Steering Tech? '68 1200C

[bindermike]

I have a '68 1200c 2wd pickup with armstrong steering. It's getting a cummins 4bta with zf6 trans. The tie-rod is behind the axle, and clearance to the oil pan is closer than I'd like. What would be the downside to moving the tie-rod ahead of the axle (like a 4wd)? It should be an easy unbolt, swap end-for-end, bolt it up, and reset the toe. Steering box and draglink would be unchanged.

Is there any reason it wouldn't steer correctly?

Thanks, Mike

 

[Ray Stankewitz]

I have a '68 1200c 2wd pickup with armstrong steering. It's getting a cummins 4bta with zf6 trans. The tie-rod is behind the axle, and clearance to the oil pan is closer than I'd like. What would be the downside to moving the tie-rod ahead of the axle (like a 4wd)? It should be an easy unbolt, swap end-for-end, bolt it up, and reset the toe. Steering box and draglink would be unchanged.

Is there any reason it wouldn't steer correctly?

Thanks, Mike

The steering arm angles would be way off.

Some reading to help you understand - it's a long winded explanation. ackermann steering geometry

Making the truck a 'front steer' would require new steering arms to correct the ackerman angles, or you would have the outside tire in a turn turning in too sharply and the inside tire wouldn't be turned far enough, causing massive scrubbing.

Ray

 

[bindermike]

Thanks for the response, ray.

I did read up on ackerman geometry, and came to realize exactly what you said. It would've messed up my steering.

I thought the steering arm that connected to the drag link and the steering arm that connected to the tierod were separate. They are not, so I couldn't have swapped the arms if I wanted to...

I ended up positioning the engine far enough back that the oil sump does not interfere with the rear-mounted tierod. I left the steering just as IH built it!

Everything's working out fine. Thanks again, Mike