'36 with a '40 steering box problem?

[36tudordeluxe]

Have a rebuilt '40 steering box in my '36 and it feels like powering steering now. The problem is after I center the steering box, the wheels straight forward, steering wheel centered and drag link adjusted to the Pitman arm I no longer have 4 1/2 turns lock to lock but 4 turns lock to lock and it's 1 3/4 turn one way and 2 1/4 the other way. When the steering box is centered the Pitman is not pointing straight ahead or the 12 o'clock position but rather the 1 o'clock position; could that be the problem? Also, am using a '36 Pitman arm but was told that shouldn't be a problem. I have a 4" dropped axle, reversed eyes and split wishbones. Bottom line, am loosing half turn to the right yet the right tire turns slightly further than left tire locked to the left.
Any ideas?

[Karl Wolf]

Find the center of the steering box.
At this place, the pitman arm should be at a perpendicular to a (theoretical) line parallel to the drag link.
(I took a die grinder to the features inside the pitman arm that limit where it can be placed- so as to be able to position it.)

The drag link should be as close to parallel to the roadway, or more exactly, the drag link end should be at the same height as it where meets the left spindle.

After that there aren't a lot of choices- that I can think of...

Karl

[36tudordeluxe]

Karl, thanks for responding. The Drag link is parallel to the ground and the pitman isn't perpendicular to the drag link; sounds like I'll have to get in there with a Dremel or small file so that I can move the pitman arm over a little.

[skidmarks]

The indexing or wide spline inside the pitman arm. I have split them in half with a hacksaw blade then touched them up with a small triangle file. .

[JSeery]

Takes a little time, but I have always done it by hand with a triangle file.

[36tudordeluxe]

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Will see which method works best for me to re-clock the arm. Before putting the '40 box in no one ever mentioned it requires indexing of pitman arm. Tried the '40 arm that came with the box but drag link would hit the bottom of the pan even though I have dropped steering arms. Looks like slow tedious work ahead for me!

[37 truck]

I have one thought that happened to my 1937 steering box. I rebuilt the steering box with a new worm gear and a new pin and roller for my existing sector shaft. When put back together it turned to the right all the way, but was about 1/2 turn shy going left. On inspection the replacement pin was slightly longer than the original and hit the steering box case before reaching full turn. I ground the pin down and put a spot weld on it. Problem solved.

[36tudordeluxe]

37 truck, I get full travel in either direction as long as the drag link isn't connected to the pitman arm; don't think I have the problem you did.

[skidmarks]

Isnt the 35-36 drag link alitle different then the 37-41?

[Straightpipes]

I have a 40 steering box in my 35 coupe. I didnt have to doany of that.

[FlatheadTed]

You can use the hack saw method quiet happily thread the blade through then reattach it ,then just cut in the middle of the locater segment then on a angle both sides. Ted

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by Straightpipes

I have a 40 steering box in my 35 coupe. I didnt have to doany of that.

It's a fairly common issue, but I don't know which combination leads to it. I had to do mine with an F1 box in a 33.