On my original power steering box I found that with a new pitman arm that the bolt / washer would bottom out on the box threads before the pitman arm would be bottomed out on the splines and there was a little play in it as a result.

So I just thought my power steering box splines were no good so I got a cop box out of a junk yard and the same deal occurred. I ran it anyway and then it began to leak. So I bought a rebuilt cop box from steer and gear and it’s the same deal again. Bolt / lockwasher bottoms out before arm pressed fully into splines. Maybe .04” space from fully bottomed out nut / washer to arm casting face.

Its almost as if the pitman arm thickness is 1/8” too thin.

Should I find a big washer to make up the difference or buy a new pitman arm, maybe Moog or some other suggestion would be helpful.

Thanks
Sean

Are you sure you have the right pitman arm. There was a change in 73 or 74 to a different sized splined shaft. You didn't give any info on the car so I'm guessing.