Heat and bend pitman arm?

Bob McMillen said

The thing about this car is how undamaged by rust or bending the structural rails are. There is no indication of severe damage. I don't think the idler is at fault since the contact is on the pitman arm side and the contact area is rearward of the factory dimple in the pan. No one has a pitman arm locally and I don't want to spend the money if I end up with the same problem. Once I special order one, it's mine.

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It's most likely a severely bent pitman arm. Show us a side view, and we'll be able to tell for sure. It's supposed to have a pretty lengthy drop in it. Looks like that drop is pushed up and back.

For it to bend that much though, I'd think it would've damaged the steering box too. You can try bending it back, but the idea of heating important steering components cherry red doesn't sit well with me. I know hotrodders have been doing it forever, but I'd try what I could to find a useable replacement. That's just me though. Keep us posted!