Daily driver PS conversion - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

LSUMurse · 01-07-2013, 09:51 PM

I recently got the stuff to do a power steering conversion on my '68. I cannot have the truck down for too many days as it is my sole means of transportation (outside of my wife's car, but we both have jobs to go to). So, if I have belt alignment issues, or something else, will it hurt the steering gear to cap the ports for the fluid lines and basically use it as a manual gear for a couple weeks or so?

Eddie H. · 01-07-2013, 09:56 PM

I doubt you would want to drive it without the pump operational. The steering effort would be much higher than with a manual gearbox.

PanelDeland · 01-07-2013, 10:00 PM

Dont cap the ports.Just install the PS pump and brackets.Then work out the alignment issues(if any).After that is taken care of you will be good to go on swapping the PS gearbox in.Just loosen the adjustment and pull the belt off to drive it until alignment is right.After putting in the gearbox,jack up the front of the truck and turn the wheel lock to lock,turn off,refill and do it again.It may take a few times to get all the air out.

LSUMurse · 01-07-2013, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PanelDeland

Dont cap the ports.Just install the PS pump and brackets.Then work out the alignment issues(if any).After that is taken care of you will be good to go on swapping the PS gearbox in.Just loosen the adjustment and pull the belt off to drive it until alignment is right.After putting in the gearbox,jack up the front of the truck and turn the wheel lock to lock,turn off,refill and do it again.It may take a few times to get all the air out.

It is amazing how the easiest answers never seem to come to me. I never would have thought to just not have a belt on the pump if there was an alignment issue. Wow, after having paid so much for my education, maybe I should go ask for a rebate.

Thanks for the reply.

ole dollor · 01-07-2013, 11:27 PM

is your motor a v-8 or a inline 6.

LSUMurse · 01-07-2013, 11:55 PM

307

hugger6933 · 01-08-2013, 08:31 AM

If you cap the ports it will pressure lock and you will not be able to turn the truck. The worst part is it may not happen at the very first when you do it, It may take some turns before you notice anything even wrong then it is locked up. Trust me when I tell you that capping the ports on a power steering box is not the way to go, you would be better off with no lines at all to it or run the pump linesand have them out of the way just effectivly making a breather out of them if that makes sense. When I had my situation with my locked up steering box I had two plug and ong I removed and replaced with the fitting for a return line and in it I placed a breather similar to that on a rear end to keep pressure from building there. {Go Hogs

]

long69 · 01-09-2013, 03:27 PM

the way i did mine, after acquiring all the parts i mounted the pump to make sure everything was where it needed to be (aligned and everything ) for its final position. made sure all hoses would fit, make sure the rag joint fits at both ends and there should be no surprises. well until you bleed the system it took me many many tries to finish. my process took several years to complete with the pump just mounted there with no belt for at least a year. the truck was never down because of the swap and boi is it nice to have.

LSUMurse · 01-09-2013, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by long69

the way i did mine, after acquiring all the parts i mounted the pump to make sure everything was where it needed to be (aligned and everything ) for its final position. made sure all hoses would fit, make sure the rag joint fits at both ends and there should be no surprises. well until you bleed the system it took me many many tries to finish. my process took several years to complete with the pump just mounted there with no belt for at least a year. the truck was never down because of the swap and boi is it nice to have.

Several Years? Holy Monkey!!! At least I know it can run for an extended time without the belt. I am anxious to get this started.

Thanks to everyone for the answers and advice.

01-07-2013, 09:51 PM	#1
LSUMurse Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: New Orleans, La Posts: 406	Daily driver PS conversion I recently got the stuff to do a power steering conversion on my '68. I cannot have the truck down for too many days as it is my sole means of transportation (outside of my wife's car, but we both have jobs to go to). So, if I have belt alignment issues, or something else, will it hurt the steering gear to cap the ports for the fluid lines and basically use it as a manual gear for a couple weeks or so? __________________ It's not that I am apathetic, I just don't care. If your life is a joke, it appears death will be your punchline.

01-07-2013, 09:56 PM	#2
Eddie H. Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Paradise TX USA Posts: 1,200	Re: Daily driver PS conversion I doubt you would want to drive it without the pump operational. The steering effort would be much higher than with a manual gearbox. __________________ "Negative people always seem to have a problem for every solution"

01-07-2013, 10:00 PM	#3
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,993	Re: Daily driver PS conversion Dont cap the ports.Just install the PS pump and brackets.Then work out the alignment issues(if any).After that is taken care of you will be good to go on swapping the PS gearbox in.Just loosen the adjustment and pull the belt off to drive it until alignment is right.After putting in the gearbox,jack up the front of the truck and turn the wheel lock to lock,turn off,refill and do it again.It may take a few times to get all the air out. __________________ The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil"

01-07-2013, 11:27 PM	#5
ole dollor Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: Anton, Texas Posts: 2,364	Re: Daily driver PS conversion is your motor a v-8 or a inline 6.

01-07-2013, 11:55 PM	#6
LSUMurse Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: New Orleans, La Posts: 406	Re: Daily driver PS conversion 307 __________________ It's not that I am apathetic, I just don't care. If your life is a joke, it appears death will be your punchline.

01-08-2013, 08:31 AM	#7
hugger6933 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Marianna Arkansas Posts: 7,261	Re: Daily driver PS conversion If you cap the ports it will pressure lock and you will not be able to turn the truck. The worst part is it may not happen at the very first when you do it, It may take some turns before you notice anything even wrong then it is locked up. Trust me when I tell you that capping the ports on a power steering box is not the way to go, you would be better off with no lines at all to it or run the pump linesand have them out of the way just effectivly making a breather out of them if that makes sense. When I had my situation with my locked up steering box I had two plug and ong I removed and replaced with the fitting for a return line and in it I placed a breather similar to that on a rear end to keep pressure from building there. {Go Hogs]

01-09-2013, 03:27 PM	#8
long69 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: lost angeles Posts: 159	Re: Daily driver PS conversion the way i did mine, after acquiring all the parts i mounted the pump to make sure everything was where it needed to be (aligned and everything ) for its final position. made sure all hoses would fit, make sure the rag joint fits at both ends and there should be no surprises. well until you bleed the system it took me many many tries to finish. my process took several years to complete with the pump just mounted there with no belt for at least a year. the truck was never down because of the swap and boi is it nice to have.



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