Pitman arm on corvair

[akitagandy]

OK ,I need some help my T steers like a big rig ,this is what I have,A stock front end out of 54 Chevy truck and the steering arm is 8" and a corvair steering box with a pitman arm 5" center to center that I got from Ron everything is tight and no slop but it takes too many turns of the steering wheel to turn a corner.How long are your pitman arm and steering arms ?

 

[RPM]

I can make you a longer pitman arm.

 

[rooster57]

I can make you a longer pitman arm.

I thought the Vair boxes came in two configurations. Close duration 5 rounds lock to lock and then the long which is about 8 rounds????

 

[409T]

I thought the Vair boxes came in two configurations. Close duration 5 rounds lock to lock and then the long which is about 8 rounds????

I know that Flaming River sells both types, but you better be sitting down when you read the price.

Jeff

 

[Francis Blake]

My steering arm is 6 inches center to center, or a longer pitman arm would make the steering quicker.

 

[RPM]

I thought the Vair boxes came in two configurations. Close duration 5 rounds lock to lock and then the long which is about 8 rounds????

I was thinking it is 3 turns and 5 turns. All of the hundreds of boxes I have dona have all been 5 turns. I have seen a few quick ratio boxes on Ebay go for $700-800. I think they were left over from the Corvair racing days.

 

[tenbears]

I was thinking it is 3 turns and 5 turns. All of the hundreds of boxes I have dona have all been 5 turns. I have seen a few quick ratio boxes on Ebay go for $700-800. I think they were left over from the Corvair racing days.

Hello, I was talking with Ron Young today about mounting my Corvair box on my flathead T project. He said to make sure I make a stop on the spindle somewhere so the steering box is not maxed out in turning in either direction which could lead to corvair box failure. I'll heed his advice and wisdom. This whole article has been very helpful to me as well as this forum.Thanks to everyone for thier advice and hope my two cents is of value. By the way, my box is a 3 turns.

 

[akitagandy]

I changed my steering arm from 8" to 6" and it works fine now

 

[rooster57]

I changed my steering arm from 8" to 6" and it works fine now

Thats got me thinking now ( sounds dangerous for someone doesn't it ) i think mine is also 3 i will check it
So i was FOH about the 5 and 8 i think i meant 3 and 5 . FOH= Full of Hooey

 

[one finger john]

Thats got me thinking now ( sounds dangerous for someone doesn't it ) i think mine is also 3 i will check it
So i was FOH about the 5 and 8 i think i meant 3 and 5 . FOH= Full of Hooey

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Keeper]

Thanks for all the info. I had to go check my box when I got home, it was 3 turns lock to lock, cool I got one of the quick ratio ones.

Then I realized it was the arms hitting the shackles. Took off the tierod and its 5 lock to lock. Damn

Both my pitman arm and steering arm are 6 inches. Though I think I will have to swap out the steering arm due to tire interference. Should know in the next couple of days, I got the tires now just need to mount them.

 

[GAB]

I have a Corvair box that takes 5 + turns of the input shaft turn the pitman shaft lock to lock. It takes 4-1/2 turns to turn the pitman shaft 90° so it would take 18 turns of the input shaft to turn the pitman one complete revolution. The gear ratio of the steering box is 18 to 1 . I think that is the terminology that is used when discussing steering units.

At 3 turns for 90° of rotation, the ratio would be 12 to 1. Seems like I have seen that 16 to 1 is pretty common for box types of steering.

 

[Keeper]

Follow up Q on this.

Can you straighten a stock corvair pitman arm? I need a straight one to avoid the tire when turning left. If I make it completely straight it will not hit the tire.

So do I straighten the stock one or just buy a new one?

 

[RPM]

Follow up Q on this.

Can you straighten a stock corvair pitman arm? I need a straight one to avoid the tire when turning left. If I make it completely straight it will not hit the tire.

So do I straighten the stock one or just buy a new one?

The stock one is a good forging. I don't see a problem heating it and straightening it out. Just let it cool real slow.

 

[Ted Brown]

You can also bolt the drag link to the inside of the stock arm, and also use a spacer, if more clearance is needed at the tire touching point (about 5/8" spacer) this is how I run mine... Drive safe

 

[Keeper]

You can also bolt the drag link to the inside of the stock arm, and also use a spacer, if more clearance is needed at the tire touching point (about 5/8" spacer) this is how I run mine... Drive safe

Yeah I moved it to the inside, added a spacer but by the time I had all the spacers in, it was perfect for a straight arm, then no tire touch!

I did not want to make a longer steering arm to avoid what the OP ran into.

 

[Ted Brown]

I myself, when wanting a pitman either length change (if I can't just add another end on to the stock arm) or shape, I cut and weld a new middle piece of stock, shape it to look stock, rather than bending a stock arm... just the way I do it... Steering is an area where I like to keep all things as safe as possible... (I trust my own welds) Drive safe

 

[Youngster]

RPM is right. heating and shaping the 'vair arm is OK. When I do this, I heat it , shape it and bury it in my blast cabinet. That slows the cooling process down.

Ron

 

[Northstar T]

RPM is right. heating and shaping the 'vair arm is OK. When I do this, I heat it , shape it and bury it in my blast cabinet. That slows the cooling process down.

Ron

if you have a wood stove, the wood ash works fantastic as a media. after over an hour in the ash you still need leather gloves to handle the part. sloooooooooww cooling is good. just make sure that whatever media you use has ZERO moisture, or bad things can happen from the super heated steam when the red hot parts hit it.

Russ

 

[Keeper]

if you have a wood stove, the wood ash works fantastic as a media. after over an hour in the ash you still need leather gloves to handle the part. sloooooooooww cooling is good. just make sure that whatever media you use has ZERO moisture, or bad things can happen from the super heated steam when the red hot parts hit it.

Russ

I think I have a bag of ash from last season. I will have to take a look, if not, well I can make some more