Took the power steering box off my 84 Z/28,and plan to replace it with a manual box from an 89 S-10,there is a one inch differance in the length of the pitman arms,with the original camaro one being longer (aprox 7" where the S-10 is 6")

did a search on this site,but cant seem to find a definate answer on which arm to use,anyone with actual experiance?

 

I had to use the stock arm. The s-10 one had a big drop to it that'd screw up the angles of things.

 

Ok,thank you,i had planned to use the stock one,just not having any luck removing it thus far

 

Although both will work, you should use the third gen arm to keep the same steering geometry. Using the shorter pitman arm will make your turning radius greater as it won't move the steering linkage from side to side as much as a longer arm with the same amount of steering wheel travel.

If both arms allow the wheels to turn right to the steering stops then the turning radius will remain the same. Turning from the internal stops from stop to stop with a power box is around 3-1/2 turns. From stop to stop with the S10 manual box is 7 turns. The mechanical stops on the spindles and a-arms may reduce the amount of turns available.

I run a 27.5" tall front skinny tire on my drag car. I can't turn from stop to stop because the tires hit the inner fenders. My "tire hit" to "tire hit" is about 4 turns of the steering wheel but in a drag car, I make very few sharp turns and will do 3 point turns if a turn is too sharp.

The best way to remove the pitman arm is with a pitman arm puller. It's just about impossible to remove it any other way. A puller should be available for rental from your local auto parts store.

 

thank you for replying, had the thing in a press (lots of rigging to get around the housing) i stop by oriely's after work tues and see what they have to rent.

 

I don't like pitman arm pullers. After I ruined one, I just used a press. Much easier. Did you try heating it up at all?

 

Not yet,but is next on the list,just have to find some heat

 

I was wondering how tall a front i could get on this car,so thanks for this tidbit also,i'm wanting to get these 24" radials off , now i know how tall i can go, thanks again for repling

 

Factory tire height is 26". I originally wanted 28 on the front but now I'm glad they weren't available.

I've seen a lot of cheap pitman arm pullers. Most look like some kind of gear or C shaped puller. I have a real GM pitman arm puller. Something like this.

 

Finaly got both of them off this evening and made the switch, took a big press a lil heat,and pow,they both made everyone in the shop jump.Got it all together,and it works good from all i can tell in the driveway,we'll go test friday night, it opened up alot of room down in that area too.

The skinnies on the front of my ole car are 24" tall,it just looks goofy to me,and plus I have a "thing" about having the same brand on all 4 corners,so eventualy it'll get a set of mickey fronts to match the rears,

thanks again for all the replies,I only wanted to do it once