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So you guys have held both pitman arms in your hands. Is there a difference in length? Hole to hole
Sorry, I cannot answer that question as I sold all the power steering parts. BUT, if you were to use the factory manual steering drag link / bar, I think you have to use the manual steering pitman arm. GM would not have designed a different pitman arm if it would work on both manual and power steering. As you can see in the pictures, they are a different shape, and the geometry of the manual system versus power system must be different. I would not think mixing them would work......although I cannot explain why.
I agree with your idea that mixing drag link and pitman could be an issue. But I have only the power steering parts. It seems that if I buy the 100 dollar drag link adapter I can run the parts I have and it makes easy to reverse. It's a no brainer.
I think the overall dimension, hole to hole, is the same. The final angle is slightly different, and the path the steel takes to get there is different.
If you use the Borgeson drag link adaptor, you'll want to use the power steering Pitman arm. And then you're half-way to a Borgeson conversion, if you don't like manual steering.
This is interesting. I am somewhat new to Vettes. My girlfriend has a 77 that’s been sitting in my back yard for 15 years. It has an electrical drain and I think the steering rod is blown and the hoses are leaking like crazy. I didn’t know it could be converted to manual steering so easily. She wants to drive it now more then ever since I just picked up a 69 with a 4 speed. She dose t drive stick. Is there a complete parts list that I can use to acquire all the proper parts for this swap?
This is interesting. I am somewhat new to Vettes. My girlfriend has a 77 that’s been sitting in my back yard for 15 years. It has an electrical drain and I think the steering rod is blown and the hoses are leaking like crazy. I didn’t know it could be converted to manual steering so easily. She wants to drive it now more then ever since I just picked up a 69 with a 4 speed. She dose t drive stick. Is there a complete parts list that I can use to acquire all the proper parts for this swap?
She has had this car since 1980.
FWIW, most who drive modern cars with bluetooth and power windows etc. Will not like a manual steering car. Fix the leaks with new hoses and pump, what ever takes.
I have been using aBorgeson unit for 50K and it has been great, 12 to 1 ratio, but not till I fixed the suspension and got an alignment.
Until the 1977 model year, tie rods on manual steering cars were located in the rearward hole positions. Not sure what you're basing your information on.
What hole is this manual steering 64?
Last edited by reno stallion; Apr 4, 2020 at 10:43 PM.
Reason: add
That is the inner hole, closer to the ball joints. Is the outer hole drilled? Hard to see in this photo.
Since the steering arm goes aft of the ball joints in a Corvette, it doesn't make sense to call it front or rear hole. Inner and outer work. Inner gives faster steering, but requires additional effort.
The hole it's in is the hole it came from the factory for a manual steering car. The other hole has a factory plug in it. I call it the inner hole because it is the closest to the spindle. Might not be the correct name for it
The hole my car is in is the hole for regular steering in both manual and power. The hole that is plugged is the fast steering hole. I have heard it called the forward hole not sure why
Ok, so you're basing your statement on this one car. Have you owned it since 1964?
Yes and no. I have not owned since new but can tell plug has never been out. I'm thinking this is a good thing to base it off of though
Can you see where the plug goes
And this . Which is fast steering hole?
Yes and no. I have not owned since new but can tell plug has never been out. I'm thinking this is a good thing to base it off of though
Can you see where the plug goes
And this . Which is fast steering hole?
And also where it says about not to use fast ratio steering hole on power steering models. Now you know why they deleted the fast hole on the later models. And which one is it? And what are we going to call it?
inner or outer. forward or aft. I was using power and manual until it was brought into question which hole was used as a factory setting but to those who followed the thread would have been understood... Fast or Standard are misleading and vague. Nomenclature varies and mistakes are made in manuals. Using a physical description seems best to convey meaning with clarity.
inner or outer. forward or aft. I was using power and manual until it was brought into question which hole was used as a factory setting but to those who followed the thread would have been understood... Fast or Standard are misleading and vague. Nomenclature varies and mistakes are made in manuals. Using a physical description seems best to convey meaning with clarity.
Ok then the holes in your steering knuckles right now are the right ones for manual steering. My 72 LT1 has manual steering and those are the holes that are used. The holes that don't exist in your knuckles that would be on the ends of the steering knuckles are the fast steering. I do not think any cars ever left the factory in fast steering mode. I could be wrong
Like I said before it was not good although it was a PS car. The steering is already to touchy. But have never tried it on a manual car. I'm going to rebuild my steering box after that I will try the fast holes
Again Fast steering couldn't be more misleading. Luckily I have the slow holes so that should work. But what if I wanna go fast? Will it still steer?
Here is what we mean by fast and slow steering. The rear holes give you a 21:1(slow) steering ratio, the forward holes give you a 17:1(fast) steering ratio.
Last edited by Crimson Thunder; Apr 5, 2020 at 05:02 PM.
The GM Shop Manual confirms it, but is still vague about which hole the power steering knuckles should be in.
Forward = Inner = Not at the End = Fast ratio
Rear = Outer = End = Slow ratio
You have yours in the fast ratio holes. Has it been that way for 56 years? I can't say, but that's the way it is now. Is it possible your car came with power steering?
Here is what we mean by fast and slow steering. The rear holes give you a 21:1(slow) steering ratio, the forward holes give you a 17:1(fast) steering ratio.
All I know is 17:1 with power is stupid way to sensitive
Pitman
. Now you know why they deleted the fast hole on the later models. And which one is it? And what are we going to call it?
