what is that box out of? Not all boxes have the same internal stops. I had a box out of a 78 TA in my 68 Chevelle and it couldn't make sharp left turns for that reason.

 

First thing to look at is your pitman arm. Drive the car forward with the wheels straight then check the position of the pitman arm . It should be pointed straight back. If it’s not measure your tie rods left and right to make sure they are the same length .

 

Turn the steering wheel all the way to the left, then count the turns while turning it all the way to the right. Turn the wheel half the amount of turns back to the left and that should be centered (no matter where the steering wheel spokes line up). Then visually check where the front wheels are pointing, they should be straight ahead, if not get an alignment. The turning radius can be off from bent tie rods or steering arms, improperly installed tie rods and steering components or removing the steering wheel to align it without having the front wheels centered.

 

Its possible that when you installed the box it wasn't centered as such it runs into the internal stops early preventing you from having the tight turning radius in that direction.

You can clock the pitman arm incorrectly on the shafts keyways if the internals of the box weren’t centered before installation of the pitman arm

 

Yes check the pitman arm install

 

Its possible that when you installed the box it wasn't centered as such it runs into the internal stops early preventing you from having the tight turning radius in that direction.

You can clock the pitman arm incorrectly on the shafts keyways if the internals of the box weren’t centered before installation of the pitman arm

Yes check the pitman arm install

That is not a possibility fwiw. The sector shaft/pitman arm have four splines/keyways spaced 90° apart that are wider than the others. So, when the box is centered the pitman arm can only be clocked straight back (Normal orientation), 90° to the right or left and straight ahead. From the straight back (centered) position the pitman arm only has just over 43.5° movement in either direction for a total of just over 87°. As you can see, only one position will even allow you to attach the center link to the pitman arm. The OP has something else going on and I would guess the tie rod sleeves are not adjusted equally side to side.

 

Yes it is possible. If a box is 6 turns lock to lock. But you installed the pitman arm on the shaft while the steering shaft is 2 turns to one side your install on the shaft would be clocked off by at least one key way. 1/4 turn.

Inside the box has stops so it would explain why one side turns great, the other side wont because the steering shaft and gears inside are not centered.

I just went through this with a box replacement on my El Camino.

 

First off, the OP does not indicate if he made any other changes to the steering components which may account for this condition and if he installed the proper pitman arm for his vehicle. Not to be argumentative but I think you missed the point. There are physical (design) limitations which prevent what you are saying from happening. The below quoted post has all the information you need to know.

First thing to look at is your pitman arm. Drive the car forward with the wheels straight then check the position of the pitman arm . It should be pointed straight back. If it’s not measure your tie rods left and right to make sure they are the same length .

Yes it is possible. If a box is 6 turns (3 for a 12.7:1 quick ratio maybe but not 6 which would be over 24:1 ratio) lock to lock. But you installed the pitman arm on the shaft while the steering shaft is 2 turns to one side your install on the shaft would be clocked off by at least one key way. 1/4 turn (A 1/4 turn at the sector would equate to 3+ turns of the steering shaft/wheel).

One must keep in mind the pitman arm cannot be installed only one or two teeth off on the sector shaft. It can only be installed in 90° increments because of those four "block tooth" keyways (pic below is best I can do) on both the sector shaft and pitman arm. Pitman arm is at 0° centered or straight aback, 43° 45' to the right internal stop (1-1/2 turns of the steering wheel) and 43° 45' to the left internal stop (1-1/2 turns). All you need to do is center the steering box (that is the key!) and adjust the tie rods on each side to get each front wheel straight ahead and all will be good. Then remove and reorient the steering wheel if necessary.


Inside the box has stops so it would explain why one side turns great, the other side wont because the steering shaft and gears inside are not centered.

In this case, the pitman arm will be off-center (to one side or the other). The only way to compensate for this is to adjust the tie rods so the wheels are straight ahead which will result in the vehicle's reduced turning radius to one side.

I just went through this with a box replacement on my El Camino.