Later idler in an early a?

[salinasjoel]

As anyone attempted to mod the k member on their early a to accept the later bolt through style idler? I ask because I have a set of fast ratio off of a previously owned car and they don't work on my 69 due to headers so if I can do some fab work and put them on the 65 I will. Thanks for any help.

 

[chryslerfat]

As anyone attempted to mod the k member on their early a to accept the later bolt through style idler? I ask because I have a set of fast ratio off of a previously owned car and they don't work on my 69 due to headers so if I can do some fab work and put them on the 65 I will. Thanks for any help.

What does the idler have to do with fast ratio? The Early A is narrower so if you want to use 67 and up center link it will not work. Fast ratio as I know it refers to the steering gear itself.

 

[salinasjoel]

AAR's and TA's had a longer pitman and idler arm creating a "faster turn ratio". Center link shouldn't be an issue just the fact that the later idlers attach to the k member differently.

 

[Jim Lusk]

Just build a bracket and be careful about angle and distance. Both arms should be parallel to the frame at center.

 

[autoxcuda]

AAR's and TA's had a longer pitman and idler arm creating a "faster turn ratio". Center link shouldn't be an issue just the fact that the later idlers attach to the k member differently.

Like Jim said you can fab a thru mount idler support that mimics a 68-72 K-member idler mount.

That said, all the fast ratio pitman and idlers I have seen have centerlink ball joint studs that point downward for 70-74 E-bodies. 63-66 A-body centerlinks have pitman and idler taper hole that only accept pitman and idlers studs that point upward.

Here is a 63-66 Centerlink/pitman/idler setup

Here is a B/E body with the fast ratio pitman and idler and the corresponding centerlink.

Notice the stud bolts are showing from the bottom of the K-member. Where as in the picture above that bolts are not seen because they are on top.

Here you can see the side profile of the fast ratio pitman and idler.

 

[salinasjoel]

Like Jim said you can fab a thru mount idler support that mimics a 68-72 K-member idler mount. That said, all the fast ratio pitman and idlers I have seen have centerlink ball joint studs that point downward for 70-74 E-bodies. 63-66 A-body centerlinks have pitman and idler taper hole that only accept pitman and idlers studs that point upward. Here is a 63-66 Centerlink/pitman/idler setup Here is a B/E body with the fast ratio pitman and idler and the corresponding centerlink. Notice the stud bolts are showing from the bottom of the K-member. Where as in the picture above that bolts are not seen because they are on top. Here you can see the side profile of the fast ratio pitman and idler.

good point, I guess I could have the center link machined to have a downward taper.