I have finally completed my winter project(s): the Power Steering converison and associated work. Here are the before and after photos of my work in progress.
I converted the manual steering to power steering, put in a new tilt steering column, installed a leather wrapped smaller diamter steering wheel, replaced the brake booster, degreased the engine and hoses, dressed the exhaust manifold and master cylinder and powder coated a number of black parts in the engine bay.
I took it for a test drive yesterday. The rig started first try - first time I have started it since I put it in the garage for the winter projects. Steering column worked great, power steering worked great too BUT I apparently still have three things to sort out.
1. I still have tons of play in the steering.
2. The canceling cam apparently needs to be adjusted - the left turn signal turns off after completing a left turn but the right signal stays on after completing right turn (unless manualy turned off).
3. I'm having trouble getting the horn adjusted - it either is too senstive and sounds without touching horn button or after tweaking won't sound at all.
I'm thinking I can solve the horn and signal - just some tinkering to get it right. However, I'm a bit disappointed with the loose steering. I wanted to make the rig more comfortable to drive and figured that a tilt column and power steering would help and that during this change would help reduce or eliminate the loose steering. It doesn't seem to have changed - almost seems worse - because of the ease of turning the wheels now I suppose.
I had looked at the steering components before starting this - that is the connections of the outer tie rod ends to the tie rod and the drag link but they all appeared tight.
I checked the components a little more this evening and noticed that the tie rod actually rotates fairly easily by hand. It rotates in the grease boot. Not in the direction of connection point but back in forth back toward the rear of the truck or front depending on which way you are rotating it by hand. I'm geussing this is not supposed to be like this and I missed it when I looked before. Can someone confirm - thinking I'm going to purchase some new tie rod outers this week and install this weekend. I rechecked the drag links as well. The front one (connected to the pitman arm) is new and seems solid. The rear one, has a tiny amount of movement (again rotating it - not in the direction it is suppose to move but pulling up on it on one side or another). I suppose it might be good to replace this one as well. One more question. I purchased a new pitman arm for my rebuilt power steering gear box and notice that while it has been tightend to the specified torque actually slides up the grooved spline coming out of the gear box (about a 1/16 of an inch). I'm geussing it should not do this. Should I just continue to torque the pitman arm securing bolt until it snugs down (if it does) or is the pitman arm hole perhaps too large of diameter?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
0 - Original Undercarriage by
Luftwaffepdx, on Flickr
1 - Cleaned Undercarriage by
Luftwaffepdx, on Flickr
2-Original Alternator by
Luftwaffepdx, on Flickr
3-Alternator with Powder Coated Brackets by
Luftwaffepdx, on Flickr
4 - Original Exhaust Manifold by
Luftwaffepdx, on Flickr
5 - Dressed Exhaust Manifold by
Luftwaffepdx, on Flickr
6 - Original Manual Steering Gear Box by
Luftwaffepdx, on Flickr
7 - Power Steering Gear Box by
Luftwaffepdx, on Flickr
8 - Original Steering Column and Wheel by
Luftwaffepdx, on Flickr
9 - Tilt Steering Column and Wheel by
Luftwaffepdx, on Flickr
10 - Original Engine Bay by
Luftwaffepdx, on Flickr
11 - Current Engine Bay by
Luftwaffepdx, on Flickr
12 - Rebuilt Radiator, Powder Coated Fan Etc. by
Luftwaffepdx, on Flickr
13 by
Luftwaffepdx, on Flickr