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A Little Sagniaw Pitman Arm Help Needed

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by 71CJ54WD, May 14, 2020.

  1. 71CJ54WD

    71CJ54WD Sponsor

    So I purchased the early 70's Pontiac Catalina box. I also picked up a Crown pitman part number
    J0999416. This arm is for a 72-75 CJ5. It will not fit over the sector shaft on my box. Do I have the manual steer arm or something? Any help on a part number or model vehicle to get a pitman arm that will fit the Saginaw on one end and also fit my Herm ball joints (using his tie rod and drag link that he sells for power steering conversions using the Ford boxes except I am using a GM box).
     
  2. timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    999416 is right for a '72-75 with power steering. The manual steering arm for that app is different, 999415. Specifically how does it not fit?
     
  3. ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    I’m no expert on steering box minutiae, but it sounds like a possibility. I know the manual boxes’ pitman arms have a smaller hole, and manual boxes were standard(?) for the intermediates. Find one for a power box of the same era (or later, depending on what sort of drop in the arm you need) and it should work.
     
  4. 71CJ54WD

    71CJ54WD Sponsor

    I guess a 72-75 CJ5 power steering arm doesn't fit on a 70 Pontiac steering box then? What arms are you guys running?
     
  5. ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

  6. 71CJ54WD

    71CJ54WD Sponsor

    Looks to be a different diameter - I need to take another look. I'm not obsessed with running this arm though - I can get a different arm that will fit the box.
     
  7. Jrobz23

    Jrobz23 Member

  8. Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

    Depending on the years used, some Saginaw steering boxes have uniform tapered splines, splines with one spline left uncut, or splines with 4 splines left uncut. The latter two versions ensure that the pitman arm can only be mounted in specific locations on the shaft. This design makes it impossible to locate the pitman arm in any position other than pointing rearward. Did you get a pitman arm with your Catalina (Saginaw) box?
    The power boxes have larger diameter shafts as compared to manual Saginaw boxes.
    Are you mounting your Saginaw steering box just behind the bumper, or in the engine compartment behind the grill?Herm's kit uses a Ford steering box mounted in the engine compartment.
    Donny
     
  9. 71CJ54WD

    71CJ54WD Sponsor

    I did not get an arm with my Catalina box but I will be mounting it out front. My box has 4 unsplined. I'm still hunting down articles but not finding any part numbers or year/make on what pitman arms were used...the search continues!
     
  10. 47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    I had a box from a 69 GTO. That pitman arm fit the new box I got that's a replacement for just about any GM car of light truck from 69 to 80 before the o ring connections and 4 hole mount. The drop pitman from a YJ I got in a pile of junk also fit that box and the GM generic, but it had 4 flats to index the pitman in one orientation that wasn't right for me. I am sure there are differences in boxes, but I happened to get a generic reman off amazon for 130 bucks. Works fine.

    I took a file and cut 4 splines in that pitman. I was able to index it correctly. It took about 45 minutes with a triangle file for a perfect fit.
     
    71CJ54WD and ITLKSEZ like this.
  11. 71CJ54WD

    71CJ54WD Sponsor

    Thanks! So I guess I should look for a pre 81 GM power arm. I'm thinking if the 4 flats arm doesn't index correctly I'll also have to file away the flats in the steering box sector shaft...I guess detail work with a dremel would be the only way there.
     
  12. Rich M.

    Rich M. Shoe salesman 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    This one?
    IMG_20200514_201328398~2.jpg IMG_20200514_201347043~2.jpg
    From a cj, can't say if Intermediate or late
     
  13. garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    I haven't seen it mentioned yet, but are you putting in the correct way? The shaft is tapered and the hole in the pitman arm is tapered. It will go together one way, but not the other.
     
    ITLKSEZ likes this.
  14. 71CJ54WD

    71CJ54WD Sponsor

    Yes