Thank you for the great information.

But you should realize using a Used gm pump may start to leak because using type F as we need to wouldnt be compatible with GM seals, but people have popped them in from chevys and they had not had issues. so theres that.

Are Saginaw pumps GM?

 

Yes, Saginaw was once a subsidiary of GM, it was spun off and its technically no longer in existence as saginaw , parts of it were rolled into other comapnies, like Delphi, American Axle & Manufacturing

But the entity that designed and created the saginaw pump is out of saginaw, michigan and While GM used the pump well into the 2010s(still maybe?) its design goes back to the 1960s. Solid.

GM had the upper hand on power steering. Ford didnt want to use them but they sucked at making their own for about 25 years. (The C2 you replaced was fords attempt to copy and not give resources to their competitors supplier, which was owned by GM still when ford made the C2)

Saginaw also made steering boxes, Steering columns, steering linkages and parts, I believe suspension parts too.

The main players in aftermarket power steering are dominated by Saginaw designs. The CB pump is a saginaw P pump (the one you have) but mini, the TC pump is a different design pump entirely thats suitable for high RPM, sustained operation, it produces more flow, but its noisier, but almost every OEM used CB and TC pumps up to the end of hydraulic power steering in some form just private labled or produced to specs to fit their setups.

 

Exactly. Only Econoline vans used the Saginaw pump which is why there are threads about swapping from the Ford pump to a Saginaw. Look up a replacement pump for a ‘95 F-series with a 4.9L and you will see that they only have the Ford pump listed.

 

What power steering fluid should be used when the Saginaw swap is completed? Thank you for your consideration.

 

I searched for “E-150 power steering fluid” in the forum search and found…

 

I have two different vehicles that I have converted from C2 to Saginaw pumps and I just use Valvoline "universal" Power Steering Fluid. It's worked fine in both for years now.

I'm not saying it's optimal, but it's worked fine for me and I wouldn't hesitate to use it again.

 

How many quarts are needed on a change out? Thank you for your patience.

 

Few quarts should be fine. Depends if you have an inline filter (recommend one from Magnefine) and the larger return cooler assembly. This all adds capacity.

I too have been using 'universal' PS fluid for years in one, other has Type F. I would guess the ATF has more detergents than the PS. Hell, you could probably use Dex3/Mercon too...it is a hydraulic fluid after all.

 

Two quarts should be enough to flush the system and top it off.

Aurora would know but I’m pretty certain that GM used plain old P/S fluid for years in those pumps. I’m not sure why Ford puts Type F ATF in them. Probably because that is what the CII pumps use so that is what I have in my Saginaw pumps.

 

Got it! Thank you for your understanding

 

I’m not sure what you’re saying about the bolt holes. I have never owned a 6 cylinder and haven’t worked on one in a very long time. On a 5.0/5.8 there were two different bolts used for the compressor. The early compressors used a larger diameter bolt than the later compressors. I would imagine that the 4.9L was the same way.

 

I do know

Ford used Type F for seal compatability purposes, its either in the service data or a late 90s TSB discussing that Mercon would be used in all models except These trucks because they made these while starting the new body style and super duties etc.
GM stopped using Dex 3 in power steering because its actually not goood for that purpose, no modern conventional or synthetic ATF is. IT has to do with a few things, mostly the seal compatabilities, heat, and air properties. In GM vehicles, they designed the power steering to not be compatabile with dexron in the mid 90s and onward, so using it obviously was not wise. ATF also was designed to foam and trap air int it. This makes bleeding it much more difficult and the properties of ATF(and additives) make it so turbulent return to the reservoir can make more air trap or just heat up

c2 pumps notoriously have air problems compared to saginaw, despite being similar designs. ford recommends a more robust air bleed than gm does now. I would be willing to try other fluids only if i was confident it wont make it leak, swell up, or similar. Because I live in cold place, and people use gm saginaws on their f150 all the time with type F without issue (that i can tell) i kinda want to just use GMs cold climate fluid in both my trucks. Its expensive, so leaks gonna have to be fixed first LOL