what power steering pump to use?

[chicken joe]

i have a 76 k5 4x4. the current power steering pump is a 2wd pump and i need a new pressure hose. i have the correct hose for the 4x4 truck and it doesnt work with a 2wd pump. so i have a couple options new correct pump or just get the correct line to go with what i have.

now to make it interesting, i am kicking around the idea of cross over steering, and i know my decisions now will effect how much i buy twice.

so with all that being said i guess what i want to know is if i buy a new 4x4 pump now is that going to work if i decide to go cross over?

thanks
mike

 

[xenomarine]

As far as I knew the only difference in pumps was the year split with different fittings, at least that's how it is for the boxes and 4wd pumps (if there truly is a difference.) I don't think they would make a different pump to feed what is essentially the same steering box with a different sector shaft. Get the correct (matching the rest of your setup) pump/line and you should be all set.

Was the pump out of a car? I think I've heard of those being different, or at least the brackets. I might be thinking of big blocks though.

 

[chicken joe]

my current pump i took out of a 2wd earily 80's pick up. if it doesnt matter for cross over, then im going to get the correct pump for the truck and be done with it.

does anyone know of a power steering pump serp belt kit? i have a serp belt on the alt., and would like the same on the power steering pump. currently the only belt that lines up correct is my alt. belt. i need a new bracket kit for the pump to get it right, but would be cool to have a two serp belt system.

 

[dremu]

Yep, the pumps are the same for 2WD or 4WD in any given year.

The earlier trucks (73 to somewhere around 80ish) use an inverted flare fitting on the pressure lines.

The later trucks (80-whatever up) use the Saginaw O-ring style fitting.

See http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=310715

The boxes have the different fittings AND yes, they are different. Specifically the sector shaft is keyed once on the 4WD and four times on the 2WD, so you can clock the arm. This is why the 2WD is popular to use for crossover on 4WD.

It is possible to swap just the sector shaft, even while it's in place on the truck, to do crossover later. See, among many others

coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=268773

So, end result, is buy a pump and/or a hose with the fittings that match what you're using, presumably the inverted flare for pre-80ish. If/when you do crossover, either get a 2WD box (with those same fittings) or swap sector shafts.

-- A

 

[chicken joe]

my current line is flange on the box end and o-ring on the pump end, and from what i have been told it is a 2wd set up. i can spend $15 for a new pressure line to work with what i have, or get a new correct pump for my truck and use the new line i already have.

 

[dyeager535]

Doesn't sound like an option in your case, but the pump side fitting is easily swapped out, if you happened to have it. From flare to o-ring. Same threads on the pump, the fitting itself can be removed and swapped. Easy fix IF you have both styles laying around.

Are you talking about the mid-later 80's "semi serpentine" setup? Use a multi-groove (5 grooves IIRC) belt on the alternator/crank/water pump, with no idler? That I've ever seen, it and the full serpentine setup are the only options. My personal preference is the one you seem to be describing. The grip of a multi-groove belt on those three components that are pretty much required to keep the vehicle running without the added failure point of an idler pulley, and the less effective v-belt on the non-critical accessories.

 

[chicken joe]

im pretty sure its the 80's style its serp alt., and supposed to be double v belt on the power steering. i was just wondering if they made a serp belt kit for the two seperate. i can live with my current belt set up if those are my options, i dont really want to go full serp. so then i just need a bracket kit for my current set up, so i can adjust it.

now beings that its all the same pump 2wd vs 4x4 and all works the same, i think im just going to get the correct pressure line for what have, and worry about everything else once it gets warmer out. i have a broken foot and its easier for me to change a line under the truck than work up under the hood.

my original plan was to straighten out all my accessories and pullies when i put my new engine in, but i dont know when that is going to be.

 

[dyeager535]

At least factory I've never seen a multi-groove belt setup for just the PS. You'd have to have pretty thick pulleys on the crank/water pump to fit two of them, and the offset on the PS pump pulley would have to be pretty large, but I'm sure it would be possible.

Weld two multi-groove belt crank/water pump pulleys together and use a serpentine setup PS pulley?

 

[chicken joe]

so after doing research i have come up with these A/C fittings that will work perfect for a couple bucks available almost anywhere.


so im going to change my high pressure line with the correct 4x4 line that i already have, get one of these adapters, keep my existing pump and when it goes out i can put the correct one in then.

thanks
mike

 

[chicken joe]

i would like to do something like this, for the power steering. its a mach performance serp kit.

so i got mad at myself last night and decided to go with a new pump and bracket kit, and be done with it. im sick of mix matched parts for things that should be stock. im still finding metric crap from a po.​