VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 1938 Drag link again

I just received a NOS drag link. The problem is it is one of those curvy drag links. The drag link originally installed has just one bend in it. My link is 26" overall and goes about 18" from the steering arm end to the bend. The curvy link has two curves and is about the same length. I was wondering if anyone knows what type of link I should have. My car is a 4-dr 1938 Master(NOT Deluxe.)

sounds like you received a drag link for a 37-38 knee action car.

To the best of my knowledge the drag link for a Master '38 is straight, no bends. The Master delux had one bend and the truck used a sort of "S" shaped link.

We need all the original '38 owners to check thier links and report the results.

Brian

38 master deluxe has beng in midle and bend near ball joint

Please let me add the following confusion.My 1939 parts book lists the following for 1937 Master GB.pitman arm #594001.!938 Master HB pitman arm #597703.The drag link was 594093 and fit both years.....1940 book lists drag link and pitman arm as being serviced together as a unit-#603481 for GB and 603483 for HB.No lengths were given.My guess is that Chevrolet updated the two parts with the rubberized ball seat version as was used in the 1939 Master 85.That is why they came only as a unit.I went thru my 1939 Service News,which some times mentioned parts changes, but found nothing.The after market companys probably continued to make the original style.So that would mean that the 1937 GB and 1938 HB would use the same link IF they had the original pitman arms.The picture of the 1939 Master 85 drag link shows it to be shaped like an S.Can't find a good picture of the '37-'38 link.

As chev nut stated the 39 JB steering rod is S shaped. Its over all length is 26 1/8 inches (I have an NOS one)Is it possible they sent you the wrong one?

Dandyd

The gentleman that sent the link says that his part book specifies the link I was sent. The illustration in my original manual shows a link that is mostly straight with a bend at the steering arm end(To help clear the shock on non-Deluxe models, I think).The illustrated orientation is backwards from what I had installed. I don't know how accurate the illustration is.

indyscot , can you get the # from the vendor , that he used .
I have a '29-'56 parts book , it shows a completely different set of #s to those that chevynut has offered .
They are ; '38 HB pitman arm ( with straight conn rod) forged 3650405 - 603483.
'38 HB Steering Connecting Rod Assy 594153
'38 HB ( with pitman arm) 603483.

The only pic shows an arm with only one bend , so it is only a representative drawing .

In reading the changes made to the 1939 link and why angles were changed etc. it appears that there were problems with the durability of the '37-'38 design.That is probably why so many changes were made.It refers to changing the angles of the ends to increase durability so that indicates there was a problem.

INDYSCOT, I went through the same exercise a few years back. The drag link on the car (1938 Master Sedan HB)has a dog leg in it and my replacement has two gentle bends in it. From my research and what I have been told the one you are asking about should work. In the Chev Service News from Nov 1938, for 1939 cars, Vol 12, #11, page 74 a balanced drag link is shown. Please reply if you hear something else. Mac

Here is the problem. Look at the shop manual on page 75. There you will see the drag link ends for the Master and the Master Delux. The main difference is that the Master has two springs and the Delux has only one. Now find the steering system exploded view in your Parts Manual. In the 1941 version it is on page 159. You will see the drag link and it is the one with the dog leg. Next to it is an exploded view of the parts in the drag link and it has only one spring. Hence, the dog leg is for the Master Delux. Now, does that mean that the Master also came with the dog leg? I have a very worn, two spring drag link that is straight. The problem is it could have come from some other car and was put on my Master '38.

While it is true that for '39 the drag link did change to the "S" shape that reference is to the Delux version of the '39 and there is no indication that it could/could not be used as a replacement for the Master '38. However, if the steering box link and the wheel link were the same for all three, Master and Master Delux '38 and Master "85" '39, then it would seem that the "S" shape is a good substitution.

Brian

The one issue I think might affect using the S shape is that the link might interfere with the shock. Anyone can feel free to correct me on this since it just my assumption. The car is jacked up and pitman and steering arms are removed so it is hard to tell if there will be a problem. I will probably have to reinstall the arms and see what I can see. My installed drag link and the s shape link both have a 2 spring system. The new link also has slightly different ends.

If the new link is NOT genuine Chevrolet,ie. a Moog or Toledo or something, the ends may look different.If the overall length is the same as the old one it should be OK.

INDYSCOT, The drag link I have is in an original GM box, GP 6.870, P/N 603483 this part has the gentle "S" curve and I have been told it was redesigned for strength and balance. This P/N also includes a pitman arm. Mac

Those were my original toughts also.Thats the reason for Chevrolet selling the pitman arm with the link.----May be there was a recall on the in about 1939

The link with the s curve has thicker metal at the ends around the holes. My original link had a lot of metal replaced in this area. My problem that I now have on the s curve link is that one of the end plugs refuses to come out. I tried Liquid Wrench and even some heat. I am currently soaking the part in Marvel Mystery Oil. However, none of these methods worked on the original link.

Mac HB,

Does it look like the pitman arm also redesigned when the drag link was modified?

Brian