Is anyone aware of a drop pitman that drops down at a right angle:

Something like this:
__
|
|______


I'm switching my CJ2a to saginaw, and it's not possible to put it in the normal location due to the way the front of my frame was built. I've got the box on top my winch plate, but the pitman needs to drop straight down 2 inches to clear a crossmember.

Thanks

What you really need to do is remove the stock crossmember and replace it with one that goes across the very front of the frame rails, like where the bumper is mounted. Basically, turn the bumper into the front crossmember. Then you can place the box down lower and use a stock pitman arm. Make sure that the box is far enough forward to put the pitman arm/drag link TRE forward of the tie rod so there is no interference during suspension flex.

The front of my frame is all custom - which is the problem. There are 2 2x2x 1/4" crossmembers sitting under the winch plate with about 3" of space between. On top of these is a 1/4" piece of plate steel, welded all the way around. On top of that is an 8274 winch plate. Modifying the frame is out of the question at the moment, it would require me to cut the front of the frame off completely.

http://www.oldjeep.com/images/front%20frame.jpg

Back to the original question - anyone know if they make a pitman arm like I described?

Originally posted by oldjeep


Back to the original question - anyone know if they make a pitman arm like I described?




I've never seen such a beast, but I suppose a fella could mill one from a billet if said fella knew what he was doing...

Sorry I'm not more help,
Jake

Just like Mo said on the list Hydro
Cokato Tractor & Salvage
1-800-451-1983

$150 for the valve, column, and wheel. Stop buy Northern on your way home, grab a cyl..and away you go:D:D

Originally posted by Lame
Just like Mo said on the list Hydro
Cokato Tractor & Salvage
1-800-451-1983

$150 for the valve, column, and wheel. Stop buy Northern on your way home, grab a cyl..and away you go:D:D

So that means no steering when the motor is off doesn't it? That would be really bad. Also means you can't flat tow it I'm guessing unless there is a way to put the valve on bypass.

Originally posted by Jakesteramalamajama


I've never seen such a beast, but I suppose a fella could mill one from a billet if said fella knew what he was doing...

Sorry I'm not more help,
Jake

That would be the ultimate solution - unfortunately it's well beyond my abilities. Guess I'll be stopping by the local 4wd shop and see what the best thing they have its - maybe a 4" drop arm would work. I know the 2" stock drop arm I have has too gradual an angle. If it drops fast enough, I may be able to knock a corner off the bottom of the crossmember and have it clear.

Thanks much

Originally posted by oldjeep


So that means no steering when the motor is off doesn't it? That would be really bad. Also means you can't flat tow it I'm guessing unless there is a way to put the valve on bypass.

Not sure about the flat towing, but you can steer a tractor w/o it running, so you should be able to turn jeep tires.

have you looked into other steering box designs like the scout box which goes on the outside of the frame rail and hangs down or there are some other ford boxes that do the same thing hell even a toyota ifs box might work

just a thought!!

Originally posted by duane85runr/72fj40
have you looked into other steering box designs like the scout box which goes on the outside of the frame rail and hangs down or there are some other ford boxes that do the same thing hell even a toyota ifs box might work

just a thought!!

I've looked at both the scout manual and power boxes (actually have one of each). I have concerns about the spring hitting the pitman arm. After a trip to the junkyard today, I think that an E250 box may work, it works much the same way as a scout box, but mounts on the inside of the frame and has a much shorter pitman shaft. Need to do some measuring to see if it will fit.

What's a toyota IFS box look like?

Why dont you mount the gear under the crossmember.Then brace it from frame rail to frame rail.The gear should be in the same place as the old bellcrank,but lower.I could show you ,but no picks.of how my 58 is done.

Originally posted by michael orlandi
Why dont you mount the gear under the crossmember.Then brace it from frame rail to frame rail.The gear should be in the same place as the old bellcrank,but lower.I could show you ,but no picks.of how my 58 is done.

Interesting thought, I'll take a look. If your box is at the crossmember which way does your pitman face?

Originally posted by oldjeep


I've looked at both the scout manual and power boxes (actually have one of each). I have concerns about the spring hitting the pitman arm. After a trip to the junkyard today, I think that an E250 box may work, it works much the same way as a scout box, but mounts on the inside of the frame and has a much shorter pitman shaft. Need to do some measuring to see if it will fit.

