|
Ramrod
09-24-2007 09:30:39
|
I finally did it. This weekend I finished the power steering project on my '53 NAA. I had to custom manufacture the brackets and mount for the GM power steering pump and tweak it so that the belt would straddle the lower radiator hose, and finding that belt was no picnic either. My initial measurements looked like the alternator belt would work, but it fell just a couple inches short. I finally found the belt at the CNH dealer (DUH), but it too was a custom app and trial and error was the method of selection. The third belt worked. The sheet metal was already off and in the paint shop, so I just had to jack it up and pull the steering shaft and tube to begin. I mounted the new JPS valve unit last weekend and spent last week getting the pressure and return lines custom built and installed. I had to buy ends for the pressure hose and dummy it up with a 3/8" gas line to get the length right, but once that was done, I was confident enough to have it built. The return line was easy. just one fitting and a long length of hose to trim to fit and connect to the hose barb on the PS pump, all the rest of the hoses were included with the kit. The rear of the cylinders bolted to the ball end of the radius rods, the actuator ends bolted up to the drag links, leaving all the bolts loose. Four hoses connect the cylinders to the valve, fill the ps pump with fluid and it's ready to crank. OH YEAH, gotta rewire the thing, cause it's all hanging out the side. A few hours and a broken 8-32 tap later, the new terminal strip, ground lug and relay assembly is mounted and OW is running. The front end is up on jackstands, so it is real easy to turn the steering wheel back and forth until the system is bled, then turn the steering wheel all the way right, turn the front wheels all the way right and tighten down the clamps to lock the drag links to the actuators. Down off the jackstands for the moment of truth. I have 420# of weights hanging on the front bumper, and my foam-filled front tires go 128# each, and I can turn post to post with one finger. I get to bush hog the 55 acres soon, and I think it will be a nice change.
_____ _____ _____ __
Ramrod
James 1:19
|
|
|
|
