I read some of your posts about installing a manual S10 steering box in your thirdgen in which you stated it was a direct bolt in other than clearancing the sway bar mount. However in other posts I read that the pitman arm off of the 82 and some 83 cars with the 605 power steering box must be used to maintain correct steering geometry. It was also said that the S10 pitman arm was shorter than the F-body arm. Also, that the 605 pitman arm has a smaller diameter shaft (than the newer 800 boxes) that will fit the 122/525 manual boxes, I.E., the S10 boxes. I guess my question to you is what pitman arm did you use, and did it affect steering geometry over the factory setup. Thanks.

 

if you want stephen to answer send him an e mail or PM and don't use the public forums for it

 

You DONT use the S10 pitman arm...You REUSE your stock pitman arm...they all bolt on the same...

So if you REUSE your arm geometry is the SAME...

 

i used the s10 box and swapped the pitman from my car to the s10 box

 

usa1racing,

I know what you mean. I too got a S-10 manual steering box from a salvage yard. I was told it was from a 1985 model. All I had to doo was grind a little of the extra casting by the three mounting lugs to make it sit flush and it bolted right in. Enough of that though.

My problem was with the pitman arm as well. I told the salvage yard to take off the S-10 pitman arm since I didn't need it and the one off my camaro was such a pain to get off the power steering box. Now my problem is that the Camaro arm will not fit the S-10 box. No way no how, no if, and's or but's about it. My car is a 1983 base model if that makes any problem. What I mean about base model is it originally had a 4 banger iron duke. I am not sure what model power steering box it had. I still have it laying around. If I knew what to look for I could let you what model it was.

The Camaro pitman arm was a smaller diameter and the teeth were off as well. Not a lot but noticeable to the extent that it is obvious it would not work. I was going to go back to the salvage yard to get the S-10 one back but from what I have heard that is not the right way to go eighor. So I guess I am in the same boat as you as far as needing the right arm. I hope it is as easy as geting one off a later year third gen. Any answers out there. Thanks

 

Later year BOLTS RIGHT ON>>>

Mine went on no problem... 87 WS6 power steering fast ratio box to S10 box...

 

blown 83, from what I've read, the way to tell the earlier 605 power steering boxes apart from the newer 800 steering boxes is that the 605 boxes have a snap ring holding down the top cover, while the 800 series boxes have 4 bolts holding down the top cover.

The reason for bringing this topic up was that MotorCityMike, in this post:

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=193540

seems very certain that the early 605 pitman arms are the only ones that will fit the 525, because the size of the pitman shafts match. But the 800 series boxes used a larger pitman shaft, so he stated. Herein lies the confusion, at least for me. In several posts, I've read that others have simply installed the pitman arm from their F-body (post 82-83ish). Is it possible that there could have been a change in pitman shaft diameter in different year S10's?