Ford van pitman arm.. wrong index???

[POORBOYK5]

I got a couple of the 80's ford van pitman arms that I tea about on here. I popped the factory Gm pitman arm
Off and went to slide this one on. It's 45* off by the looks of it the Gm one has an index right in line with the arm and the for ones are off by 45* am I missing something??

Ford on the left and Gm on the right.

 

[Deuling]

Can you turn the spline in the box to make it centered right??

 

[POORBOYK5]

Thats what I'm wondering. But was wondering what others had done before I tear onto it.

 

[POORBOYK5]

Edit. That does not appear poss. Theres only 3 teeth on the sector shaft. It'll hit the box before it's gets through the full steering cycle. I wonder of I should just file off the keyed parts of the splines on the pitman?

 

[63chevyll]

No, you can't re-turn the box to center.
You will need the correct spline to have equal turns right and left and be at true center

 

[NorCal_Chris]

you got the wrong year one. they are different than the earlier ford van arms like PRE 80

 

[POORBOYK5]

Ok. Figured the similarities in body style would be ok. I'll keep an eye out for pre 80

 

[63chevyll]

Edit. That does not appear poss. Theres only 3 teeth on the sector shaft. It'll hit the box before it's gets through the full steering cycle. I wonder of I should just file off the keyed parts of the splines on the pitman?

I've heard of people grinding out the spines on hot rod stuff, and have been curious if others have done it on full size rigs.

 

[imiceman44]

That is what I and most people have done.

Edit. That does not appear poss. Theres only 3 teeth on the sector shaft. It'll hit the box before it's gets through the full steering cycle. I wonder of I should just file off the keyed parts of the splines on the pitman?

 

[POORBOYK5]

Sweet. What's the best/easiest method?

 

[imiceman44]

Sweet. What's the best/easiest method?

No real easy way here, the good thing is you do not need to have it clean splines, as long as it doesn't get in the way of the splines you are good. The rest of the splines will still do the work.
Some remove the whole thing completely because it's hard to match the spline angles, I filed at it with a small wedge file until I got it to fit.