Power steering cooler upgrade

[landtank]

Very nice!





pssst, paint the brackets....................

I will, paints in the garage. Had a few projects going at once and this is as far as I got.

 

[T Y L E R]

... Had a few projects going at once and this is as far as I got.

*enhancing photo* I'm pretty sure the plans of your castor mod can be seen reflected off that bling wrench..



TY - calling patent office

 

[Silicon 70]

ohh that is sexy.haha

 

[stayalert]

Sweet!

 

[landtank]

Well finalizing the cooler install this weekend so I can move onto the main reason for starting this prioject.

Attached are some photos of the tubing assembly I bent up to replace the stock cooler and to feed the new one. I was at a used tool store and found a used once flaring kit so that made things easier. I shot the photos before PAINTING so they would be more visible.

 

[landtank]

two more

 

[cruiserdan]

I shot the photos before PAINTING so they would be more visible.

(Best Brooklyn mobster accent)


Hey, U talkin' to me?.........


Very nice by the way, it will look OEM when you are finished. Well done.

 

[bjowett]

Veeeeeery nice! Dan is quite right, oem looking.

 

[stayalert]

I'm not worthy! Holey snoikees very nice work!

 

[RavenTai]

Hard line

Agreed nice work

 

[OGBeno]

Sorry to dredge this older thread up, but I am in the process of putting a cooler for the PS as well.

I am getting the Flex-a-Lite PS cooler from Summit Racing as well (they are 5 miles away).

Just a couple of questions:

1. Is a hard line better than a rubber line? I know the hard line will be more expensive and more difficult to bend up. Will rubber PS hose work just as well?

2. Does placing a cooler in front of the radiator interfere with radiator air flow coming in from the front?

Thanks. This is a good PM mod. if you ask me. My gear box is leaking and I don't want to pony up for a $2K + power steering system....

And thanks for the pics too.
-onur

 

[landtank]

I think the hard line is better. I reused 2 of the original coolers mounting brackets and bent up some 3/8" tubing to mimick the coolers install. This way there is very little chance of rubbing a hole in the line and reduces the rubber hose used to just short lengths of connecting tubing. It also gets real crowded over on that side of the engine where all the PS hoses are routed. If you plan on just running 2 hoses over to the cooler then I'd get 2 grommets for the crossmember to protect them as they pass through. I founjd a site on the web that I was able to order 2 for my winch lines.

 

[RavenTai]

steel line is actually less expensive than hose, or at least it was in 1/4", I used metal line for a diff/Tcase/trans breather round up,

 

[OGBeno]

I think the hard line is better. I reused 2 of the original coolers mounting brackets and bent up some 3/8" tubing to mimick the coolers install. This way there is very little chance of rubbing a hole in the line and reduces the rubber hose used to just short lengths of connecting tubing. It also gets real crowded over on that side of the engine where all the PS hoses are routed. If you plan on just running 2 hoses over to the cooler then I'd get 2 grommets for the crossmember to protect them as they pass through. I founjd a site on the web that I was able to order 2 for my winch lines.

Thanks Rick.

May I ask what method you used to bend small gauge tube like that? I have access to a big tube bender, but nothing small (3/8").

By the way, I assume the PS line is 3/8"?

Thanks again.
-onur

 

[OGBeno]

steel line is actually less expensive than hose, or at least it was in 1/4", I used metal line for a diff/Tcase/trans breather round up,

Raven--

You used metal line for your breathers?

Any pics of the routing on that? Sounds really soild.

Though, my concern with metal line would be on articulation--how will the metal line react to the extension of the axles on articulation?

Thanks!
-onur

 

[stayalert]

My job looks like a total hack compared to Rick's but works perfectly fine for my purposes.

 

[OGBeno]

My job looks like a total hack compared to Rick's but works perfectly fine for my purposes.

And no problems so far?

I like Rick's set up and would be willing to do the metal tube, but my time and my resources are getting thin in this end...

Thank!
-onur

 

[RavenTai]

Raven--

You used metal line for your breathers?

Any pics of the routing on that? Sounds really soild.

Though, my concern with metal line would be on articulation--how will the metal line react to the extension of the axles on articulation?

Thanks!
-onur

There are rubber hoses at the axles transmission and T-case to allow flex. I dont have any pics, I'll get some at some point.

for working with hard line you need a tubing bender, they are not to expensive hand operated tools. trying to bend them by hand it will just kink.

 

[landtank]

I have a tubing bender. It is a nice small hand one that bends a nice tight radius. To flare the end of the tubing I used a double flaring tool but only expanded the tube, which is basically half a double flare. Both tools at a used store was 30.00. Most auto stores will carry the 3/8 tubing and either rent or loan the bender and flaring tool. What I did was to remove the radiator and OEM cooler and just bend up the tubing to match. Sourcing the PS cooler from the junk yard helps in the funds department as it was only 10.00. As small as our self help yards are in this area it had 3 vehicles with coolers to choose from.

 

[stayalert]

And no problems so far?

I like Rick's set up and would be willing to do the metal tube, but my time and my resources are getting thin in this end...

Thank!
-onur

Zero problems. I monitor PS fluid level and hose protection in what could be wear areas. no indications of troubles or potential troubles. (searching office for piece of wood to knock )