Lifted steering arm?

[averagef250]

I've got a '71 F-250 4x4 that I've installed a '76 open knuckle disc 44 front under as well as a 4" lift. I'm also installing a rebuilt factory power assist steering setup on the truck. I bought a used 4" lifted chevy dana 44 steering arm thinking it would work to keep everything lined up. Nope. The chevy arm is just different enough from the ford one to where things will not work right. Does anybody know if someone makes a lifted Ford steering arm or a spacer block that would work for me? Thanks.

[460 crew]

It's the 3bolt arm correct? If so I bought the arm you have gotten and also I purchased a 3in block for a chevy application for the 44 on this page. http://www.ntwonline.com/acb/showdetl.c ... 3&CATID=27
Might lift it up just enough for ya.

[averagef250]

Thanks for the info! I got a block coming my way. I was suprized the 3 bolt 44 steering arms are so different between chevy and ford.

[460 crew]

No problem. Would the arm work with an adjustable draglink on a 77.5-79 setup. I had bought mine a while back and just kinda layed it on top of the original and figured it'd work if there was adjustment in the linkage. But still haven't lifted that one and decided to give away the 14in lift springs that I had for it and prob just put a 6in on there or a drop hanger setup with some highboy springs.

[averagef250]

I think it would work fine with an adjustable link, the tapered hole for the tie rod is a larger size as well though. I've cut and welded a few pitman arms and steering arms to make things work right with a lift, but this chevy "skyjacker" lift arm I've got just doesn't look that great in the first place. It looks like it's made of some pretty poor cast iron, not forged like most all front end and steering parts are.

I figure it's no loss, one of my chevy loving friends will need one some day and I'll get my $20 back.

14 inches is pretty nuts. I wouldn't want to deal with all the complications that much lift brings up. 4" of lift with 35's or so seams to be about as far as you can go with a highboy before things start getting real expensive.

[460 crew]

Yeah I was going to have to be messin with cutting the C's on a D60 front axle(that i don't have one yet just the 44 thats under it now) Resizing drivelines, gear ratios, hydro assist steering. You know all the good stuff you have to add on to have a functional rig running 44-49in tires. So I decided against it for now, maybey later I'll chop up a 78-79 bronco 4link it and just go crazy with it.

I need the 77 a daily driver so i can finish the 70 once and for all.... for the most part.

Yeah i have the arm(got mine of evilbay looks pretty good), the block and the adjustable drop pitman arm, just to make sure I had everything to make the steering work if needed. But now with the minimal lift I'll prob only need one. Yeah can you imagine that the Chevy ball joints are larger than our Ford stuff, was just gonna retaper my holes. We'll see what happens. I hope the block works out for you, post up when you have it installed.

[averagef250]

I think 77.5 to 79 Ford finally went to the big tie rod ends like chevy. I got a newer tie rod by mistake for an early 77 F-250 4x4 and the ends were the larger style. Bigger tie rod ends won't make me like chevies. I'm supposed to have the block wednesday, I'll post up how it turns out.

[averagef250]

The block gets er done. Everything seams to line up pretty good now.

[460 crew]

Sweet good to hear it all worked out for you. Now we have proof the block cures the issue.