Hey guys I'm new to the sight and was wondering if some one could help me out with this issue.

I am converting my 68 chevelle from power steering to manual. I know this sounds crazy but I just got a Gen6 454 and I'm running an 871 blower on it. The reason I wanted to go to the manual steering is because I'm using a rather large set of electric fans and radiator. With them this puts my bottom blower gear too close to run another v-pulley for power steering. Sooooo the quest for all the right parts ensued. I started out by seeing what all steering boxes would work. After this I found a couple on eBay and bought them. One was off a 69 firebird and the other off of a 442 olds(can't think of the year right now off the top of my head). They both came with the coupler but only the olds had a pitman arm with it. The box off the firebird was in better shape and was supposed to only have 50,xxx miles on it so I bolted it on. After finding out that neither of the pitman arms I had would work, I ordered one from OPGI. Now the problem I am having is with the new pitman arm for a 68 chevelle and the use manual box from the 69 firebird, it seems to be pushing the center link up against the cross member when the tires are in the center position. Does anyone know for sure if the box off of the firebird is supposed to work? All of the info I have found says that it is supposed to.

Thanks for any help,
Brian

I measured the length of the pitman arm and it measures 5 1/4". According to Randys Racemart that's what it is supposed to be. I measused my idler arm though and it measured 5". I know the idler arm is supposed to be the same length of the pitman arm. Does anyone have any suggestions? One guy said that he used the manual box off of a camaro on his 68 or 69 and he didn't have any problems. I would think that it would be the same as a firebird of the same year.

Brian

I had a similar problem on my 67 El Camino. After installing new steering box and a new center link I discovered the center link would hit the cross member. I clearanced the cross member and it works okay but I too am baffeled as to why this happened. :confused: