Ok so I just wanna find out what is the best p/s pump upgrade for running large tires like 44's. I've recently done the saginaw pump upgrade but also along with 4 wheel discs and hydroboost and my steering is lacking in low rpm's pretty bad. Not to sure if hydroboost is robbing too much pressure. Now brakes are very powerfull but steering sucks. I ran it all this week until I got fed up and did the mod to the pump by drilling the screw in outlet bigger to 5/32 and removed a washer from the piston for better flow that I found from the redneck ram article online. Results: uuhhhh... little better. The pump I'm running is from a stock chev truck I think from a wrecker. Has anyone run the high output $200 AGR saginaw pump with good results with 44's. Another option would be to run a stock pump from a mid 80's chev($100) with hydroboost supposively having higher pressure with two outputs on pump body for return lines istead of a "T" in the line. I'm hoping 75f350 will chime in seeing as he runs the same truck and setup...

 

You can find a crankshaft pulley that has a larger diamater for the power steering belt, that will spin your power steering pump a little faster at any RPM.

I don't know in what years or models you'll find it though, When i bought a junkyard 390 to convert my 360 it had that pulley and the owner said he wasnt sure where the engine came from either. It could have been an older Lincoln or Mercury car though. Its a whole 2 inches larger in diameter than the stock crankshaft pulley. It should solve your low pressure at low RPM's though.

Here are some pictures of what it looks like:

 

Yeah that may solve it. Problem is I just made custom pulleys for my 390 with the crank and waterpump being a quad pulley because I run dual belts on my alternator and powersteering. Not really something you see everyday on a FE. Nice to have especially on powersteering due to it running the hydroboost for the brakes.

 

I am not running anything special, just an old saginaw pump, and i can turn my tires from a dead stop. I can turn them lock to lock with little effort. I do hear the suspension making some noise, but I cant find a flaw in the pump.
Now, perhaps the difference is in the hydroboost, but I cant see this as being a problem.

On the orange truck I run underdrive pulleys. I try to slow down the entire process. Keep in mind that this engine sees 7K rpm from time to time, and this helps to keep belts on, and prevents the pump from cavitating from too much rpm.
Before I made this pulley change, the pump would whine after a run in the mud. I learned that the fluid was foaming up, and causing the cavitation. I slowed the things down, and all was fine. I also use type F fluid for the pump.
I dont see a performance loss at idle. Though this truck does idle at 1000 to 1100 rpm.

 

I also run Type F in my powersteering. I don't have hydro-boost though, but i do have hydro assist steering, and a sag. pump. But when i am going down hill locked in 4 wheel drive it hard to steer. but I'm also running a 8.5 inch steering wheel. mine idles around 600 rpm when the trans is in gear. i hav only done the drilling mod to my pump so far, and am planning on the pressure mod soon to see it that helps my prob.. I'm sure if i put a 13 inch steering wheel on it might help a bit. lol.
Are you running a small steering wheel? Other than that i guess i don't have too much to add that could be any help.

 

I may just go with type f again. I flushed the system to regular stuff because I thought it was better for the pump. Today my steering wasn't as bad as the last couple of days I think maybe the drilling did do some for help it just has it's inconsistent moments and it was also very warm outside when I drove home. O and I almost hit a dumb_ass pedestrian that came out of nowhere today and I came to a loud screeching hault on the 44's! Haha. The guy didn't even look worried as I was sliding he just looked at me and kept walking. two Asians on the sidewalk in front of a detail shop with rice rockets looked scared as he'll though as I smiled and drove away

 

in my truggy with 44's i used synthetic power steering fluid and hydro assist...you break sector shafts and get pissed when the front tires dont go where you want without it

IT is a must for locked front ends on rocky trails

 

Yeah synthetic might be even better. I might shove some royal purple in there. I'd be interested in doing some hydro assist but I run the tall style 2wd 73-79 box because it helps with good draglink angle for crossover and tall lift but I wouldn't know where to tap the box. Any ideas of how to find out???

 

Come to think of it I have a old box with a blown input seal I may just tear into it see how the thing works and try to figure it out

 

4 of my buddies are running that box tapped


Easiest way is to tear apart a junk box like you have and tap the housing and use your parts...good time to rebuild it as well

 

hey can you possibly get a pic of where it was tapped I think I got er figured today but would like to see a working system. Any pointers on ram size and where to mount by any chance and is it a worthy upgrade and what's it like for street manners

 

I ran a 1.5" with an 8" stroke. Worked awesome on and off road!!

On the street it was just as fast as without turning...but held with much more authority...its nice to be able to turn aired down 44's sitting at idle with a locked front end

I will do my best to find some pictures of the setup.

 

Kubota find any pics? Hey so I found a good price on a 2" bore ram with 8 inch stroke do you think it would turn too slow on the street even with my Saginaw drilled open a 1/16 for better flow?? 1.5 bores go for more than double the cost about $200. I wish I had it setup now big 4x4 event on tomorow rock crawl up a private backyard mountain .trails are SICK!

 

The 2" would be too big. I run a 1 1/2"

 

2 inch is a good size for a off road only rig, on the street the steering would be kinda slow.