pitman arms and steering boxes

[vince87ranger]

I have a few questons about pitman arms and steering boxes i cant seem to find answers to.

First off is there any diffrence between a manual steering box output shaft (splines, or the diameter) and a power steering box in a early ranger?

Second, is there a diffrence in a 2wd and a 4wd factory pitman arm?

Third, i've seen some companys selling seprate droped pitman arms for a manual and power steering boxes, while other places just have one droped arm listed. Is this because of a diffrent size steering box shaft, or are they diffrent lengths for easier steering effort in the cab, and the places selling just the one type are assuming that its going on a power steering truck?

 

[4x4junkie]

The manual and power boxes do have different splines (IIRC the manual does not have the indexing splines).

2WD Ranger arms are almost flat, most 4WD arms have a 2" drop compared to the 2WD arm.
Aftermarket arms are available with 2" or 4" additional drop over that of the 4WD arm.

The vast majority of arms are made for the power box (the manual one is pretty much obsolete now).

 

[vince87ranger]

Well does anyone know who sells a drop pitman arm for a manual box, and a 6in lift? or can a power arms locating splines be machined or filed out to fit the manual box?

 

[4x4junkie]

I think Superlift would be your best hope, if anyone has one.

Keep in mind if they do have it, it'll only be 2" dropped (or 4" compared to a 2WD), not 6", so you'll have to limit your lift height to that if you don't want to deal with bumpsteer or accelerated tire wear.

 

[Shran]

Just out of curiosity, WHY would you want to run manual steering on a lifted truck? Power steering is SO easy to swap in... and CHEAP... you can get a steering sector from ANY 80-96 Ford truck, and pump, hoses, and brackets from a junkyard, and have power steering.

 

[vince87ranger]

i guess i just like bein a little diffrent. same reason i converted my 2wd ranger to 4x4, leaving the manual steering, and non-power brakes. Took out a good running, but high mile 2.9 for a carb2.3. The motors stock rite now, but i have an adjustable upper timing gear, cam, header, and a 2500cc stroker setup to put on. when i pull the motor for a rebuild im thinking about making an intake for a pair of these old sidedraft webers my uncle gave me. it just seems like any lifted ranger around me either runs a bone stock 2.9, or a real healthy 302. i just like having somthing that isint exactly mainstream.

 

[Shran]

Oh yeah, that's totally cool. I'd love to have a lifted 4 cylinder Ranger... I was just curious why no power steering. Not having it is a DEFINITE disadvantage offroad.

I think it's cool you're running manual brakes - you should run drums all the way around...seriously...they are a huge mechanical advantage over discs

 

[vince87ranger]

ya, manual steering was ok until i got a powertrax for the front (a dana28, but im working on getting either a dana35 from my one friend, or a 72ish bronco dana44 from another friend) now steering offroad is a little harder. main reason i wana keep manual steering is bc im a little worried about how much power the pump would take off the motor when stuck in a rut, trying to turn, and feathering the clutch. the little 2.3 isint a real power house!

 

[Shran]

The lowest gears you can possibly get are going to be your best bet with the 2.3. I would do the D44, leave the drum brakes on it, and a narrow 9" in the back. I believe the lowest gear set you can get for both is 5.89 and that is definitely what I'd run with a 2.3.

 

[vince87ranger]

ya thers a lot i wana do as far as axles. problem is im going to school right now, so funds are limited, and school is allmost 300 miles from home. im running 3.73 now,and with 30's it puts me at bout 2400rpm doing 70mph. ive got it setup good for what im doing, but if i found a 4.10 pig for the front id put that in and my 4.10 8.8 i have at home. id rather have a truck i can drive to the other end of the state, and have just a small handicap when i go wheeling. after all whats the point of having a rig that you cant drive how you want to?