The Serpentine Swap Blues...

[sleepertruck72]

Okay its not that bad really, I swapped over to a serpentine belt set up from 96-98 Chevy Trucks. Everything went good swapping it over for the most part. The only issue I am having is with the power steering pump. I have the original power steering box with standard threads/fittings. The power steering pump from the 98 truck has metric threads/fittings. I am looking for adapters to attach the lines to the box but have not found anything other than AN fitting conversion kits. I dont really want to make new lines if I can avoid it. Has anyone run into this ? Any help or suggestions would help. Thanks

[Beat68CST]

You may have to re-tap them if they're anywhere near the same size.

I don't think you'll ever find a fitting.


In the end, best off just gettin new lines made, then you know they ain't gonna crack or anything of that nature.

[Sammy]

You have a couple of ways to go. Removing the fittings from your old pump and install them on your new pump is the easiest way to prevent changing the lines..That is what most folks do. It does fit but kinda puts the lines in a awkward twist.

[mightymouse]

i also did the conversion. and when i got the parts from wrecking yard i got the hose to . and took it with my old hose to a hydraulic hose place . and the guy used the two to make one.charged me 11.50 not to bad

[sleepertruck72]

Originally Posted by Beat68CST

You may have to re-tap them if they're anywhere near the same size.

I don't think you'll ever find a fitting.
In the end, best off just gettin new lines made, then you know they ain't gonna crack or anything of that nature.

Beat68CST,
The more I search for adapters, the less I find.. I guess I will have to have some made. Thanks

Originally Posted by Sammy

You have a couple of ways to go. Removing the fittings from your old pump and install them on your new pump is the easiest way to prevent changing the lines..That is what most folks do. It does fit but kinda puts the lines in a awkward twist.

Sammy,
I think I am going to give it a try on a spare pump I have somewhere. It would be nice if it worked. Thanks

[sleepertruck72]

Originally Posted by mightymouse

i also did the conversion. and when i got the parts from wrecking yard i got the hose to . and took it with my old hose to a hydraulic hose place . and the guy used the two to make one.charged me 11.50 not to bad

Mightymouse,
That looks good and clean ! I will save the pic so I can have it as a reference, Thanks

[1972RedNeck]

Aren't the pumps the same? Just a different pulley? Couldn't you just swap the fitting in the back? At worst you could just swap pulleys I think(although the shafts might be different).

[mightymouse]

my old pumps pulley was a bolt on with a keyway . the conversion one is pressed on and also for a long waterpump. idont know if i could have changed the fitting in pump or not i guess you could.

[sleepertruck72]

I double checked the pump, the return line doesnt seem to be able to take out, like if it was a press fit, or more like soldered through the body. The pressure line has a different O-ring seal than the older ones. I am going to use some high pressure line to join the return lines, and I will have the pressure line made from the two as Mightymouse suggested. Also, Mightymouse did you use the A/C compressor ? how did you route your upper radiator hose if so ? I ordered a thermostat housing that looks like it should clear the back side of the A/C compressor. I picked it out of a book at NAPA since no one has any in stock to look at. I will use a flexible hose. Thanks for all your input guys

[mightymouse]

hay there sleepertruck72 looks good ..no i didn't go with a/c compressor for now .buy may later on. i went with a compressor delete that i seen on this site. i also dont have a upper hose yet. a flex hose sounds like a good ideal i may also may need to change thermostat housing . but might not with that type of hose.when i was checking out your pic i notice mine is differnt than yours . the alt and compressor is on oppisite sides my stuff came off a 92 heres a pic of mine .keep up the good work...johnny

[sleepertruck72]

Thanks for the pic Johnny ! That frame and engine look sweet Im gonna look into the A/C delete since its just in the way. I will post pics of the finished product, although it will not be nowhere near as nice as yours Thanks again.

[sleepertruck72]

Here is my update for today... I ended up getting the line made at NAPA. They used a nice hydraulic crimper to attach the new end for the gearbox with the correct standard threads. It took some slight massaging on the pump side of the steel line, but it worked out , or at least I should say it fit just right. I got a thermostat housing that shoots behind the air compresssor. That was the funnest part because I had to pick it out of a black and white book and guess which would fit. It worked out though. The 24" long hose I picked up today was too short by about 8 inches, but I got a 36" hose coming tomorrow. Enjoy the pics The first pic shows the return line on the backside of the pump, it is press fit it seems, and would be too much trouble for me to mess with. The second pic shows the pressure line on the lower half of the pump, and the third pic is the O-ring seal metric fitting on the pump. The last pics are the hose end used for the gearbox.

[sleepertruck72]

More pics... here is the hose that was made and I roughed it in to make sure the inner fender will rub or interfere too much. I apologize for the lack of quality of pics, my camera lens is stuck and Its amazing it even works It is too HOT outside to keep working so I am taking a beer break !

[sleepertruck72]

This is the backwards water neck...

[project67-stepside]

its easy, just cut the metric flare nut off and cut the reflare on other line i did mine and worked perfectly...

