Hey Doc,

Would appreciate your input r.e. my thread:


http://www.slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6329



Just read your post on the factory sway bar thread about swap-ability of early and late k-frames and suspension components, so I figure that (as usual) you're "the guy to ask".

Specifically, I need to know if the spline count or shaft diameter of the PS sector shaft changed between '71 and '74. If not, I think I'll just replace the rest of my old, '71 front suspension parts with '74 stuff.

Also, can you describe just how the A-body pitman arm, idler arm and center link changed over the years? (The PST catalog indicates that replacement, A-body idler arms are grouped as follows: '62-'66, '67, '68-'72 and '73-'85. A-body pitman arms are divided into 62-'72 and '73-'76).

Thanks!


---Red

Dug through my old Mopar Action Tech Specials and, in #1, E-berg states that PS sector went to a larger splines in 1973, though manual boxes remained unchanged.

So looks like I'm stuck with the '71 style idler and pitman unless I change boxes.


---Red

Talked to Dick at Firm Feel (seriously, guys: real guy, real place*)...figured he'd know if anybody would. He says using '71 idler and pitman in '73 k-frame is OK. You just have to use the '71 center link too. You can also chose to go with the '73-up idler, pitman and c-link and keep the older PS box with the old style splines---you just have to use the '73-up pitman for a MANUAL box, since the splines on those remained unchanged.

---Red

*www.firmfeel.com

This thread is a stone monologue...


---Red

Red,

So if the '71 pitman and idler arms fit your K-frame, then you are OK with the '71 centerlink, right?

It sounds to me like the centerlink is worn at the tapered part and needs to be replaced, or the actual idler shaft is worn. I've never seen this, and makes me think the nut might have gotten loose or it took damage on a bump impact? Weird.

Sorry I can't be more help here as I only have had experience with my '64 and '68 Darts and their stock Ks, centerlinks, and pitman/idlers, which all definitely work with the '73-76 tie rod ends (or C-body units).

Good hunting,

Lou

_________________
Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Lou...

I'm going to have to check a '73-up front end next time I go to the yard to see how the idler and pitman fit onto the c-link and K-frame on those cars.

If I understood Dick right, they fit together a little different from the '71 in terms of whether the shafts pass through the K-frame and c-link pointed up or pointed toward the ground. In any case, he says that whichever year I choose, I'll want all 3 pieces (idler, pitman and c-link to match...either all '71 or all '73-up).

What I didn't want to do was buy the '73-up stuff and then wind up having to get a newer PS box because the sector shaft splines on my '71 PS box wouldn't match the '73-up pitman splines. Now I know that using the '73-up MANUAL pitman would avoid that.

It doesn't seem to be the tapered hole in my '71 c-link that's worn...rather it's the idler shaft that fits through that hole that's the problem. That shaft is loose in its socket/bushing. It's supposed to be able to move laterally, but NOT up-and-down (which is what it's doing).

I hear you about you're setup working fine...my situation arose because I changed to the later K-frame. Maybe I'm overly paranoid...I just don't like playing fast-and-loose with steering, suspension and brakes...so I wanted to pick brains more experienced than my own before proceding.


---Red

Good research Red, you seem to have most of the answers.

I will not claim to know all the cross-overs with these parts but I did take a 73 and up "spool type" K frame and installed it into my 68 B'cuda.
I bolted-on all the earler parts and it worked-out nice.

I do remember looking at all the different centerlinks and idler / pitman arms, I used all the parts that gave me the most oil pan clearance, basically the stuff with the most "drop". The arms were the 68-72 ones, the centerlink was "out of the pile" but everything went together fine and the geometery is spot-on with the ride height set pretty low.
I even checked bumpsteer and it's minimal.

I do remember the later (73 and up) stuff, it did not have as much drop to the center link (a real flat looking centerlink) and the arm studs point down, nuts end-up on the bottomside of the centerlink.
My current set-up has the through bolt idler arm, the small spline steering box pitman arm (manual 16 to 1 box) 11/16 C-body tie rods and that deep drop centerlink with the arm nuts sitting on the topside.

Over the years, the car has been into two different alignment shops, both times it aligned without problems and the mechanics really loved the fact that the fenderwells are out of this racecar, it was the easest A-Body Mopar they ever had to adjust. They could get right at the upper A-arm cams without bending over!

Thanks for confirming the conclusions I'd come to. I feel more confortable proceding now that several "old hands" have confirmed my findings. I'm gonna get a new '71-style pitman and idler, keep my old c-link and PS box and button things back up.


---Red