Re: 67 American power steering conversion?

[Matt Haas <mhaas@xxxxxxx>]

You can use a box from a V8 car with a six cylinder pump but not the other 
way around since V8 pumps put out about 50% more pressure than a six 
cylinder pump (also, a V8 pump from 64-74 will not physically bolt up to 
the brackets). Personally, I wouldn't use a bone yard pump or box unless 
you rebuild them. The sill adapter plate, brackets, crank pulley (unless 
you already have A/C), and rag joint (just the metal part, you should 
replace the rubber part before you use it) are the only bone yard parts you 
really need. Everything else can be purchased new or rebuilt. The pump is 
easy enough to rebuild but if the reservoir is damaged, it's cheaper to buy 
a rebuilt pump than a new reservoir or have yours fixed by a body shop. 
Rebuilt steering boxes are about $150 and pumps run around $60 (may be less 
but I don't feel like digging for receipts). Also, you can buy aftermarket 
boxes and pumps from companies such as AGR that can tailor them to your 
needs (more or less boost, quicker ratio, etc...). Saginaw steering systems 
were used on AMC, (I think) Chrysler, Ford, and GM at one time or another 
so there are lots of options.

A few other things about the pumps:

- V8 pumps are totally different than six cylinder pumps until at least 
sometime in the mid 70's so you can't use one on a six cylinder car.
- There were bracketry changes over the years. I think 67 to 68 saw a 
change but there may be others as well. As long as you take pictures of it 
before disassembly and get all the pieces, you shouldn't have any problems 
with the differences.
- There are variations in the angle of the nipple for the return hose so 
you need to make sure that you use a reservoir that's designed for the 
right side of the engine so you don't run into problems hooking up the 
hoses. The nipple is either soldered or brazed to the reservoir so you 
could change it but with as inexpensive and easy to get as the right part 
is, it's not likely to be worth the trouble unless you're bored.
- Sometime around 1970 or 1971, the shape of the reservoir changed from a 
round thing with a filler neck to a teardrop-ish shape. The pumps are the 
same so this is just a cosmetic difference.
- Around the same time, they also changed from a bolt on to press fit 
pulley. You need to get the right pump for the pulley. To the best of my 
knowledge, that's the only change that was made to the pump that can ruin 
your day.
- There were pressure variations over the years but as long as you use a 
pump and steering box designed for each other, you will not have any 
problems. The pump pressure is also something that can be changed easily. 
I've never messed with it but I know instructions have been posted here 
before. It would be great if someone went to http://www.amycyclopedia.org 
and posted them in the Repair/Technical section as well.

Matt

At 08:52 PM 3/13/2006 -0500, you wrote:
> Matt,
>
> Does it matter if the box is from a car with an 8 or a 6? i dont know if 
> there are differences between the two.
>
> Thanks,
> Ken
>
> On March 13, 2006 Matt Haas wrote:
>
> > Ken,
> >
> > The swap is pretty straight forward using factory parts. The only parts
> > that are hard to get are the brackets, pulley, steering box adapter, and
> > rag joint (actually, that one may not be too bad, you can probably get it
> > for a GM car). Everything else can be purchased from an auto parts store.
> > Take a look at http://www.mattsoldcars.com/RestoreAmerican/powersteer.shtml
> > for a how-to. You can use 1966 - 1974 small cars (American, Hornet,
> > Gremlin) as donors. 64 and 65 American's may also be good donors but I'm
> > not 100% sure if they used Saginaw power steering or not.
> >
> > Matt
> >
> > At 05:48 PM 3/13/2006 -0500, you wrote:
> > >" From: usfl_fan1@xxxxxxxxx
> > >"
> > >" Sounds like a giant headache...otherwise, how hard is it to rebuild a
> > >" manual steering box for an AMC? Where would I find the parts for it
> > >" and lastly, where would be a good place to find a used one?
> > >"
> > >" Thanks again,
> > >" Ken
> > >
> > >dunno how hard, but like the power box it's a saginaw, used by legions
> > >of gm cars and light trucks up into the '90s at least.  parts and used
> > >boxes are plentiful whereever you find gm.
> > >
> > >btw i put a fast manual box [16:1, 3t] into my '68 american.  parking
> > >is a bit tough if i can't roll the car, but i can one-hand it at any
> > >normal road speed and i don't consider myself an athlete.
> > >
> > >i like it a lot.  steering is now fast enough that i almost never have
> > >to move my hands on the wheel.
> > >________________________________________________________________________
> > >Andrew Hay                                  the genius nature
> > >internet rambler                            is to see what all have seen
> > >adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx                       and think what none thought
> >
> > mhaas@xxxxxxx
> > Cincinnati, OH
> > http://www.mattsoldcars.com
> > 1967 Rambler American wagon
> > 1968 Rambler American sedan
> > ===============================================================
> > According to a February survey of Internet holdouts released by
> > UCLA's Center for Communication Policy, people cite
> > not having a computer as the No. 1 reason they won't go online.
>
>
> =============================================================
> Posted by wixList Archiver -- http://www.amxfiles.com/wixlist

mhaas@xxxxxxx
Cincinnati, OH
http://www.mattsoldcars.com
1967 Rambler American wagon
1968 Rambler American sedan
===============================================================
According to a February survey of Internet holdouts released by
UCLA's Center for Communication Policy, people cite
not having a computer as the No. 1 reason they won't go online.