What do you guys think about bending a pitman flat? bad idea?

You might comprimise the integrity of the metal by heating and bending.

www.sky-manufacturing.com sells flat pitman arms

I knew that I could purchase a flat arm, but I was just looking to save a few bucks.

you will weaken it.

Steering REALLY isnt a good place to save a few bucks.

well first I have to ask why?
it is alot better to set things up to work with off the shelf stock parts.
I have the flat arm. but if I ever need a new one what will I do.. HOPE That sky is still around and making them. or set it up to work with stock.

just something to think about it.

Why??

Here is a long winded answer. I started my SAS wanting to keep the truck fairly short and do it fairly inexpensively. So I decided to use rears up front. So I did the RUF, made slightly longer shackles for the rear and added a couple leafs, worked out pretty well except for the fact that my steering wasn't close to clearing. The truck has a 2" body lift on it and I can move the steering box far enough forward without touching the core support as long as I rotate it downward a little. The drop pitman doesn't give me much room for up travel with this setup. Personally I would rather have a non-stock pitman opposed to a cut up core support.

Can you picture how close everything fits up there without lifted springs or a drop hanger? Lucky for me I have a fork lift at work to flex it out and check everything. Which I have done with my bent pitman(had to be able to get the truck out of works garage and drive it a short distance home).

I'm close to taking the thing out for the first time since the swap and that bent pitman was a concern of mine, hence the question.

Thanks for the replies, I'll order one.

I hope to get some pics up in the next couple days. I've gotten a lot of good help on this forum. The least I could do is give you guys some pics <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

95 pickup, RUF, dual cases, 4.88s, detroit rear/lock-right front, high steer, and not stupid tall <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

you asked, don't be defensive.
I cut the core to where there was just a bit left there.
it has been ok. of course I cut it up to add hydro assist.

wife's, stock


mine

I FULLY understand wheeling on the cheap. My truck is built from junkyard parts and mismatch stuff. But one thing I would never booty fab is the steering. Far too important. If that arm broke and you were on the highway you could kill yourself and others.

I have a friend that has for years flattened pitman arms for the hotrod guys without a single failure to an arm.
With that said, I went to him with my Toyota arm and asked if he could straighten it for me so it would work with my hy-steer.
No problem as long as it is cooled right, he said.
I ran that setup on some hard runs with no flaws.
ymmv
I am just saying the other side of the story.
Danny