I wanted to separate this from my Plank thread.
I have an issue with my steering linkage VS long tube headers and oil pan. Before swapping in the V8, I was running power steering linkage without the pump or assist ram. Worked fine. As I did the swap, the pitman and idler arms were hitting the headers. The draglink appeared to go through the oil pan fine.
Made clearance for the idler, seems ok. Clearanced for the pitman arm base, but swing was crashing hard into the headers. Tried making the linkage work but I gave up and scored some used MANUAL linkage parts for free. (Retired older guy with 3 Novas, '67 ElCo, and fishing boat in an 8 car garage. Nice guy, just wanted to help)
Well... manual linkage uses a different idler/pitman/and draglink. I used everything including the tie rod ends from the donated 1967 front clip. Looking up replacement parts for these cars, 63-67 is the same replacement steering linkages, so I am assuming it should work on mine.
Now I have major draglink VS oil pan interference and very similar pitman arm to header issues. Header and oil pan manufacturers both require manual linkages. Kinda at my wits end with this. I've tried, with my budget, to make all this work. It's should interfere yet it does, badly. I'm glad I didn't BUY this linkage.
If you have any experience and can spot what I did wrong, please let me know. Before I jump into modifying things, I need to step back and check if it's a simple mistake. I could cut the oil pan and make that work but the header/pitman is still very intimate.
Idlers side TRE hitting pan
How close the draglink is.
Draglink needs to go down to meet pitman arm.
Draglink position at full turn passenger but pitman is 2" short of attaching. Currently hitting headers.
Driver side TRE hitting oil pan. I don't need the extra capacity in that Jet Leno chin of an oil pan, I wish they wouldn't make it like that but I have header issues also
I have an issue with my steering linkage VS long tube headers and oil pan. Before swapping in the V8, I was running power steering linkage without the pump or assist ram. Worked fine. As I did the swap, the pitman and idler arms were hitting the headers. The draglink appeared to go through the oil pan fine.
Made clearance for the idler, seems ok. Clearanced for the pitman arm base, but swing was crashing hard into the headers. Tried making the linkage work but I gave up and scored some used MANUAL linkage parts for free. (Retired older guy with 3 Novas, '67 ElCo, and fishing boat in an 8 car garage. Nice guy, just wanted to help)
Well... manual linkage uses a different idler/pitman/and draglink. I used everything including the tie rod ends from the donated 1967 front clip. Looking up replacement parts for these cars, 63-67 is the same replacement steering linkages, so I am assuming it should work on mine.
Now I have major draglink VS oil pan interference and very similar pitman arm to header issues. Header and oil pan manufacturers both require manual linkages. Kinda at my wits end with this. I've tried, with my budget, to make all this work. It's should interfere yet it does, badly. I'm glad I didn't BUY this linkage.
If you have any experience and can spot what I did wrong, please let me know. Before I jump into modifying things, I need to step back and check if it's a simple mistake. I could cut the oil pan and make that work but the header/pitman is still very intimate.
Idlers side TRE hitting pan
How close the draglink is.
Draglink needs to go down to meet pitman arm.
Draglink position at full turn passenger but pitman is 2" short of attaching. Currently hitting headers.
Driver side TRE hitting oil pan. I don't need the extra capacity in that Jet Leno chin of an oil pan, I wish they wouldn't make it like that but I have header issues also
