Looking to order some PSC stuff...pump, steering gear and cooler

[Zeus33rd]

All for a hydroboost system. I'm not going to do assist as it's only a street truck, but I'd still like to upgrade the stock system. It's got the stock push-pull steering now, so I need a 2wd box for cross over.

Looking at the PSC website I see a couple things that have me scratchin my head. The steering box they show as being the right one for my application is meant to be mounted inside the frame rail. The one shown for the older trucks is the correct outside the frame rail version. Am I missing something?

On to the pumps. It's been soooo long since I've looked under the hood of one of these trucks, I just don't remember what's what anymore. My truck has the remote reservoir pump, I know that much. None of the pumps on the PSC website that mention being for a hydro boost application are remote reservoir pumps. Do I just order the one without a can and swap that with my pump? What makes a pump a hydro boost pump...the pump itself or the can? Is a hydro boost pump the same as a standard one?

Last but not least, coolers. Do I want one of the aluminum, heat sink coolers? Or one of the stacked plate or tube/fin style ones?

I would call PSC and ask them, but the time difference is stopping that idea.

 

[4X4HIGH]

I can answer at least the steering box question. You need the box that is mounted outboard of the framerail. Keep in mind that there are 2 version of 4x4 for 91 (early body = outboard frame mounted box, late body = inboard frame mounted box).

About the pump, all I can say is you better find time to call and talk with the guys at PSC. Greg just bought a pump from Howe and learned ALOT while chatting with them and at first thought he was thinking he had to buy a 1000.00 pump but was pleasantly surprised to only have to buy a 250.00 pump.

For a P/S cooler i'm thinking the aluminum heat sink is probably what you want.

 

[Zeus33rd]

Well duh, I know I need the outside the frame rail box, geez Scott, I haven't been away from these trucks THAT long.

The website says 80-91 and shows a picture of a box meant to go inside the frame rail. The earlier xx-79 application shows the correct style box. That's what I was wondering about.

I can't see me needing a $1k pump. No full hydro, no assist. I'd be ok with $200-250 pump though.

I guess I just need to call them.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Joe, I think they just used a generic pic. From the ID for your 91 truck you should need SG041M that gear box uses the O-ring fitting which your truck has and also has the 3/4"-30 spline input that once again your truck has and that box is a 2WD for crossover steering but NOT drilled and tapped for hydro assist even though the "generic pic" shows it to have fittings.

 

[Zeus33rd]

Joe, I think they just used a generic pic. From the ID for your 91 truck you should need SG041M that gear box uses the O-ring fitting which your truck has and also has the 3/4"-30 spline input that once again your truck has and that box is a 2WD for crossover steering but NOT drilled and tapped for hydro assist even though the "generic pic" shows it to have fittings.

I kinda figured it was a generic photo...but having one or two with the correct photo's threw me off.

$70 extra for the assist ports...having drilled and tapped a box myself, I suppose that's not bad.

Thanks for the help Scott, I needed a refresher. I've got the box and cooler figured out.

Now to figure out which pump I need. They have the 1400 series and 1300 series. The 1400 being the modified high flow version. Fluid cooler required. They say the 1300 series "are Delphi P-series pumps designed for standard steering systems. These units are excellent for replacing a existing stock pump and yet provides enough fluid power to support most modified steering systems." My system won't ever be modified more than maybe assist one day...and that's a big maybe. If these 1300 series pumps they sell are just standard, unmodified pumps, why couldn't I just get one from Napa for, I assume, a better price? Do I need a high flow/hi pressure pump for a street truck with 39" Michelin's on a 60 with no locker? The old truggy had a detroit, drive flanges and 42's... that **** was ridiculous... assist was required just to move it on flat ground in 4x4. If this truck didn't have hydro boost, I'd just order a pump, simple. But I'm hazy on how hydro boost affects which pump I need.

I'm getting impatient waiting for it to be the right time to call PSC.

 

[4X4HIGH]

I know that the hydro boost pumps put out more pressure than a standard non hydro boost pump. I would call PSC and ask them their recommendations on which pump to get knowing that you have hydro boost and might do hydro assist at a later date.

 

[Greg72]

Hey Joe,

I think the answer with the coolers is that the inline aluminum finned style will be a lot less restrictive than a plate-style one, and when you're trying to design a trouble-free and "squeal-proof" system, it's all about maintaining proper flow on both sides of the pump.

I spent some time on Pirate reading old (2005) posts where people were bitching about Howe pumps.... back then, Howe was actually a vendor on the board and they told the guys who were complaining to post up pics of their setups. Almost instantly the HOWE guy found a boatload of problems with their setups....mostly improper hose sizing to/from the pump. The guys who took HOWE's advice had 100% improved steering right away.

I don't think you can go wrong with PSC or HOWE, especially if you take their advice on a "system" approach and plan the entire thing out to work together. The guys who seem to struggle (and complain) the most are the guys who insist on only buying a high-flow pump from a vendor....then cobble it together with other mismatched parts.

I'll post up pics of my HOWE stuff when it arrives, it's probably still a few more days away.