'40 steering problem revisited

Jseery I have looked in parts book and as you have shown is 36,looks like one only part. The pitman arm if its 36 may go on upside down better.
I do think its a mix of parts. I think the car had a clearance problem with the pan.
My Guess.
 
Edit I have just worked on two pitman arms one 35 one later 1937 -37 has part # 78-3590 ,the 35 has a 48 part # .theres not way that you can fit the spline end up side down. If you haven't got the shimming right in side the box the sector can move up and down with out moving the wheels ,therefore changing the orientation of the steering wheel .The gap between the S arm Bose and box is 7/16 and 3/8 for the 35 Ted
 
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i had a look to see which way my pitman arm was facing, the casting number faces down towards the ground. unfortunately I cant get any good pics because the car is on axle stands and I cant get in to take a good pic.
 
EarlyFord Parts 35 and 36 both have different worms and sectors. Can't find any part number for pitman arm. Maybe 35 and 36 are not the same. Those pitman arm are splined and made to go on only one way.
 
48 3590 is the no. for the pitman arm for both 35 & 36 passenger vehicles

11A 5390-A is the number for pitman arm from 37-41

21A 3590-B is the number for pitman arm from 42-48

all info on page 100 of green bible...
 
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weemark said:
48 3590 is the no. for the pitman arm for both 35 & 36 passenger vehicles

11A 5390-A is the number for pitman arm from 37-41

21A 3590-B is the number for pitman arm from 42-48

all info on page 100 of green bible...
Click to expand...

That 11A 3590-A Pitman arm is the over-the-counter REPLACEMENT number for '37-'41 applications. ANY stock '37-'41 Pitman arm as found on a production car will have a 78A 3590 number on the arm. DD

136381
 
V8COOPMAN said:
That 11A 3590-A Pitman arm is the over-the-counter REPLACEMENT number for '37-'41 applications. ANY stock '37-'41 Pitman arm as found on a production car will have a 78A 3590 number on the arm. DD
Click to expand...

my book printed by Ford in 1949 doesn't have the 78 code steering arm in it only the 11A arm so it must have been replaced pretty early on.
 
weemark said:
my book printed by Ford in 1949 doesn't have the 78 code steering arm in it only the 11A arm so it must have been replaced pretty early on.
Click to expand...

You must remember what the "Green Bible" is..........it's a "replacement parts" guide for the Ford "parts counter" guys. It does NOT necessarily show "ORIGINAL" parts used in the original vehicle build. It shows parts that have been engineered to use as safe and acceptable "replacement" parts. "11A" represents the code for a 1941 date (the first "1" in "11A") when that part was approved for use. DD
 
If there is 4 turns plus lock to lock I would say you have a 36 box just a simple yes or no.
If thats the case and you still have the stock ign switch and like the lock.
Best reuse your steering wheel and shaft and tube.
Have a 37 40 worm pressed on your shaft.
Then go with a 37 to40 box complete.
If you get someone that rebuilds them that a way out.
Is you car worth $500
 
weemark said:
i had a look to see which way my pitman arm was facing, the casting number faces down towards the ground. unfortunately I cant get any good pics because the car is on axle stands and I cant get in to take a good pic.
Click to expand...
That's the orientation I have also.
 
this may sound like a silly question but the 4 splines which are filled in on the pitman arm are in the correct slots on shaft in the steering box? are all the splines on the steering box good - none of them are damaged?
 
On the 40 box, the splines on the pitman arm and the steering box shaft are not all the same width, there is one wide special groove on the shaft and one matching wide spline on the arm, this is done so they only match up one way, the arm and the shaft cannot be misaligned. The steering wheel and pitman arm are synchronised together.
If misalignment occurs, the pitman arm won't go fully home on the shaft.
The position of the steering wheel for straight and level is made by adjusting the drag link.
 
Lakewood said:
On the 40 box, the splines on the pitman arm and the steering box shaft are not all the same width, there is one wide special groove on the shaft and one matching wide spline on the arm, this is done so they only match up one way, the arm and the shaft cannot be misaligned. The steering wheel and pitman arm are synchronised together.
If misalignment occurs, the pitman arm won't go fully home on the shaft.
The position of the steering wheel for straight and level is made by adjusting the drag link.
Click to expand...

on a 36 pitman arm there are 4 wide grooves, 12/3/6& 9 o clock. If there is only 1 wide groove on the steering box that would explain why the pitman arm wouldn't go on.
 
weemark said:
on a 36 pitman arm there are 4 wide grooves, 12/3/6& 9 o clock. If there is only 1 wide groove on the steering box that would explain why the pitman arm wouldn't go on.
Click to expand...
Weemark, wasn't aware about the single groove on '40 sector shaft but the pitman must point straight ahead with the steering wheel centered and mine does. Am going to pull pitman arm tomorrow and confirm the single groove; I could be one groove off and that's preventing arm from fully seating but I don't think that will explain why the box gets so off center when driving.
 
Over on epay there is a 35-36 pitman arm 222593427992
Looks like the tapers are in different directions.
I don't think you can put a 36 pitman arm on a 40 sector.
On a 40 both tapers are in same direction.
If you take pic when you remove it of both sector and arm.
 
So Lakewood and Weemark on the other side of the pond saw something the rest of us missed! '40 sector shaft has has 3 narrow grooves and one wide groove, the wide groove faces forward, the '36 pitman arm has all for grooves the same size and that's why the arm won't go all the way on; didn't know this till I pulled pitman arm off today. My bad, after going back and reading how to do steering conversion it states clearly that they're talking about '37-'39 box only, and that earlier '35-'36 pitmans will fit. So now I must find a '40 pitman arm but I still think the problem is the worm but I thought I had a new arm pressed on sometime ago but at my age never sure about anything.
 
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