This is the pitman arm that ORD sells. I have heard it called a superlift 1104
http://www.norcalbigdawgs.net/Gallery/albums/albun49/DSC00582a.jpg

This is the pitman arm that Sky sells. It is a BDS (Big Dick's Suspension) 083402 http://www.bds-suspension.com/steeringpitmanarms.html

http://www.socalbigdawgs.com/albums/raisedk5/aaa.jpg

Does anyone know where I can get the BDS arm for a good price? Local (SoCal) would be nice.

Are there any other aftermarket arms out there?

I have also heard that there is a late 70's ford van that will come with a pitman arm that will work with GM TRE's (Not DLE's) for crossover (without having to re-taper the end). I have yet to see a pic of this arm either. Does anyone have one or a pic of what it looks like? Some dimensions would also be cool.

The top one looks like mine, which is a superlift I believe.

I've heard both of the ones in the pics called a superlift arm.

Did your's come in a superlift box or have a superlift part # cast on it?

mine is the 1 @ the top... its a superlift.. more than beefy enough,,, that pic make it look small tho.... :smokin: did ya go hysteer too? front or back of axle if so? mines in the back of the axle, and there is a perfect spot for a ram...

I'm keeping the tierod in the stock location. No money to mess with it right now.

One of the guys in our club has broken 2 pitman arms like the one in the top pic before he went to hydro assist. I won't have hydro assist for a while so I didn't want to get that pitman.

Again did your pitman come with any indication that it was actually a superlift?

I got BDS 083402 from sky manufacturing, in the BDS box still and everything.

Cool. That is exactly the info I was looking for. I'm going to modify my post to reflect it.

I got BDS 083402 from sky manufacturing, in the BDS box still and everything.

Which of the 2 pics did the BDS part look like (or was it different from both)?

Which of the 2 pics did the BDS part look like (or was it different from both)?

TTT

I would guess that his pitman is the one on the bottom. That pic is of one of the guys in the SoCalBigDawgs and he got the whole crossover kit from Sky. I knew it was the Sky arm I just didn't know what brand Sky sold.

Ford 1ton van arm. Dont know the year. I reamed it for a DLE.
Doesnt answer your questions but it shows what it looks like.

Thanks for the ford van pitman pic.

Could you get a few dimensions off of it?

Sector shaft axis to DLE axis=?
Drop=?

Did it look like a TRE would have fit without reaming?

I measured it in the truck so these are approxs.
Center to Center looks like 5 3/4"
The drop looks like 2 1/2"
As far as the hole size I dont know. I dont want to guess and steer you in the wrong direction.

Any idea how the two arms pictured above compare as to dimensions (Superlift 1104 and BDS 083402)? Specifically, if I buy the BDS arm because it appears to be beefier, will I run into problems maintaining lock-to-lock steering capabilities with my ORD x-over arm, since the ORD arm is made to work with the Superlift pitman?

They are both spec'ed out for the same FSjeep/ford application. I would think they would have to be the same center to center dimension and taper but might very in the ammount of drop. I would like less drop so I'll take a look at that ford van one when I'm at the j/y next.

I picked up a 1-ton ford van pitman arm today at Ecology for like $4 (1/2-off day). When you stick a chevy TRE in it the threads won't even stick out the other side. It will have to be reamed out bigger. I think I might just buy the reamer...but even after buying the reamer it will still be cheeper then buying a lift steering arm.

Would anyone in the north OC area of socal happen to have a reamer I could use?

Good deal. I love junkyards. Any problems getting it off the van?
I bought a reamer that was DRE size. Trying to remember how much they cost. There were several threads here about it in case you dont get to borrow one.

i used the stock arm off a 79 ford 1/2 ton. it is staight so i had to notch the frame to clear it. the chevy tre will fit right in it though.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/11/web/635000-635999/635753_21.jpg

that is the addy to a pic of it. i had problems w/ the pitman arm/draglink contacting the tierod under flex. i am running the ord highsteer.

Good deal. I love junkyards. Any problems getting it off the van?
I bought a reamer that was DRE size. Trying to remember how much they cost. There were several threads here about it in case you dont get to borrow one.

The crossmember was so close to the pitman that I had to remove the box to get a puller on it. I later found my pickle fork in the bottom of my tool bag :rolleyes: I also took the extra tranny cooler that was on that van. It was a stacked plate type that was about 12" wide x 2" high x 1.5" thick. I'm going to use it as a steering cooler.

From what I remember hearing the TRE and DLE's both use the same reamer (7deg) you just go deeper for DLE's.

I measured it in the truck so these are approxs.
Center to Center looks like 5 3/4"
The drop looks like 2 1/2"
As far as the hole size I dont know. I dont want to guess and steer you in the wrong direction.

I just found on CK5 that Hossbaby50 (http://coloradok5.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=garage&Number=1194329&Forum=All_Forums&Words=1104&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Main=1194266&Search=true&where=bodysub&Name=&daterange=1&newerval=&newertype=&olderval=&oldertype=&bodyprev=#Post1194329) measured out his superlift 1104 to be 6.5" center to center and 3" of drop.

I like the .5" less drop of the ford arm as well as the major cost difference...
Do you still get full lock to lock steering? You have a D60 right? What is the kingpin to DLE hole dimension on your steering arm?

I dont have the stops on my knuckles any more. I did have a longer arm from a full-size jeep on it for awhile and it did turn tighter than it does now but I was concerned about binding in the u-joints.
I dont have a 60 yet but I'm looking. Still running a 44.

Here is the longer arm I had on it. It didnt look stout enough and the was little drop to it. I had to do a little grinding to clear the frame. Took a little of the castle part of the nut.