{FORGED?} Re: Matt/Jay/power steering discussion--correction

["Jeff Reeves" <jeffr@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I said:

"And, regarding power steering: AMC used an Eaton power steering pump up
through 1971. This Eaton pump is the same one used on many 60s Fords (i.e.
Mustangs/Falcons) and all of the 60s AMCs. This is the unit that has a pump
with a smallish pulley (about 3 1/2"-4" diameter) with a reservoir on top
with a removable top.
 
In 1972, AMC switched over to the GM-designed Saginaw steering pump, to go
along with the Saginaw steering gear AMC had been using for years prior.
This pump is the one with the pump integrated into the "teardrop" shaped
reservoir and a larger pulley, about 5"-6" depending on application. As
previously noted, some of these used a bolt on pulley and some of them used
a press-on pulley. Pretty much any Saginaw pump will work with any Saginaw
steering gear by using the appropriate hose connections."
 
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A kind lister who knows these creatures a bit better informed me:
 

"The 6 cylinder cars before '71 had a Saginaw pump also (the v-8s had the
Eaton as you said). It's not the familiar '72 up 'teardrop' shaped Saginaw
pump though. It's a round reservoir with a 'oblong' neck and '67 and older
has a round tubular neck.

The Eaton is a roller pin pump while the older Saginaws had vanes. I 'think'
this older Saginaw pump was used thru '71 (know it was thru '69). Only the
V-8 cars ever had the Eaton pump. I think some Fords used the Eaton pump
also. When you put a seal kit in a Eaton pump (Powercraft brand) you get
some material that indicates Ford useage also, including a lid seal for a
larger diameter reservoir than AMC ever used."

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My bad! I have little experience with pre-72 sixes (especially those with
power steering) so I had forgotten/didn't know about the Saginaw pumps on
those models...
I stand corrected!!

Jeff Reeves
Auburn, GA
79 Spirit GT
72 Javelin SST
69 Ambassador DPL