power steering questions...again

I did a search and wanted to run this by you guys. Are all the saginaw pumps for gm and jeeps the same bolt pattern? I read that the ratios are different and road feel can change on different years so what steering box should I get? I have a 360 out of a wagoneer so I thought I would get the pump off one and the saginaw off a gm because of availablility. Will this work? I just put 33 mtr's on and they look big and it was already hard to steer with 31bfg at. Also my steering shaft has a worn ujoint and lower shaft thingy. I dont want to buy the stuff to fix the manual shaft if I have to change it anyway, or will the stock shaft fit in the power steering shaft. If that makes sense. Thanks for any input.

 

The Saginaw box bolt pattern is the same across all applications. The pumps are all the same AFAIK, except for maybe the shape or bolt pattern of the reservoir (exterior sheet metal part). A passenger car pump will work fine with a Jeep box and vice versa. The Wagoneer steering gear would be ok too, though they tend to be a little loose after 30 years. I'd think if you can find the Jeep brackets and pump, you could just as well find the Jeep gear. The stock pump and brackets off a Wagoneer should be fine, as long as they match the accessories already on your engine.

I'm not sure about the shaft connections - as I recall, they are different between power and manual but there are ways to deal with those differences. The flex coupling is often worn out, and replacements are available AFAIK. Maybe a PS flex coupling is all you need. I think that some here have also used Flaming River aftermarket parts to make the connection. I believe the U-joint is the same for both apps (again, Flaming River is a possible source). If you search, you should be able to find an answer.

 

If you searched around you probably saw some of my posts about pulling a Cherokee 4.0L PS setup from a junk yard.

Here's what I've found so far. As Tim said, the gear box bolts up perfectly, as do the pump brackets. I just have to put a V-belt pulley on the pump (try and find a pump that already has a V-belt pulley on it!) As long as its the same style it'll bolt into the Jeep bracket.

The 4.0 is the same block as the 232 and 258, so things bolt up real nice.
Obviously, this doesn't apply to you, but wanted to throw that out there.

On the Steering Shaft front, since I'm also using the steering column, I'm just using the existing shaft and connections, which are different from the old CJ5 joint connections. Bad news is that the shaft is too short. The shaft is a two piece "Double D" shaft that fits together. So I have to go back the Junk Yard and get another shaft and use it to make an extension.
I could use a Flaming River or Borgeson shaft and joints, but geez, expensive.

 

FWIW, all the pumps are the same on the V-8's. I can't answer for the I-6's... I used my pump from my old 304 on my 'new' 360. As for the rest of your questions, I defer to more knowledgeable individuals.

 

So I can get any saginaw and any pump just need the right brackets to bolt onto the 360? Should I just buy a complete set off ebay? What do I look for when buying the saginaw steering box? Oh and the pully needs to line up and I'm set, right?

 

"Junk yard kits" are a lot cheaper, but more of a hassle. I don't know about interoperability between pump style and gear box, I'll defer to Tim on that one, but I would have to agree because all the gear boxes are the same just with different ratios irregardless of the pump (and b/c its Tim). Definitely make sure your pulley lines up.

Also, you should brace up your gear box by installing a brace rod from the gear box to the opposite frame rail to help keep the gear box from wanting to "pull away" from the frame when you turn the wheel to the left.
Check out Boyink's page. http://www.boyink.com/splaat/ssdutch-comments/steering-brace/ you'll want to fab up something like that.

 

On the pump, the return hose just pushes on and clamps (low pressure), so that doesn't change. The high-pressure side at the pump has a fitting that screws in to any period of pump. If you have an older pump, go to the pick-your-part and take the fitting from the back of a newer pump. Screw it in, and the o-ring hoses will fit.

I'd suggest you get new hoses from the from the era that matches the fitting on the box you use. The hoses from a post-80 CJ should be real close. Your FLAPS can help with this (if the F really means "friendly" )

 

I switched over to power steering after buying a complete setup on ebay. It was listed under Jeep CJ parts.
After installing it, it worked like a charm, but is very sensitive. It took some getting used to, but I kinda like it, now.
Come to find out, CJ's with factory power steering came with a constant 17.5:1 steering ratio. AMC full size trucks,Waggy's, etc. came with a variable steering ratio of 16:1 at center and 13:1 at full turn. (3 1/2 turns stop to stop).
I have the latter. If you want a stock feel, try to find one that came from a CJ, not a full size AMC vehicle. For off-road, the variable is actually preferred by many.