steering gear arm hitting header

[jpaulf74]

ok I've a 69 belvedere ang I have (almost) installed new headers. I can't get the center link on because the header impedes it on the driver side. I started to swing the steering gear arm over just to see if I did get the center link on if it waould all work. but the bolt that comes down through the steering gear arm hits the header so that even if I got the center link on, the bolt would still hit the header when I turn right. anyone encounter this before? is this a job for a torch? help!

[coolcarz]

Yes we all encounter this kinda thing in one way or the other.. hehe. but, have you lowered the car off the jack to see if they will still hit?.. if they hit with the car jacked up, they may not with it down.. if they do, you may be able to use a hammer and adjust the area they hit at , with a small dent, try not to kill them , do as little as needed to clear... oh one more thing the centerlink probley does go through the headers, on the drivers side,,,,,,

coolcarz

[cuda66273]

My A-Body Super Comps had the same problem, I opted to put a slight bend in the pitman arm AND idler arm so the angles match. You'll need a press to bend them and about 1/8" on the upper bend is as far as I would go that will give you about 1/2" lower on the rub point.

[jpaulf74]

yes it does go through the headers, but taking it down off the jack stands shouldn't do anything for the clearance between the header and the steering gear (pitman) arm the way I see it. they're both stationary. I was looking for some kind of adjustment that could bring the pitman arm up a 1/4" from the ground but it doesn't seem to have any.

cuda, how did you bend the pitman arm & idler arm. did you have to take them off? did you have to heat them?

[cuda66273]

Put them in the big press, blocked the ends up and pumped away...take careful measurements so you get them identical...if any cracks appear chuck it and go get a Moog replacement part.

[jpaulf74]

ok great. will do. thanks for the feedback guys.

[littlecampbell]

Oooops! I ordered an idler arm for my 69 dart a couple of days ago and of couse it wasnt the same as the old one. Turns out the new one was correct for that year with the bolt through ( H shaped) connector on the Kmember. I evidently have an older style Kmember with a bolt on idler arm attatchment. So I pick up the older style idler and it will fit but its angled steeper than the one in it! If the idler and pitman arms are not angled the same the centerlink will be lower (or higher) on one side than the other?.....What happens then? Something not too cool methinks

[cuda66273]

"Not to cool me thinks"

Yup...I've always been told by chassis builders that the two pieces need to be the same angle and length....so I've just always done it that way not wanting to find out why at 100 MPH going into turn one.

Maybe someone with excessive front end experience can explain the geometry....it's beyond me...sometimes it's just easier to listen to a pro and not question the theory.