I have recently replaced my power steering with a manual unit for clearance and to clean up the engine bay, the power steering that was in it was the original 73 stuff and the pitman arm shaft is 1 1/12 inch, the manual box I installed had to have come out of an older car since it appears to have the 72 and older 1 inch pitman arm shaft. I also think the box came out of a truck due to the pitman arm shape. My question is this, are the a-body pitman arms of 1972 and older the same as the 73 and newer except for the pitman arm shaft diameter, with my luck Im sure they are not. Any answers will be greatly appreciated. It doesnt steer well without the pitman arm.

 

1972 and earlier steering boxes(power and manual) had the small sector shaft and the pitman arm drops down and meets the center link from the bottom.


1973 and later steering boxes had the larger sector shaft and the pitman arm meets the center link from the top.


The hole for the pitman arm bolt in the center link is tapered relative to the year.


In order to use an earlier box in a later model, the center link, idler arm and pitman arm must be changed. So the easiest solution is to get the right box.


I have a later box for my 72 Dart and I am facing this dilemma now. It is frustrating.

 

save all of the old stuff.....Have you tried to flip the arm over ?

 

I found some new information. Not sure how accurate this is, but it's more information nonetheless.


http://www.bigblockdart.com/techpages/steeringbox.shtml