View Full Version : 2nd gen P/S box in 1st gen


shad88
Sep 24th, 08, 05:11 PM
Can I put a second gen. power steering box in a first gen. just by putting the Pitman arm from a first gen. on it? Will everything bolt up without modifications?

Fred Ficarra
Sep 24th, 08, 05:39 PM
Mostly. I did it. My steering is from my 79 Trans Am that was wrecked when new. (Don't ask, but it got me a much better new wife)
The 69 pitman arm can't fit but a 75 Camaro pitman is juuuust right! Here's a look before I did a clean-up last summer. Everything is bolt on.
http://epitomesrebuild.com/images/217.JPG

davidpozzi
Sep 24th, 08, 07:09 PM
Fred,
I think you wrote it backwards, the 69 PS pitman will fit, but the 75 won't.
David

67motorcat
Sep 24th, 08, 07:13 PM
Also ,I believe the hose connections changed from flare to metric O ring style around 77' or 78' at the box if memory serves me right.There are adaptors available though if needed.

Fred Ficarra
Sep 24th, 08, 10:27 PM
Fred,
I think you wrote it backwards, the 69 PS pitman will fit, but the 75 won't.
David
No David, I didn't. The 69 pitman shaft is smaller and the tapper is from the wrong side. The 75 arm bolts right up.

JIML82
Sep 25th, 08, 07:00 AM
The hose connections went from 45 degree flare with conventional threads to metric o-ring the 1980 model year.

Jim

Fred Ficarra
Sep 25th, 08, 10:16 AM
These hoses remind me of a story.
It's 1981 or so. My wife(this one) and I are dating. The TA is in the local bone-yard. I've had it with the manual box and unceremoniously deposit in the trash can. In goes the TA box. Bolts right in. But what to do about the pitman arm. The one on the TA box is the same length but the outer end is 'non serviceable' (no moving parts) and the inner end has a much larger hole and the tapper comes from the wrong side. Whew. Solution:confused: I cut it in half with my hack saw. But it looks like I need a professional weld job to reverse the tapper and still don't know what to do about the non compatibility of the outer end. I take it to my parts man along with the original pitman. I say "Chip, have you got an end like this (my original end) that I can weld onto this TA inner end????". He turns to the back of the store and leaves without a word. Not 10 seconds goes by and he's back. He plops a Moog pitman box on the counter. "There he says, that's what you need, unless of course you still want to weld up the old stuff". IT'S PERFECT!:thumbsup: The taper is correct and the serviceable end is correct. Perfect! (A 75 Camaro arm)
Off I go to install it. Now I need hoses. All I have is the junk yard cut-off original pieces. I go to another parts store I've always done business with. He takes my specs and builds the hoses. Off I go to install them. I get everything bolted in and fluid added. Time to start the engine. :beers: I make sure everything moves as it should. The pump is still venting air. I turn the wheel to move the fluid. POW! The high side hose EXPLODES. ATF all over the engine and garage. Ol George built the high side hose as a return line. :sad: He never even said he was sorry when he handed me the proper hose. He stopped getting my business.
But that was all I needed and my car steered quickly and effortlessly ever-after!:thumbsup:

Rodder
Sep 25th, 08, 10:35 AM
The pitman arm is different from a manual box to a power box. A 67/68/69 power steering pitman arm will work on any first, second, or 3rd gen fbody power steering box.

Mat Klemp
Sep 25th, 08, 10:42 AM
When I did with a '79 TA box. I used a '69 power steering pitman arm, however the rag joint flange is a smaller spline diameter so I had to find one, I cannot remember what it was from. but the information on a 3rd gen swap should use the same part.

TTFN
Mat

Frank350
Sep 25th, 08, 07:50 PM
Hey Fred, was your 79 Trans Am steering box one from a WS6 TA or regular TA ? I am thinking about putting a 79 Trans Am (non WS6) box in my 67 Firebird and have been wondering if I will see a big difference or should I absolutely go with a WS6 unit. My car currently has factory power steering with the original box. What about the rag joint ? was it the same ? Frank.