Power Steering Upgrade

Thought I'd start a thread detailing my PS upgrade of the 1974 CJ5 Super Jeep with 304 V8. But first things first: finally got some music for the garage. NAPA has this little bluetooth speaker thing on sale for $26. It's great! Not a Bose but fine for me. Music source is my wife's Kindle, which I loaded up with bluegrass.

 

Removed pulley using Autozone loaner kit. Worked, but galled the wnd of pump shaft. Wont hurt anything.

 

Suppose I should back this bus up a bit. I yanked the pump, brackets, and lines from a 78 Wagoneer. Paid $75 and drove an hour to pull it myself. Was a nicely mowed car yard with Waggy under shade so I have no complaints. The guy kept engine bay covered so everything was still greasy and easy to get apart.

 

The AMC 360 is NOT same as Mopar 360, but Chrysler kept using the AMC 360 in the Grand Wagoneer through 1991. Getting hard to find so dont drag your feet if you are planning to do this.

 

Lots of belt configurations and this is just the 73 FSM. Fortunately it appears that all V8 configurations put PS pump in same place. Dont sweat whether it has air pump or not. Air pump hangs off the PS brackets but I can see no reason that it's omission will cause a problem. My CJ5 no longer has an air pump, or any of the plumbing so I left the air pump on the Wagoneer floor pan.

 

Success. Got it loose. Some bolts harder to find than others. Feel around behind the distributer.

 

Woohoo! Seems you found a donor!

I don't think the lines are going to work for a CJ, but it probably doesn't increase your parts price to get them too. No steering gear? The Wagoneer steering gear would work fine. Probably needs rebuilding though.

Are your 304 pulleys going to work?

 

I didnt pull the steering gear. Looked hard to get from this one. There were other Jeeps in the yadd, and I'm aware that there are other donor vehicle options. Call me lazy, I ordered ome from NAPA. Man, core charges are more than the gear these days! Dude says he'll take my manual in exchange. If they red-flag me he assured that I'll still get the core value of the manual. Only $40 difference so it's worth it to not lay in the dirt and fight loose a rusted core gear. Down side is my manual Saginaw is very nice and well coated in good frame paint.

 

You are correct, Tim. Wagoneer lines are didferent. I ordered correct HP line from NAPA. It was worth grabbing the little hard line elbow from the low pressure line where it goes into the gear. Not as rusted as it looks. Headed for the rust dissolver bucket.

 

Belt from Wagoneer was very thin, ref number 15530. NAPA cross referenced to their 25-7530. The new belt is thicker and fills the pulley more as I'd expect. Their computer calls it an alternator belt. Maybe for something, but way longer than alt belt on my 304. Seems the right length. We'll find out.

 

I think I'm OK for my 304 pulleys. Have an unused groove.

 

Yep, should be the three-corner fit on the driver's side. Excellent!

Why are you removing the PS pulley? You plan to rebuild the pump or use it for a core?

 

I'm nuts about derusting, degreasing and coating parts before installation. I pay the price in time.

 

Die cast aluminum frame cleaned up.

 

First piece mounted. Used the three original 3/8" panel screws that have a serrated edge on the flange, and also medium thread locker.

 

You could always just neglect it, and then use Great Stuff foam to cover your errors.

 

The stud for the outer bracket where it ties onto water pump housing has a stack of washers and doesnt let the outer bracket lay flush. Anyone have a V8 with PS willing to see how it is supposed to be assembled?

 

I will look at my Jeep steering, and send you a pic of how it's put together.

 

And then what happened?

I'm done for the day. Some painted parts are drying. Degreased the pump and may yet wash it in the kitchen sink after the solvent dries off. Wife wont give any sass, I have conditioned her behavior.

 

Once again, you have disappointed me. I've been observing this jeep build for well over 500 cases of PBR, a few dozen cases of Miller, several bottles of the finest homemade bourbon, two gallons of hard cider, and one Black Sabbath CD; and still you wait another day to finish.