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Pitman Arm

Printed From: TheAMCForum.com
Category: The Lounge Area
Forum Name: General AMC Chat Australian Edition
Forum Description: There are some things mostly of interest to Aussies - this is their AMC Chat spot
URL: https://theamcforum.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=88402
Printed Date: Mar/28/2024 at 7:25am
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Topic: Pitman Arm
Posted By: mick gill
Subject: Pitman Arm
Date Posted: Jul/08/2017 at 11:52pm
Hello. I'm looking for a pitman arm for my 72 Matador. I'd love a NOS one but would settle for mine being rebuilt. I recall reading about a shop that recoes them but can't remember where. I'm about to do some suspension rebushing and would like to do the arm at the same time. I've called and emailed the Sydney boys with all the parts but I've heard nothing back from them. The car has power steering. Thanks, Mick.

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71 Matador 360/Auto
77 HZ One Tonner 350/T400



Replies:
Posted By: 70Hornet
Date Posted: Jul/10/2017 at 5:45pm
Hi Mick. Bob Freeman from Adelaide was rebuilding them but I am not sure if he still does them. He did close the business but still had some parts and services there for awhile. I got a couple from him for my Hornet years ago but I wasn't 100% happy with the look of them and just keeping them as emergency spares for in years to come when even harder to find new one's. GremX did send me an email a few years back with part numbers for our arms but I cant find it. With that info I was able to easily find some manual steering pitman arm and idler arms for my Hornet. I still have Bob's number somewhere and will text it to you if you wish to go that way but we will try to find what the actual part number is and chase some new one's up. I wonder why Steve from RamblerSpares hasn't contacted you back? C'mon Steve have a go :-)


Posted By: 70Hornet
Date Posted: Jul/10/2017 at 5:50pm
From an earlier thread you had back in 2015 :-)


http://theamcforum.com/forum/rhd-pitman-arm-keep-me-on-the-road-please_topic71567.html?KW=Pitman+arm

There is a guy in Vic - Mick Robinson - we reconditions balljoints, pitman and idler arms for Dodge Phoenix(es):
http://www.dodgeparts.com.au/?product=dodge-phoenix-idler-arm-1965-to-1971


Posted By: mick gill
Date Posted: Jul/11/2017 at 11:56pm
Thanks Jase. Will look into this arvo mate. Cheers bud.

-------------
71 Matador 360/Auto
77 HZ One Tonner 350/T400


Posted By: 74gremx
Date Posted: Jul/12/2017 at 8:11pm
Originally posted by 70Hornet 70Hornet wrote:

Hi Mick. Bob Freeman from Adelaide was rebuilding them but I am not sure if he still does them. He did close the business but still had some parts and services there for awhile. I got a couple from him for my Hornet years ago but I wasn't 100% happy with the look of them and just keeping them as emergency spares for in years to come when even harder to find new one's. GremX did send me an email a few years back with part numbers for our arms but I cant find it. With that info I was able to easily find some manual steering pitman arm and idler arms for my Hornet. I still have Bob's number somewhere and will text it to you if you wish to go that way but we will try to find what the actual part number is and chase some new one's up. I wonder why Steve from RamblerSpares hasn't contacted you back? C'mon Steve have a go :-)



Bob has gone - no longer having anything to do with cars. He didn't do any of the work anyway, so he was only the middle man.
These are one of the hardest replacement parts to find. Is yours really bad ? I have some used ones that I've saved because of this. They are hard to test, even putting them in a vice you can't duplicate turning a 1-1/2 ton car with a big spanner.

-------------
1970 Javelin 360/727
1974 Levis Gremlin X 304/904
1964 American Convertible
1974 Matador wagon (parts)
2016 Holden Cruze Equipe
2014 Holden Colorado
"Don't mistake activity for achievement".






Posted By: 74gremx
Date Posted: Jul/12/2017 at 8:13pm

Here's the pitman arm article I wrote

uploads/1808/AMC_Pitman_&_Idler_Arms.pdf" rel="nofollow - AMC_Pitman_&_Idler_Arms.pdf

-------------
1970 Javelin 360/727
1974 Levis Gremlin X 304/904
1964 American Convertible
1974 Matador wagon (parts)
2016 Holden Cruze Equipe
2014 Holden Colorado
"Don't mistake activity for achievement".






Posted By: WesternRed
Date Posted: Jul/12/2017 at 8:59pm
The only problem is that it looks like Moog K-3038 is out of production so you re looking for NOS. Interchange parts are possibly Affina FA465 and Rare Parts 20104, but still looking for a needle in a haystack.



Posted By: 70Hornet
Date Posted: Jul/16/2017 at 5:01am
looks like WesternRed is onto something there which will be a big help for all the owners out there with power steering etc

Pic on this link shows what looks like the correct item. If it turns out to be correct Mick let everyone know for sure

http://www.yoyopart.com/oem/11370389/rareparts-20104.html


Posted By: WesternRed
Date Posted: Jul/16/2017 at 6:48am
I don't think they actually have them at yoyopart, it's just a reference. I stumbled onto an idler arm on US ebay, but they are pretty hard to find too.


Posted By: 74gremx
Date Posted: Jul/16/2017 at 7:19am
They have 8000 of them allegley ?

-------------
1970 Javelin 360/727
1974 Levis Gremlin X 304/904
1964 American Convertible
1974 Matador wagon (parts)
2016 Holden Cruze Equipe
2014 Holden Colorado
"Don't mistake activity for achievement".






