ps gear and Captain's bracket. Here's the best picture I could find.

[65 C20]

As far as the off-set on the Moog K6131, I just measured mine.
With a straight edge on top of the end with the grease nipple over to the main shaft I have approx. 5/8" off-set.
From what I can tell yours looks the same.
As mentioned by luvbowties, did you change your idler arm?, and does it also have the 5 1/4"eye to eye?
I also looked at the manual box pitman arm and it also has the 5 1/4" C/C with no offset but it is a smaller box. I believe that they are not inter-changeable as shaft sizes are different.
Keep us posted.
Cal.