What now? a final link - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

8door · 02-22-2005, 10:35 PM

Every thing is a ssembled, but the center link.
Converting a ram assisted power streering to power steering box.
1. Are all center links the same on 69 to 72?????????
2. Is power streering different than manual ??????????
Need your help. I haven't seen enough trucks to make the comparisons.

**402Bowtie** · 02-22-2005, 10:39 PM

i am not sure if all 2wd ctr links are the same...but as you may already know 2wd and 4wd centerlinks are very different.

8door · 02-22-2005, 10:56 PM

Ya that I know, because of the front diff.
This is fun learning stuff.

68C15 · 02-22-2005, 11:03 PM

I know the pitman arm is different for PS & MS.
I THINK that when they went to PS the size if the rod end studs got larger.
anyone else that can confirm or otherwise?
try this, www.napaonline.com

purple gas · 02-22-2005, 11:22 PM

I changed from maual to power steering, & I just took the steering box, pitman, & centre link all in one piece it bolted right up. I just poped off the tie rod ends & put the new stuff on. My truck is a '67, but I'm not sure what year the steering box was from It was shimmed out with a bunch of washers so it wasn't original to the donor truck?

8door · 02-22-2005, 11:25 PM

68C15
Tried your tip with Napa, nothing showed up under center link.
Thanks for info though, will phone them.

8door · 02-22-2005, 11:27 PM

purplegas
Did you pop the tie rod at the wheels or at the cenetr link? In other words you kept the tie rods attached from donor truck?

8door · 02-23-2005, 12:19 PM

Anyone else help with this?
Are pitman arms different because of bolt size? That makes sense.
Are all 69-72 center links the same?
Thanks for help so far.

**CPNE** · 02-23-2005, 05:55 PM

To further add to the confusion, here is what I've determined based upon parting many trucks and doing the conversion. This all pertains to 2wd models

1. Center links are the same for both manual and PS setups, except the 67 power assist ram style.

2. Center links are the same 1/2 and 3/4 ton (prob 1 ton too).

3. Center links are the same for 67-70, 71/72 are different. The difference is the tie rod end diameter, not the pitman arm diameter. 71/72 had disk brakes and consequently the tie rod end diameter is larger. This means if you have drums you want a 67-70 drag link, disks require the 71/72 version. You can mix and match tie rods to overcome this if you want.

4. Pitman arm diameter is the same between manual and PS steering boxes. They may be different in some respects but not the part that connects to the center link.

The short answer is, if drums get a center link off a 67-70. If disks get one off a 71 or 72.

I just did this on a 68 1/2 ton burb, PS gearbox came off unknown year, but bolted right up.

tmad · 02-23-2005, 06:21 PM

I just did the very same conversion last month! I bought my center link from Bisquick65 on this board,I think he told me it was from a 69 and it did work! I dont know if this helps ,maybe give him a shout and see if he remembers!!!

8door · 02-23-2005, 11:15 PM

cpne: my 68 has a ram assist.Maybe later in 68 they made a change to power steering box rather than the ram.
Thank you that helps me a lot.

tmad: you did answer a question of mine re: mounting the steering box.
when I get this all together I'll keep you informed.

Thanks again guys.

flip66 · 02-23-2005, 11:45 PM

The center links are not the same I have a 69 and changed to disc. the 72 inner tie rod ends will not fit in the 69 center link if you use the 69 inners and the 69 outers the outers will not fit the 71-72 spindle I have the part numbers I used at home I can get them later if you need them.

8door · 02-24-2005, 01:00 AM

CPNE said it all, very well I might add. The 71 72 are different from 69 70 and of course we all know now the 67 and some 68s are different.

purple gas · 02-24-2005, 03:32 AM

I poped the joints off the centre link. The donor truck had drum brakes, like mine. Hope this helps.

02-22-2005, 10:35 PM	#1
8door Not too old to learn Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 617	What now? a final link Every thing is a ssembled, but the center link. Converting a ram assisted power streering to power steering box. 1. Are all center links the same on 69 to 72????????? 2. Is power streering different than manual ?????????? Need your help. I haven't seen enough trucks to make the comparisons. __________________ 1968 C10 a way to long restoration.

02-22-2005, 10:56 PM	#3
8door Not too old to learn Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 617	Ya that I know, because of the front diff. This is fun learning stuff. __________________ 1968 C10 a way to long restoration.

02-22-2005, 11:03 PM	#4
68C15 blood type; Retumbo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: next to my reloading bench Posts: 10,269	I know the pitman arm is different for PS & MS. I THINK that when they went to PS the size if the rod end studs got larger. anyone else that can confirm or otherwise? try this, www.napaonline.com __________________ Man rule #77...if you own a 67 stepside with a caddy 472 you will never be in danger of loosing you man card

02-22-2005, 11:22 PM	#5
purple gas Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: saskatoon, planet earth Posts: 694	I changed from maual to power steering, & I just took the steering box, pitman, & centre link all in one piece it bolted right up. I just poped off the tie rod ends & put the new stuff on. My truck is a '67, but I'm not sure what year the steering box was from It was shimmed out with a bunch of washers so it wasn't original to the donor truck? __________________ I got a bench seat baby, you don't have to sit over there.

