Raised Steering

[Tom Mandera <tsm1@domain.elided>]

Ken Farmer had a few thoughts on this earlier this week/last weekend,
but I didn't comment at the time..

If you were to want a cross-over, raised steering setup on a lifted
Scout II, to avoid bump steer -

Get the knuckles from a 74-75 IH pickup or Travelall Dana 44.  Both
sides.  Make sure they're from a disc brake truck with 8-stud spindles.

Swap the knuckles on in place of the stock Scout parts.  Drill and tap
the passenger side flat-top knuckle, and fabricate a new steering arm
and install on the top, and use your stock drag link.

What I don't know is how well the pickup truck tie-rod "angle" n' such
matches to a Scout's.  Ackermann angles and all that stuff.. could be
WAY off (not that it's "on" when your axle is stock)

The really trick solution is to then knock the "horseshoe" arm off of
the driver's side, and when you make your steering arms, make them to
emulate the stock Scout II knuckle's arms.  Make one for either side
(driv/pass), with the passenger side having two fittings - drag link and
tie-rod.

You can then install your tie-rod above the springs (in a spring-over or
under) and out of harm's way, and the drag link, and by making custom
arms, you can retain the tie-rod and drag link and steering arm
dimensions and angles, restoring "proper" geometry.

Not a simple "bolt in affair" in any manner.. at the least you have to
drill n' tap and fab a new arm for the passenger side knuckle.  (Again,
Ken,  your Travelall has 3 studs on the driver's side knuckle.. you need
the mirror image of those studs on the passenger knuckle, and then a
different, "straight" arm on the pass knuckle)

I'll see about finishing my roll of film and getting some pictures of
the arm soon..

-Tom