saginaw conversion frustration!

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RunTrout

RunTrout

Joined
Oct 31, 2010
Threads
23
Messages
321
Location
Boulder,CO
SO I got my saginaw pump from a late 80's volvo mounted up (metric fittings). I got the high pressure line attached and screwed in as far as I can get it. Filled the system and started it up.

Massive leak from the high pressure fitting once the system gets pressurized, also the pump is very hot to the touch (like hitter than the stock one got)... PS (ATF) fluid everywhere :mad::confused::crybaby::bang::censor: Man that stuff stinks when it starts to burn off.

Should I use a sealer on the fitting?
As far as I know the fittings should be the same size!
Can I re-bend the hard pipe to get a better fit?
For now, planning on draining, refitting the hoses, and trying again.
Am I missing anything? I replaced the stock PS pump with a remanufactured one 6 months ago. everything worked fine after the fix. basically doing the same thing but switching to saginaw (reman pump blew out 6 months later...) Also, filled with a DexIII/merc type fluid as the stock pump calls for, but I noticed that some folks just use hydraulic fluid with the saginaw (or just switch to actual PS fluid instead of the recommended ATF fluid?).

Thanks for any advice before I tear the thing apart again:cheers:
I miss driving my truck. I've been driving my girlfriends 62 with purple bumpers... I just keep my head down:steer:
 
Not all pumps have the fitting on the back to accept an inverted flare pressure line. Look at the pump where the line threads in, there should be a cone-like piece down in the bottom of the hole that matches up to the hose. If not, you can thread out the entire assembly from the pump and get one that has it. ATF is a better fluid than PS fluid.
 
Hey Man,
Hate you are having issues but you'll get em worked out I know. Would you mind talking a bit about your install of the pump? I have a pulled a saginaw pump as well pump too and want to see how you mounted it up. Pics would be really cool.

Good luck on the fix
 
I will have to check the fitting, after the rain and snow stops...
The install is nothing I'm proud of yet, hopefully I will have something good to show off with pics when I am done, but otherwise I have just been hacking away with a grinder and matching washers, spacers, and brackets to get the thing to fit. kind of ghetto, I wish I could desmog and use one of the saginaw brackets but I hear the spaghetti emissions lines get in the way.

Kind of funny, I think I threw away the old volvo fitting, although I don;t think it would mate with the toyota hard line though.
 
Thanks Jim, I may have to look into that.
Kind of funny what you write about fixing other people's stuff under the hood. I fear i am doing the same sort of stuff to be fixed!
 
Took it all back apart tonight. The fitting on the sag pump is the correct cone type for the toyota line. I managed to get the line to seat better by removing the line from the steering gear first, then set up the whole high pressure line from the pump.

Got it all reinstalled, on stands to get the air bubbles out and get the system charged. Pump seems to be working well but... :o

I used some 5/16" ID fuel line for a low pressure return (thinking that fuel line would be resistant to erosion from petroleum substances). I was wrong. The fuel line developed a pinhole leak that began spraying more ATF fluid everywhere:bang::mad::crybaby::whoops:

The good news is the high pressure line seems to be working without leaks, but I still need to drain and fill again, and replace the low pressure hose... this time with something resistant to DexIII fuid.

Sorry no pics, It got dark pretty quick on me. One of these days I will have a functioning Saginaw pump that does not leak... today is not that day.
 
ps I really miss driving my truck
 
Look into using auto trans cooler hose. It is designed to have hot ATF flowing thru it. Not cheap, but will work for low pressure PS and not give you any troubles.
 
Thanks again for the info guys, hoping to get things buttoned up this afternoon. At this point I am guessing the fuel line began to melt...

daveIT: yeah, I've driven it around a bit without. Not very fun, but a great workout. Gotta love the 5 point turns getting into parking spots without power steering.
 
When will it end?

Fixed leaks from pump hoses.
Power steering gear box is now leaking massively. apparently at the steering input seal.
 
I'm thinking about doing a Saginaw swap also, so have been following this thread with keen interest. Sorry to hear about the difficulties you been having...hopefully though you'll be able to drive it soon!

Curious on the steering box leak...I think the Sag pump puts out more pressure, is it possible the steering box seal was worn and could handle the stock pump pressure but not the Sag pump pressure? If so, is a steering box rebuild something to anticipate doing when installing a Sag pump?

BTW - I had my stock pump reman'd, and it failed in 6 months also.
 
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF'n piece of Shizzzzzz steering setup in my 60...

Has anyone else had the issue of their steering gear box going out after adding a saginaw pump?
It appears the seal at the steering shaft input has totally failed, draining the fluid within a few minutes.

Any ideas? Other steering gears that would work? Better to just get a reman steering box? :bang::bang::bang:
 
When I did my Saginaw setup, I just bought a reman pump at Napa. Haven't had issues with it yet (several years). I think it was like $60.

Don't get to mad at the project. The final results will be worth it. I love my Saginaw. It makes turning 33's super nice. Good luck.
 
yeah, it was actually working pretty good for about 2 minutes...
Thinking a remanufactured steering box is in line when I have some cash.
 
I woulde reccomend rebuilding the gear box yourself....

The seal kit is not that expensive (check the FAQ under porting the box) and the job is not that hard. Just replacing the input shaft seal isn't that bad.

I have been running a GM pump and Stock box for several years now with only a leaky input shaft seal on the box. I rebuilt a replacement steering gear box and swapped it all out one day. My stock box with the leak is actually in trey's 62 (satchel) right now with the same dribble. He's still running it with a GM pump also. We put my old one in his rig when he had issues with his.
 
saga continues

Purchased a used steering box for less than my other options, hopefully the seals are in better condition than mine were! Otherwise I will be doing the rebuild. Maybe get another 6 months out of the steering system before fixing it again? In all truth, it helps to have some $$$ to get these rigs up to par, but I love the thing so much I guess it is all ok.
 
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