02-22-2005, 11:25 PM	#6
8door Not too old to learn Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 617	68C15 Tried your tip with Napa, nothing showed up under center link. Thanks for info though, will phone them. __________________ 1968 C10 a way to long restoration.

02-22-2005, 10:39 PM	#2
402Bowtie Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 3,734	i am not sure if all 2wd ctr links are the same...but as you may already know 2wd and 4wd centerlinks are very different.

02-22-2005, 11:27 PM	#7
8door Not too old to learn Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 617	purplegas Did you pop the tie rod at the wheels or at the cenetr link? In other words you kept the tie rods attached from donor truck? __________________ 1968 C10 a way to long restoration.

02-23-2005, 12:19 PM	#8
8door Not too old to learn Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 617	Anyone else help with this? Are pitman arms different because of bolt size? That makes sense. Are all 69-72 center links the same? Thanks for help so far. __________________ 1968 C10 a way to long restoration.

02-23-2005, 05:55 PM	#9
CPNE Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: NH Posts: 6,664	To further add to the confusion, here is what I've determined based upon parting many trucks and doing the conversion. This all pertains to 2wd models 1. Center links are the same for both manual and PS setups, except the 67 power assist ram style. 2. Center links are the same 1/2 and 3/4 ton (prob 1 ton too). 3. Center links are the same for 67-70, 71/72 are different. The difference is the tie rod end diameter, not the pitman arm diameter. 71/72 had disk brakes and consequently the tie rod end diameter is larger. This means if you have drums you want a 67-70 drag link, disks require the 71/72 version. You can mix and match tie rods to overcome this if you want. 4. Pitman arm diameter is the same between manual and PS steering boxes. They may be different in some respects but not the part that connects to the center link. The short answer is, if drums get a center link off a 67-70. If disks get one off a 71 or 72. I just did this on a 68 1/2 ton burb, PS gearbox came off unknown year, but bolted right up. __________________ Currently on or near the homestead: 67 Chevy SWB 2WD stepside 350/3 on tree (Pat's) 67 GMC SWB 2WD Fleet 402/auto (Brian's under construction) 67 Chevy 3/4 ton 2WD 402/auto (Business Hauler) 67 Chevy 1 ton dually 2WD 396/4 speed (Former business hauler, Needs TLC) 68 Chevy 1/2 ton Suburban 2WD 250 six/3 on tree (Brian's Needs TLC) 70 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD 350/4 speed (Pat's - Disguised as a 68 GMC) 71 Chevy SWB stepside (Crushed by tree - parts donor) 72 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD (Parts donor) 72 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD Suburban (Parts Donor) 72 GMC 3/4 ton 4WD 292 six/4 speed (Mine - Disguised as a 67 GMC) 81 GMC 4WD Dually Dump Body 350/4 speed (Business Hauler) 82 Camaro Z/28 355/Super T-10 (Pat's toy) 93 Caprice 9C1 (Brian's Cop Car) 02 Toyota Camry (Reliable but a souless steel and plastic hulk) 2011 2SS RS Camaro M6 Factory Hurst Shifter Maybe I need to sell some of this crap Yet another Bozo with a sawz-all

02-23-2005, 06:21 PM	#10
tmad Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: youngsville pa Posts: 166	I just did the very same conversion last month! I bought my center link from Bisquick65 on this board,I think he told me it was from a 69 and it did work! I dont know if this helps ,maybe give him a shout and see if he remembers!!!

02-23-2005, 11:15 PM	#11
8door Not too old to learn Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 617	cpne: my 68 has a ram assist.Maybe later in 68 they made a change to power steering box rather than the ram. Thank you that helps me a lot. tmad: you did answer a question of mine re: mounting the steering box. when I get this all together I'll keep you informed. Thanks again guys. __________________ 1968 C10 a way to long restoration.

02-23-2005, 11:45 PM	#12
flip66 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Garland TX Dallas area Posts: 658	The center links are not the same I have a 69 and changed to disc. the 72 inner tie rod ends will not fit in the 69 center link if you use the 69 inners and the 69 outers the outers will not fit the 71-72 spindle I have the part numbers I used at home I can get them later if you need them. __________________ 1998 Pontiac Grad Prix GTP 1969 C10 396 TH400 3.08 posi

02-24-2005, 01:00 AM	#13
8door Not too old to learn Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 617	CPNE said it all, very well I might add. The 71 72 are different from 69 70 and of course we all know now the 67 and some 68s are different. __________________ 1968 C10 a way to long restoration.

02-24-2005, 03:32 AM	#14
purple gas Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: saskatoon, planet earth Posts: 694	I poped the joints off the centre link. The donor truck had drum brakes, like mine. Hope this helps. __________________ I got a bench seat baby, you don't have to sit over there.



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