I'm working on a buddy's 58 Apache with an SBC 350 and he wants power steering. 6 different pumps from two different stores, all new hoses, new Ididit column, and two different steering boxes from CPP. The steering is fine while moving but it's when the revs are low that the ass ache begins. There's no assistance at all when you're stopped and turning the wheel just cooks the fluid. We've bled and bled and bled by turning the wheel lock to lock, studied every GM guide, tried vacuum bleeding and nothing. It just refuses to cooperate. What am I doing wrong?
What is the pressure at idle? Too large of pulley slowing the pump at idle? Too small of crank pulley? Without knowing the output pressure you are just guessing and throwing parts at it.
How do you check the pressure? That's a good idea. The pulley is an OEM saginaw one, not sure about the crank pulley either. https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Blac...MDXyPYDhEhXS-HPvA5RIzNp4SjTDQU0hoC8iAQAvD_BwE
how about some pictures of the pump setup you have on the truck? Also show us the outside of the truck, so we can see the wheels/tires. And have you checked the kingpins for binding?
Unfortunately the truck is no longer in my posession, but I will be able to get updated pictures from my buddy shortly. In the mean time, I had these saved on my phone. The hoses in the first picture have since been replaced. Regarding the kingpins, we did not check them. This was my first time working on an Apache so I'm a little unfamiliar with the steering linkage. Considering the condition of the rest of the truck, it wouldn't surprise me if they were totally cooked. Thank yall so much again for your help.
You might make sure the belt is tight (a belt tension gauge is a big help here). And jack up the front of the truck, see if you can turn the steering wheel easily with the wheels off the ground. The wide tires and big offset wheels are not helping anything. When I first got my 59, after driving it for a year or so without greasing the kingpins every 1000 miles (that's what the owners manual says to do), they locked up...almost impossible to steer it when parked.
The truck has no problems when jacked up off the ground - it steered like butter. Now THAT is a great piece of information about it being locked up when it's parked. We could be on to something. That has been remedied since then, I apologize for the old picture but that's all I have at the moment. More pictures to come very soon, thank you gents.
Seems there isn't enough pressure at low engine speed to move that tire/wheel combo. You may have to get into the pump and do some mods. Here: http://www.gmtruckcentral.com/articles/2013/powersteeringmods/
I have that same steering setup in my 57 truck seems like I had to in large the hole were the main shaft goes thru the frame. You sure it’s not dragging on the frame. My truck has big ass tires and has know problem turning lock to lock sitting still at idle.
Whats with the welded pitman arm is it still the stock length if it was shortened it will take more effort to turn the wheels
Depends on which end of the handle one turns with. But ya, what length is it vs one provided in kit form?
You can change the pressure by adjusting the shims inside the pump. We use to use them on sprint cars a long time ago. Hope this helps. Also on GM steering boxes you can change the the torsion bar inside the box . The ones out of the heavier cars like Cadillac work well. Google brakeandfrontend.com . I figured all this shit out 50 years ago
Thank you again everyone for yalls help. We're going to prescribe getting the kingpins greased/looked at and then take it from there. If that doesn't work, we'll likely dive in to the pump.
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