Okay to start I have a 69 corvette convertible with a 454 block, Moroso oil pan, hooker headers (to the back) and was originally a non power steering car. I installed the Borgeson box and brace and it fir fine. I bought new Moog tie rod ends with greasable fittings, oem drag link from power steering car, Moog idler pulley and pitman arm for power steering car. I am running into two issue as I am tightening up the pitman arm.

1. the middle hole on the drag link that’s not used is going to hit the oil pan. I have about 1/2” left to go with the pitman arm and the edge of the drag ling by the hole is about to hit the oil pan. Should I have used a manual steering drag ling and/or pitman arm? Is there a custom drag link to clear the oil pan? I only found one place that made a custom lower drag link but it was almost $500!!! Hoping for a cheaper solution.





2. The second issue is the LH outside tie rod end zerk fitting is going to hit the lower control arm if I turn left. The RH outer clear enough but this side will hit. Granted I haven’t tightened up the pitman arm or drag link adapter yet so it might move a little and clear but seeing if anyone else had this. I could always removed the zerk fitting and cap it or get a tie rod without a zerk fitting. Car was frame off and didn’t see any signs of frame damage. Is there anything to adjust the lower control arm forward a 1/4”?





thanks,
Pat

 

What Moroso pan are you running?
Is it specific to a Corvette?

 

Moroso 20406

https://www.jegs.com/i/Moroso/710/20406/10002/-1

 

Is the nut on the tie rod end where the zerk in hitting tight? I just did the Borgesen power steering on my 68 non power steering car. LOVE IT! I left the tie rod ends at the spindle in the non power steering holes. I think this might help with clearance.

 

Everything is loss/hand tight right now. You think if I torque them down it will move away from the control arm?

I have the tie rods on the inner or forward hole of the knuckle which would be the power steering hole, right? So your saying you put/kept your outer tie rods on the outer or rear hole on the knuckle (the hole closer to the rear of the car?). I thought that hole was used for manual cars for extra leverage to assist in steering. Would that make the steering super light with the Borgeson box?

 

I think if you tighten the nut, it will suck it up a bit. Pulling it to the rear. Yes my steering is light. Feels good.

 

I would tighten everything up and see where you are. Then figure out what your clearance is.

is there any way to roll the drag link 180* so that the fitting is further from the a arm. You could have the hole professionally welded shut and th top ground smooth. ITs either the mods or buying a manual drag link

 

They make a smaller Zerk fitting that can be used. It takes a different fitting to grease. Had the same issue and used this type of Zerk fitting.

Zerk 1
Zerk Pic 2

 

Check out the Moroso 20403 oil pan.
It offers additional clearance for the steering on Corvettes.
The 20403 is the pan Moroso suggested when I called them for my 496 build..

 

I believe you are supposed to use a manual drag link

 

Ok spoke to Moroso tech and they said there is almost 3/4” difference in the front shallow end of the oil pans between 20406 and 20403. I’ll order the 20403 and it should clear fine. Also I’m looking getting flush mounted zerk fittings that should clear the control arm. I’ll let everyone know how it turns out!!

Thanks again!
Pat

 

Good Luck!

 

Yes ,I had the same issue with a borgeson install , but im using the Global West lower A arm shaft "upgrade" , just clears when everything got tightened down . Also using the 20403 pan ,but I had manual steering before.

 

Okay I’m still stuck and looking for help. I spoke with Moroso twice and have been through a few pans. Here’s where I am at so far:

Started with the Moroso 20406 which is 4 13/16” in front and hits the drag link. Moroso tech told me the 20403 is only 4 1/8” deep up front which would be perfect as I only need about 1/4” or so.

Got the 20403 and dropped the old pan. This motor has an internal windage tray, the 20403 has a windage tray also so it wouldn’t fit. Called Moroso again and they told me the 20401 was the exact same dimensions without the internal windage tray.

Got the 20401 and tried installing it. The front bolts on my internal windage tray 4 1/2” deep and the sloped up area in the oil pan is just touching and won’t let me move the pan up and in another 1/8” or so!!

I’d like to keep the internal windage tray and was looking for someone running a big block with internal windage tray and power steering that knows an oil pan that will clear. Needs to be about 4 1/2” up front to clear the power steering drag link. Sump in the back should be 8” deep.

Hopefully someone has figured this out.

Thanks,
Pat

 

Lose the windage tray

 

Well like most problems I can’t figure out, I walked away from it and had dinner. I went back afterwards to tackle it again thinking that I just needed an 1/8” or so. Well I was dry fitting it without the gasket when I was checking figment. I tried dry fitting it with the one piece Fel-pro gasket and it fit like a glove!! Only problem was when I tried to bolt it up the bolts weren’t long enough because of the thickness of the one piece gasket. Ordered some new ARP bolts that are longer and should be good to go......I hope!

Thanks for all the help!

Pat

 

My drag link hitting the oil pan was due to squashed motor mounts...replaced with new and all is fine now.

Redvette2

 

If absolutely necessary, you could remove the drag link, weld up the hole in that un-used section and grind it to match the rest of the rod.

 

Thats what I'd do

 

Is it possible to use the manual steering drag link that does not have that un-used hole?
Any other differences between the two drag links?