What's a toyota IFS box look like?

Chuck,
Are you still SUA? In my Scout II box setup, the drag link is very close to the frame. The axle will hit the bumpstop or the frame long before the draglink gets anywhere near the spring. I can see where it would be a problem with SOA, but I would think you'd be fine with SUA.

I have pictures of my setup on my site, just click on the WWW button.

My Scout has P/S why I got it. It actually had this hidious pitman arm on it and it is very similar to what you are describing. I am about 90% sure that the box is/was from a 2wd ford pu. I don't know about the arm. I don't think that I have digi pics of it, but I know that I have old fashion pics somewhere...I did throw it away though...but at least you know that they do exist.

HTH--SD

Originally posted by Grandpa Jeep


Chuck,
Are you still SUA? In my Scout II box setup, the drag link is very close to the frame. The axle will hit the bumpstop or the frame long before the draglink gets anywhere near the spring. I can see where it would be a problem with SOA, but I would think you'd be fine with SUA.

I have pictures of my setup on my site, just click on the WWW button.

Yes, still SUA. But my frame isn't normal - it also still has the round crossmember. I got sick of messing with it last night and attacked the front end with a sawzall and a grinder - I took a big chunk out of the back 2x2 tube. Still have a bunch of work to do on it, but it looks like the steeringbox is going in front of the grill on top the winch plate.

So the steering shaft is going to come through the grill? How are you mounting it on top of the winch plate?

I see from the pictures why a standard saginaw setup won't work, but I still don't see why the Scout II box won't work. Where will it hit the spring? I guess I can see where it would if you use a pitman arm that has a lot or drop, but otherwise it should be fine.

Originally posted by Grandpa Jeep
So the steering shaft is going to come through the grill? How are you mounting it on top of the winch plate?

I see from the pictures why a standard saginaw setup won't work, but I still don't see why the Scout II box won't work. Where will it hit the spring? I guess I can see where it would if you use a pitman arm that has a lot or drop, but otherwise it should be fine.

Yes, through the grill. I have an 8274 winch plate which I'm welding a piece of plate steel on the side, the saginaw box bolts to that. There is a 3" hole in the bottom of the plate for the pitmanshaft to drop through (Between those 2 crossmembers). I cut a notch out of the bottom of the back crossmember so the pitman arm clears.

Mike Stump at TrailTech ((530) 621-3024) has made custom pitman arms in the past.
I have one that just angles to one side so the hiem is at zero degrees at ride hieght.

Originally posted by oldjeep


Yes, through the grill. I have an 8274 winch plate which I'm welding a piece of plate steel on the side, the saginaw box bolts to that. There is a 3" hole in the bottom of the plate for the pitmanshaft to drop through (Between those 2 crossmembers). I cut a notch out of the bottom of the back crossmember so the pitman arm clears.

Not gonna go through the radiator as well will it?

Originally posted by Grandpa Jeep


Not gonna go through the radiator as well will it?

:laughing: Very funny. No, it runs beside the radiator. I use a stock CJ2a frame mounted radiator with a modified lower tube. Theres plenty of room beside it - I put the box in last night and there is plenty of room. I'll take some pics of the mess after I finish welding the support bracket.

Cool, I'll be very interested to hear how it works out for you and see the pics.

My dad used to have a '42 Ford sedan that had three tubes missing from the radiator with a hole near the bottom for the hand crank. So, if you had to, it could be done.

Originally posted by Grandpa Jeep
Cool, I'll be very interested to hear how it works out for you and see the pics.

My dad used to have a '42 Ford sedan that had three tubes missing from the radiator with a hole near the bottom for the hand crank. So, if you had to, it could be done.

Here's a few pictures - havn't got a steering shaft yet, but the box was the painful part.

http://www.oldjeep.com/images/SteeringConvert/steeringboxclose.jpg

http://www.oldjeep.com/images/SteeringConvert/mountingplateclose.jpg

http://www.oldjeep.com/images/SteeringConvert/frontviewclose.jpg

http://www.oldjeep.com/images/SteeringConvert/throughgrillclose.jpg