New steering box, pitman, idler, etc up front.

Bare frame and I want / need to install the steering gear. When turning the splined input shaft on the box completely to one side and then counting the number of turns to split the difference and find center I am getting 1 1/2 turns. So all the way left its taking 1 1/2 turns on the input shaft to get to full lock right. 1 1/2 turns from full lock left to full lock right is confusing me. But if I center the box at 3/4 from left or right the pitman arm isnt pointing straight back. The only way I seem to be able to get the grooves on the pitman and the box to line up and have the pitman arm straight back is with the input shaft of the steering box at full lock left / driver side. I dont want to only be able to turn the car in one direction, I have never been a NASCAR fan. :D

Any tips or obvious stuff I am missing? Like perhaps I need to have the column and steering wheel all installed before I can center it?

Apologies for the dumb Q but everything I can find out there says "make sure you mark the pitman and shaft on removal" and then for reinstall "align the marks"

Great but what if they are both new and you have no steering column, wheel, etc?

1 1/2 turns lock to lock would be a very fast box....Mine was more like 3 1/2 turns. Maybe you have a stiff spot in the box restricting steering to one side?

Something is wrong inside. If this is a steering gear you purchased I would send it back in exchange for another one.

Something must be wrong with your gear. The least number of turns on a Saginaw power gear box would be about 2.1 full lock to full lock. No way should you have 1 1/2 turns.

Something must be restricting the pitman shaft travel of your gear. If the gear was rebuilt, it is possible that the "rebuilder" dropped one of the recirculating balls and now it is lodged near the end cover and is restricting the travel. (A very unsafe and a very bad condition!)

Send it back.
Jim

Well that sucks. 90% of the time its me overlooking something simple. I am going back out now to take another look and make sure that isnt the case. Thank you for the clarification and help, I thought I had the method or math wrong.

You cats rock. Quick, concise and done deal.

Jim, I know everyone always tell you this but im doing it again - your knowledge, help, site, posted articles....sir, absolutely CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH!

I have every one of your articles saved on my machine. Just great. :hurray::beers:

Thanks guys