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Old 05-28-2019, 09:19 PM
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ZeGermanHam ZeGermanHam is offline
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Default Help finding pitman arm for '74 GTO

Hey folks,

I'm trying to find the correct pitman arm for my brother's '74 GTO. All the photos I'm seeing online show the pitman arm to have a joint with a stud at one end, whereas ours has openings at both ends (see photo). Any ideas why our setup is different, and where I can find what should be an easy part to buy?

Thanks in advance.

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  #2  
Old 05-28-2019, 09:56 PM
'ol Pinion head 'ol Pinion head is offline
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Yours looks correct to me for a '72-'74 PS application 350 Ventura. The curved pitman arm with the studded joint on the small end is '68 Firebird V8. The studded joint disappeared on the '69 Firebird V8 pitman arm.

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Old 05-28-2019, 11:45 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 'ol Pinion head View Post
Yours looks correct to me for a '72-'74 PS application 350 Ventura. The curved pitman arm with the studded joint on the small end is '68 Firebird V8. The studded joint disappeared on the '69 Firebird V8 pitman arm.
What's odd is that I can't find the style without the studded joint at the small end anywhere. Everything comes up with the studded version...

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Old 05-29-2019, 10:10 AM
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From what I've read, nobody makes new ones.

So, I assume you have 2 choices:

(1) Buy a used one.

(2) Buy the entire steering linkage for a '68 Bird. This way, you can buy a new pitman arm.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=828655

https://firstgenfirebird.org/forums/...385#Post322385

https://www.oerparts.com/product/9789157.html

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-68-Fir...QAAOSwDEtaAhj~

https://www.firebirdcentral.com/1967...p/ste-2007.htm

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/o...model/firebird

https://www.jegs.com/i/OER/691/9789157/10002/-1

There are a few guys who will sell the later style arm. But most everybody knows how rare they are. So, unless you have a good friend with one, finding a reasonable price may not be easy.

I've recently run across some for sale. No price mentioned.

You can place an ad here & on other Pontiac forums & FB pages & probably find several.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/353702614817368/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/261362557396261/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/448312378514583/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/PontiacPickers/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/pontiacsonline/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/pont...estconnection/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2229004645/


Last edited by ponyakr; 05-29-2019 at 10:57 AM.
  #5  
Old 05-29-2019, 11:39 AM
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ZeGermanHam ZeGermanHam is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ponyakr View Post
From what I've read, nobody makes new ones.

So, I assume you have 2 choices:

(1) Buy a used one.

(2) Buy the entire steering linkage for a '68 Bird. This way, you can buy a new pitman arm.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=828655

https://firstgenfirebird.org/forums/...385#Post322385

https://www.oerparts.com/product/9789157.html

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-68-Fir...QAAOSwDEtaAhj~

https://www.firebirdcentral.com/1967...p/ste-2007.htm

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/o...model/firebird

https://www.jegs.com/i/OER/691/9789157/10002/-1

There are a few guys who will sell the later style arm. But most everybody knows how rare they are. So, unless you have a good friend with one, finding a reasonable price may not be easy.

I've recently run across some for sale. No price mentioned.

You can place an ad here & on other Pontiac forums & FB pages & probably find several.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/353702614817368/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/261362557396261/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/448312378514583/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/PontiacPickers/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/pontiacsonline/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/pont...estconnection/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2229004645/
So if I wanted/needed to buy new, my only option is to buy firebird stuff? Assuming nobody makes pitman arms for Novas that'll work?

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  #6  
Old 05-29-2019, 11:52 AM
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unruhjonny unruhjonny is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ZeGermanHam View Post
So if I wanted/needed to buy new, my only option is to buy firebird stuff? Assuming nobody makes pitman arms for Novas that'll work?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I have understood that the first Gen F-body actually used the 68-74 X-body front subframe and firewall one year before the platform it was developed for (X-body) was released;
so in this instance the "Firebird stuff" is actually 67-69 F-body & 68-74 X-body.

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Old 05-29-2019, 05:12 PM
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"...Assuming nobody makes pitman arms for Novas that'll work?"

The Chevy arms are not curved. The '68 Bird new, currently available, aftermarket replacement linkage parts would be the same parts listed for a '68 Camaro. Bird & Camaro factory parts & part numbers were probably not all EXACTLY the same. But, if you look up new aftermarket replacement steering linkage parts, the only difference I found was the pitman arm.

I think the 1st gen Birds which came with the OHC inline six engine used straight pitman arms. I ran across one or 2 of these. On one of 'em, the previous owner had dented in a header tube, of his V8 headers, to gain a little extra pitman arm clearance. Assuming they were the same as 1st gen Camaro. Also assume that the Nova used the same arms the Camaro used, tho I have not looked it up.


Last edited by ponyakr; 05-29-2019 at 05:28 PM.
  #8  
Old 05-30-2019, 01:51 PM
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Great, thanks for the info everyone. Looks like my brother will have to replace the entire steering linkage setup with "F-body" parts.

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  #9  
Old 05-30-2019, 06:11 PM
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https://www.frankspontiacparts.com/e...nsionparts.htm

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Old 06-01-2019, 11:03 AM
Anthony Anthony is offline
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Just a dumb questions but why are you replacing that pitman arm? Unless its bent that style does not go bad since the joints are not part of the pitman arm but the inner tie rod.

Ant

  #11  
Old 06-01-2019, 11:18 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Anthony View Post
Just a dumb questions but why are you replacing that pitman arm? Unless its bent that style does not go bad since the joints are not part of the pitman arm but the inner tie rod.



Ant
We are replacing a very leaky steering box with a new Delphi unit, and the pitman arm is 100% seized on. We tried for days to get it off, and bent two pitman arm pullers in the process despite using penetrating oil and heat. It isn't going to come off.

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Old 06-01-2019, 11:29 AM
Anthony Anthony is offline
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Ok, I've been through that before on a dodge pickup and broke my pitman arm puller. Snap on makes a super strong puller that maybe an option if you cant find the correct pitman arm for it. Also for the steering box if you have not bought the new one yet check with redhead steering gear in Seattle about rebuilding your original. They are not the cheapest but they are the best. I have a small shop and we chased a f250 steering issue through 2 rebuilt and 1 brand new napa steering box finally got napa to get me a redhead one problem solved!!! Most of these new boxes are made off shore and are junk.

Hope this helps
Ant

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Old 06-01-2019, 12:58 PM
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Just an old man question. Have you tried using the pulley and getting it as tight as you can without damage and then hitting the pitman arm HARD several times with a shop hammer, hopefully brass? I have never seen this fail on front end parts removal... Just asking><>>>>>

"Bill"!

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Old 06-01-2019, 01:02 PM
Anthony Anthony is offline
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Another option is to check with a machine shop, I bet they could press it off the box

Ant

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Old 06-01-2019, 01:31 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bill ryder View Post
Just an old man question. Have you tried using the pulley and getting it as tight as you can without damage and then hitting the pitman arm HARD several times with a shop hammer, hopefully brass? I have never seen this fail on front end parts removal... Just asking><>>>>>



"Bill"!
Spent an afternoon trying that approach... No dice.

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