The Ford Barn

gwillford · 11-29-2022, 08:23 AM

I am currently installing a shortened pitman arm in my 30 Town Sedan. I have noticed that at full aft stroke, the nut that is on the bolt securing the arm to the steering box shaft is hitting the fender above it when the pitman arm is rotated completely aft to the point of hitting the stop bolt on the spindle. Enough to dent it… As a note, my drag link is stock and the steering arm on the left side is not bent. There are new cups and springs in the drag link as I rebuilt it when rebuild the complete front end. I have 2 1931 As locally to compare to dimensionally. I have discovered that the gearbox mounting holes are about ¼ in higher (closer to fender) on a 30 than a 31. My frame is not bent or altered. It’s how it was made from the factory. So, my arm sits close to the fender above as built. The extra stoke of the short pitman arm doesn’t help with a marginal clearance. That’s the background, now the question. Anyone else experience this? Are all new shortened arms coming from the same supplier? To the eyeball, the pinch bolt does seem to sit a little higher above center than my stock arm. Anyone else encounter this? Fixes tried and working? Thanks for the input!

11-29-2022, 08:23 AM	#1
gwillford Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2022 Posts: 22	Pitman arm interference issue I am currently installing a shortened pitman arm in my 30 Town Sedan. I have noticed that at full aft stroke, the nut that is on the bolt securing the arm to the steering box shaft is hitting the fender above it when the pitman arm is rotated completely aft to the point of hitting the stop bolt on the spindle. Enough to dent it… As a note, my drag link is stock and the steering arm on the left side is not bent. There are new cups and springs in the drag link as I rebuilt it when rebuild the complete front end. I have 2 1931 As locally to compare to dimensionally. I have discovered that the gearbox mounting holes are about ¼ in higher (closer to fender) on a 30 than a 31. My frame is not bent or altered. It’s how it was made from the factory. So, my arm sits close to the fender above as built. The extra stoke of the short pitman arm doesn’t help with a marginal clearance. That’s the background, now the question. Anyone else experience this? Are all new shortened arms coming from the same supplier? To the eyeball, the pinch bolt does seem to sit a little higher above center than my stock arm. Anyone else encounter this? Fixes tried and working? Thanks for the input!