[sleepertruck72]

Originally Posted by project67-stepside

its easy, just cut the metric flare nut off and cut the reflare on other line i did mine and worked perfectly...

That was my first idea, however I could not find the right tube nut for the gearbox. If you dont mind sharing info., where did you get the tube nut for the gearbox ? I have a spare line to do this with in case this does not work. Thanks

[Sammy]

Strange metric fitting I can see now. Some of the serp pumps have a screw in fitting on the pressure side (mine did) just like the older ones but the fitting is metric. Guess when doing the conversion to search a bit deeper at the doner vehicles to save some headahes. For the upper hose I just used a 360 swivel aftermarket thermo housing and when I gathered from the doner I got that upper hose didn't have any issues with that. Add a pair of electric fans/ shroud from the same doner and your all set, just upgrade the electric wiring for the new alt and you have done three common upgrades.

[sleepertruck72]

I must say I am a knucklehead I could have saved myself 2 trips to NAPA and about $15 had I just taken the old line off the gearbox and used that fitting for the pressure side. I just now cut the fitting off the old line, and it is what I needed to make the line work. I have a spare line off the new p/s set-up and I will cut and reflare the end and use this fitting. Sometimes beer does help make you think

Sammy,
How has that swivel thermostat housing keeping up ? No leaks ? I was gonna do that as a last resort, but thankfully I saved money by using a stock replacement one. The hose has been the trickiest part really, but I think I got that taken care of. Electric fans would be awesome, but this truck had a fan/clutch. I think that will be fine for now. Thanks for the input, I need another beer, its 103* outside

[sleepertruck72]

So I'm back from my vacation to beat the Central Valley heat I got this all done now. I replaced my starter solenoid wire all the way from the fuse panel because it was spliced about 6 times by previous owner. That was fun to find the fuse panel terminal. The local Chevy dealer hooked me up The ac compressor bracket was trimmed/ massaged slightly because it interfered with my water temp. sending connector. I cut the old connector off and crimped/soldered a cheesy terminal and shrink wrapped it. Its not pretty but it works. I refilled the cooling system with the "Airlift" system. Its a cool tool. It pulls a vacuum on the cooling system and then refills it without overfilling it. All new heater hoses, battery cables, and I replaced that old leaking oil pressure line, and my header gaskets because of a pesky leak, new spark plug wires, Blah blah blah here are some pics. The only thing I overlooked was the collector gaskets. I am running open headers until I get some (hopefully tommorow) although I like that sound

[sleepertruck72]

pics of Airlift system... kinda hard to tell but the hoses become collapsed during the vacuum...

[sleepertruck72]

I will try to remember to take pics of the whole thing in the morning. I got done putting my grill, fenders, and hood back on close to 11 pm

I did manage to get a short clip of it running without those flowmasters
and I found a small fuel leak which I quickly fixed. Please laugh at my ugly upper radiator hose I will keep hunting for one to work and not be so damn long

YouTube - ‪Vortec serpentine...

YouTube - ‪Vortec serpentine...

[MARKDTN]

Kinda late I know, but on the power steering hose I have taken the one that came with the pump and cut it off. Have the hose shop put in a straight 3/8 or 1/2" JIC fitting. In the original hose put in the mating fitting. There are JIC fittings pretty available for most any metric hose you have. Cover the splice with loom and you are good. This also has the advantage that you can turn the middle of the hose. With bent ends, a solid hose is configured how it is-you can't move it once it's made.

[71meangreenc10]

Just a helping hint,

If you get the old fitting off the back of the pump with standard threads and put it in the new pump, a hose from a 75 C-10 2wd works perfect.

Here is my conversion. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=468729 Pics still coming soon.

Ask me how I know....

Smitty

[sleepertruck72]

Originally Posted by MARKDTN

Kinda late I know, but on the power steering hose I have taken the one that came with the pump and cut it off. Have the hose shop put in a straight 3/8 or 1/2" JIC fitting. In the original hose put in the mating fitting. There are JIC fittings pretty available for most any metric hose you have. Cover the splice with loom and you are good. This also has the advantage that you can turn the middle of the hose. With bent ends, a solid hose is configured how it is-you can't move it once it's made.

Markdtn,
Yeah that power steering hose worked, but I dont like it. It sealed good with that Eaton fitting on the gearbox side, but I think I will get some AN fittings/adapters and run that style hose. It is supposed to be flexible and withstand the psi of the p.s pump. I have another hose off the same power steering set up for back up. That one I cut the steel line and put on a standard tube nut and double flared. Thanks for the suggestion, I will look into it.


[QUOTE=71meangreenc10;4783846]Just a helping hint,

If you get the old fitting off the back of the pump with standard threads and put it in the new pump, a hose from a 75 C-10 2wd works perfect.

The pump I am using does not allow the fitting to be removed. The return line is part of the pump body, and the pressure line threads into the pump body /reservoir. Look at #12 above. I checked out your thread and will be awaiting pics The upper radiator hose is the most annoying thing about the conversion so far on mine. Thanks for the input.

[71meangreenc10]

Sleeper,
I would love to see that pump in person....Ive seen some odd pumps, but yours may take the cake

Smitty