Can anyone tell me how difficult it is to change power steering hoses on a 76? I need to change them and just want to know before I get started.

 

It's not difficult...but it is messy. Unless you have a way to suction the fluid out of the pump, you just have to put a pan under there and let it run out when you pull the hoses. You do need to have the correct sizes of 6-point hydraulic-line box wrenches...the type with a slot cut in the box so it will fit over the tubing. If you don't have 6-point wrenches, I can almost guarantee that you will round the hex heads off. Now, that's not a big deal on the old hoses...heck, you could clamp onto them with a Vise-grip and break them loose. But, the Vise-grip wouldn't be a good idea on the new ones. Make certain that you get the correct replacement hoses. When you pull the old ones off, use them as a 'template' to bend the new ones into proper shape. If they aren't very close to the same shape, stuff won't fit up properly. Take a digital photo or two of the present setup so you can get back to that if you need.

Lastly, you will need [at least] the front wheels off the ground so that you can turn the steering wheel lock-to-lock several times so that the air in the system can be purged. First, do that with the engine OFF. Then repeat it with the engine running [turn the wheel smoothly and not too fast]. You will also be able to test if you need the control valve re-balanced or not. {You won't need to because of the line changes; but it may not have been in good balance to start.}

Keep the pump filled to the COLD line until you drive the car. Once it's warmed up completely and the air is all purged, you can fill it up.

 

The measurement for all of the nuts are as follows:
7/16 across flats on all nuts that attach to cylinder lines and control valve except return line from control valve to pump reservoir which has a 5/8 nut across flats - all years 1965 thru 1982.
Nut at pump discharge is 5/8 across flats except the 1980 to 1982 hose which has an o-ring fitting which is 16mm across flats.
Jim

 

My advice is change them one at a time, some of them look alike.

 

As usual, thanks for taking time to reply. All help is always appreciated.

 

Good advice from all. When Jim Shea responds you can take it to the bank !

 

Luckily, I started accumulating engineering information at Saginaw Steering Gear shortly after I purchased my first new Corvette back in 1976. A lot of information that I gathered is now nearly impossible to dig out in quantity since a lot of it is 30-40 years old.

Back in the 70s, I was the supervisor of the power steering hose and flexible coupling group. One additional responsibility was for all of the rubber parts (o-rings, hydraulic lip seals, boots, grommets, etc) that were used in all of the power steering pumps and gears. So I had a lot of exposure to nearly all of the steering products that Saginaw manufactured.

Although I have been retired for 8 years, I still have a pretty good memory with regards to a lot of my products. I have been trying to document a lot of the information and placing it at Terry Rudy's www.corvettefaq.com websight. If you haven't visited the sight here is how you get there.
www.corvettefaq.com
Click on Jim Shea's Steering Papers
Click on Corvette Steering Papers or click on A and F-Car Steering Papers
Scroll down through the various catagories. You will find various "core-dumps" as well as technical "disassembly and repair" papers scattered all the way through it.

Jim Shea