Info wanted regarding factory Firm Feel steering boxes

[str12-340]

In a big parts purchase I ended up with a brand new power steering box - Chrysler part # 3643334. From internet research this seems to be a factory Firm Feel box for police cars and some big block or hemi E and B body cars. Can anyone confirm that? I would like to use the box on the 1970 Dart GT that I'm currently putting together.

2 questions :
What could go wrong with a new power steering box that has never been used and has been stored inside all this time (the steering box was shipped by Chrysler to a dealership in Gresham OR in 1993)?

Some of the internet chatter about this box indicated that it needs a different pitman arm and a different presssure hose to be used in an A-body - can anyone confirm that or tell me what pitman arm and hose would be appropriate?

 

[Dana67Dart]

Internal rust, degraded rubber seals.

 

[autoxcuda]

It should be large spline. There was a Mopar Action article that gave the part number for that New Police Steering Box.

you need:

1. a large spline 73-76 A-body pitman,
2. 73-76 centerlink
3. 73-76 idler arm

 

[str12-340]

I took the box to Red Head Steering Gears in nearby Seattle today and they pressure tested the box as I didn't want to find out that the seals were bad from sitting after I installed it and buried it under the engine and exhaust. They gave it a clean bill of health and said that there was no significant slop in the box. I talked to the guys at Firm Feel in Vancouver WA and they sell a large sector pitman arm that works with the 67-72 steering system, so I can dodge finding a 73 and up centerlink and idler arm. I'm also going to get Firm Feel's steering sector stabilization kit which adds a bearing and bracket to the K frame at the bottom of the pitman arm to remove a lot of the flex that is typical at the steering box mount on the K frame. See the link on Firm Feel's web site to a Mopar Action article.

 

[autoxcuda]

I took the box to Red Head Steering Gears in nearby Seattle today and they pressure tested the box as I didn't want to find out that the seals were bad from sitting after I installed it and buried it under the engine and exhaust. They gave it a clean bill of health and said that there was no significant slop in the box. I talked to the guys at Firm Feel in Vancouver WA and they sell a large sector pitman arm that works with the 67-72 steering system, so I can dodge finding a 73 and up centerlink and idler arm. I'm also going to get Firm Feel's steering sector stabilization kit which adds a bearing and bracket to the K frame at the bottom of the pitman arm to remove a lot of the flex that is typical at the steering box mount on the K frame. See the link on Firm Feel's web site to a Mopar Action article.

Wonder if custom part or stock. Interesting. I just can’t think of the A-body application.


Different situation... But you can run the manual steering small spline 73-76 pitman to run a small spline 72 and earlier power steering box in a 73-76 centerlink and idler system.

 

[str12-340]

Wonder if custom part or stock.

not sure - it ain't cheap, but take a look at Firm Feel's web site and go to "A-body", then "Pitman and idler arms". One thing is for sure, when you talk to their tech line those guys know these cars inside out.