Help! Trying to find the pitman arm for my 56' Merc. No luck in the sources I have looked into! I have found idler arms for the steering, no pitman. I was told at the brake shop that mine was wearing out and should be replaced soon.

It sounds to me that the brake shop is not at all familiar with the power steering system on your Merc.  There is nothing to wear on the pitman arm, unless it has been running without the nuts being tight.  If they are looking at the "play" when the wheel is moved back and forth, that is normal.  It's what actuates the control valve for the power assist.  My 2 cents worth.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

OK! Would the idler then maybe be loose? I do have play in the wheel and sometimes you can hear/feel a clunk (very slightly) but I think that is the ram getting dry,as it does leak. I fixed it once, using a Caterpiller pump seal! It fit right in the end and stopped the leak for 6 years. I have a freind who did some research and said maybe a steering box from a 1968 Ford truck f250 would fit in or at least can be made to work without much hassle? As well as the power steering pump from the sam truck? Anyone heard of that? IT would be easier than trying to rebuild the old one on the Merc.

I put the truck box in my '57 Ranchero, and it is not a simple swap.  I had to weld an ear to the box for one of the mounting bolts, and had to drill and tap for another one.  A modified pitman arm was required, and the steering column cut off just inside the firewall, a bushing fabricated to press in the tube to support and center the shaft, and a "rag joint" adapted to the shaft.  A standard steering drag link was used.  An inside the firewall support had to be fabricated to mount on the column tube and support the shift linkage.  Also, with the rag joint and the non hollow shaft into the box, the original horn ground wire was history, requiring more fabrication and the use of a fork lift horn brush to make it work.  And then there was the hand fabricated cover to make room for the rag joint and shift linkage to cover the hole in the firewall and toe board.  I used the original Y block pump with specially made hoses.  Good luck if you pursue this direction.

Re your play and clunk, has anyone checked to be sure the steering box is still tight to the frame?  Vertical movement in the idler arm can cause play also.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Sounds like a big pain! I don't know, I was told the steering box from a 68' F250 would bolt in easily (from a Ford truck forum). Maybe have to redo a mount for the box. I really would like to get rid of that ram, they always leak! At least mine does. Then there is this complete new steering system from Gearheads.com, will run me around $900 plus paying someone to install it.

I will check the steering box, make sure it's tightly mounted and the idler arm,too. Thanks for the suggestion as to what to look for!