Posted By: WesternRed
Date Posted: Jul/16/2017 at 7:23am
I think that's 8000 characters for you to submit your request.


Posted By: Lucas660
Date Posted: Jul/16/2017 at 5:57pm
Keep trying the fripps, but you could also try eagle spares in Dandenong, they had the idler arm bush (moog) for my classic. Or try autosurplus.com.au they have some parts.


Posted By: mick gill
Date Posted: Jul/16/2017 at 7:00pm
Thanks guys. Been a bit time stressed with my one tonner off the road but I'll chase all of these leeds. Thanks again, Mick.

-------------
71 Matador 360/Auto
77 HZ One Tonner 350/T400


Posted By: 70Hornet
Date Posted: Jul/16/2017 at 7:36pm
Yeah don't give up trying Steve Fripp as he may have some new ones or some second hand ones around

Or try this website RockAuto or actual page if it comes up;

http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/american+motors,1971,matador,6.6l+401cid+v8,1005455,steering,pitman+arm,7368

While it doesn't have anything under the Moog part number but if you put in Matador, V8, Steering it comes up with some Power steering and manual steering Pitman arms. The power steering arms are different brands again then mentioned in previous post. Not sure if these are any good for you?


Posted By: WesternRed
Date Posted: Jul/16/2017 at 8:07pm
US ones don't fit our Aussie cars unfortunately.


Posted By: 70Hornet
Date Posted: Jul/16/2017 at 8:12pm
Bugger!

The manual steering Hornets can use a US part so I just thought the Matador's etc may have been the same

What are the Moog ones you mention originally off? IE RHD specific or a LH car?

Update 5 minutes later :-) its OK I just re-read GremX's article wow they were AMI specific. Although with a US part number I gather they were for the RHD postal cars over there?

And that is a great article that one GremX.


Posted By: WesternRed
Date Posted: Jul/16/2017 at 8:33pm
They are for earlier 60's US cars like the Ambassador.

You are lucky with the Hornet since all parts cross over except for the drag link.


Posted By: mick gill
Date Posted: Jul/17/2017 at 12:49am
Spoke to Steve Fripp today for about 20 mins today and he's on the case. I'll still chase all the leads you guys gave me. Cheers

-------------
71 Matador 360/Auto
77 HZ One Tonner 350/T400


Posted By: WesternRed
Date Posted: Jul/17/2017 at 1:38am
This place in NZ perhaps:

http://www.briconengineeringgroup.co.nz/

There is also a place called the ball joint doctor in Coffs Harbour.

I'm not so sure about the injection type repairs though.


Posted By: 74gremx
Date Posted: Jul/17/2017 at 2:24am
I have s/h ones because I'm a hoarder and knew these days would come. But hard to check for wear even if you put the taper with a nut onto into a vice. You can't really duplicate a 1-1/2 tonne car that way. But if someone has one really bad I can sell what I think is reasonable to give it a try. I'm in hospital at the moment so bear with me.

Thanks for the good words on my article. It took a while to put together. I think it summarizes what ami did in narrowing it down to only keeping two parts in stock the entire time they were in business, even though the us changed mid 60's

-------------
1970 Javelin 360/727
1974 Levis Gremlin X 304/904
1964 American Convertible
1974 Matador wagon (parts)
2016 Holden Cruze Equipe
2014 Holden Colorado
"Don't mistake activity for achievement".






Posted By: skymit
Date Posted: Sep/23/2017 at 4:24am
I went through this pitman arm/idler arm thing a couple of months ago. I have a AMI 70 Rebel with Power Steering. I ordered one from the US (APD).
This is what I ordered and they both fitted. 
   1  101 0801A  Idler Arm                                    $98.00   $98.00  
   1  101 0401C  Pitman Arm - PS                             $129.00  $129.00 

I also have a genuine parts book, so before I ordered I checked in it to see if any RHD parts cross referenced with the LHD parts.
The RHD idler arm did cross reference with a LHD idler arm, so thats why I ordered the one I did. I will take a picture of the parts book page and put it up later if I can figure how to do photos later.
There was no cross reference in the parts book for the pitman arm so I just ordered the US power steering one. I have them both bolted on the car now. 
I will have to double check the taper on the ball joint now though after reading 74Gremx's article. I pretty sure I checked it with verniers before I put it on but aren't sure now.



Posted By: 304-dude
Date Posted: Sep/23/2017 at 4:34am
Hi, I guess you are converting to right hand drive. Unfortunately there is an odd difference between Aussie and US cars on suspension and steering.

Pitman arms are most noticeable with incompatibility.

I will search a few threads and post the links for you. WesternRed, and a few other Aussies will probably assist further on obtaining or finding a way to rebuild an old Aussie pitman arm.

Here is a more recent post... covers a bit just follow along, as it has links in finding help on the pitman arm.

http://theamcforum.com/forum/pitman-arm_topic88402_page1.html" rel="nofollow - http://theamcforum.com/forum/pitman-arm_topic88402_page1.html

Here is another more detailed thread covered on differences through the years and what can be done to get things right for you. Again this has links to follow.

http://www.theamcforum.com/forum/pitman-arm_topic74288_post672310.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.theamcforum.com/forum/pitman-arm_topic74288_post672310.html

-------------
71 Javelin SST body
390 69 crank, 70 block & heads
NASCAR SB2 rods & pistons
78 Jeep TH400 w/ 2.76 Low
50/50 Ford-AMC Suspension
79 F150 rear & 8.8 axles
Ford Racing 3.25 gears & 9" /w Detroit locker



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