Dauntless Drag Link

Tinkering with engine position for Dauntless conversion in previous 4 cyl 1965.
Biggest problem seems to be drag link hitting the bellhousing.
Seems to be a common issue.
Is finding a shorter 24.5 inch drag link the solution if I stay with a Ross box setup?
I hate positioning the motor excessively to the passenger side or shaving off a chunk of bellhousing to get clearance.
Need advice.
Thanks guys!

 

Just swap to a Saginaw box and be done with it.
Hold the motor 3/4" off center.

 

I may go Saginaw at a later date. Or do the KIA/Hyundai electric power steering that everyone in the hotrod community is doing now.
Really just need to know if a shorter drag link will fix clearance issue.
My drag link is not the short straight shaft 24.5 inch .
It looks to be a longer bent shaft version.
I have also seen some info that cutting 2 inches out of the drag link and welding it back together may be another solution but not 100% sure on this. I have also seen some comments to change the indexing position of where the drag link connects up front.
By shortening the drag link this will move the end joint further away from the bellhousing which in theory should be the correct way to go.

Jeep had all new Ross box, tie rods and all other steering parts that were in the basket case of parts I got.

 

Do not cut your drag link. That's an accident waiting to happen...
The more proper thing to do is to bend the rod with heat and make is shorter one or two splines.
2" is a bit much.
But...
If you have plans to do a steering swap do it NOW with the motor swap. Otherwise you are really just trying to make more work for yourself.

When I did my 4.3 swap I did it in less than two months and worked around stuff and the mounts have been redone at least twice since. The 4cyl steering is not identical to the v6 it will be more time and money now to keep the ross steering than to go to Saginaw. Just because you have a box of parts does not mean they are gonna work.

Hold the centerline of the v6. .75" off center of the vehicle. The 4cyl is 1.5" off center. The transmission should only move sideways along the crossmember. The torque arm will not use the round mount.

Toss the 4cyl ross steering system.
Put the engine in with the t-90j input shaft and Redrill the crossmember. Use factory frame horns and radiator or aftermarket that puts it in the same spot.

Then see about that ross steering last... you will have exhaust issues. If you try to keep it you will have radiator, driveshaft, and transfercase issues.

 

So are you saying to pull and movecthe pitman arm a couple of splines?

 

Cutting the drag link will move all your steering components, throwing everything off. You will loose turning radius when turning to the right, since the pitman arm is now 2" off center.