Does that system require a pump? I have no power steering so no pump to 'splice' into.

 

Yup, you need a PS pump

 

Holy insane price batman. I'd never pay that for something that can be had used and in good condition (these units hardly ever fail) from almost any boneyard

Marck

 

Thanks tweenie

 

Norval...It sounds like the booster is pretty much a bolt in situation with just a small amount of expected work to fine tune the fit through the firewall.
Just a few more questions if I may...Did you find it necessary to get the hoses (or at least the ends) when you bought the booster just to give you a start in that area? Also, did you find it necessary to fit a kit (seals etc) before putting the whole thing into your car?

Twinnie...The part you showed is exactly what I need to find when I go looking. I just hope that the short amount of time I'll be in the US will be enough to locate one of these units.

Thanks for your help so far guys. I'll let you know when more questions come to mind.

 

I have done quite a few of these conversions on many cars and trucks. I have found that it is best to convert both the pump and the booster as a set. The early GM power steering pumps do not have enough flow volume to retain significant pressure during hard turning and braking situations simultaneously when used with a hydrualic booster. The best setups are the late model pumps and boosters from a GM truck with the HD brake option. However, any setup will work better than the vacuum type setup. It basically is a bolt on conversion. Even the stock hoses will work on most applications.

:cool: :cool:

 

I suppose that the same could be said of transmissions, engines, carbs and even turbo chargers, I tend to not source parts for my car there though. We are not trying to compete with Junkyards and old salvage parts. We are selling remanufactured hydroboosts that are spece'd out to work best on C3 Corvettes. We are selling brand new TFE stainless linesets. The kits include everything; fittings, gaskets, mounting plates etc. We have made up special parts that allow the use of a hydroboost on a factory manual brake Corvette.

I may be putting on my flame retardent suit on this one, but it seems to me that the last place that you want to skimp on mods for your Corvette is the braking system.

 

Brutus. It is basically a simple bolt in deal. Just a little fileing to the fiberglass firewall where the center fits through the hole. I don't remember drilling any holes and I used the 4 supplied studs and installed them in the firewall. They fit the existing holes perfectly. I did NOT rebuild the units. I just cleaned them up, painted and bolted them on. I did take the stock lines that came with it and adapted them to my setup.
I agree with Sharky about the pump. I have the original 75 bump and in parking lots making tight turns the pump sounds like it is low on fluid. I have never had a problem and certainly on the highway you never know it but in tight situations like Sharky said the pump does make a low oil sound.
Sharky. I never knew this was because of running both off the same pump and will look into a more modern high capacity pump this winter. Other then the sound I have never experienced a problem but this is something to look into.

These units are truely amazing in their compact size and power.

 

Sharky ,could you recommend a specific year and application for the pump.

Thanx Geo

 

Actually, any pump from a GM truck or car that has both hydraulic power brakes and power steering will work. Some late model cars without the hydraulic brake boost came with the higher volume pump. However, they are hard to detect which ones are high volume wiithout disassembling them. My pick would be a 84-89 full size small block equipped pickup, Blazer, or suburban with the hydraulic power brakes and power steering. These are a bolt in on the early C3 with the small block because they usually have the correct pulley already on it. Changing the pulley is not a problem though. You just need the proper tools. And for a big block, do the same thing, find a pump for a big block full size truck with hydraulic power brakes and power steering. These are easy to find in the junk yards.

Good luck!

:seeya

I forgot to add that by properly selecting the correct size motor you could find one with the proper bracket and hoses attached to make it a bolt in package. The hoses will probablly be slightly long though. But with the right junkyard setup, you could save a lot of time by not having to do any adapting. If you can't find the right setup, you can use your pullley and bracket from your power steering pump. And if you want to get fancy, you can even get a pump from a van with the hydraulic brakes and power steering. This one is the "cats meow" because it has a remote reservoir. I did one on a vette and used an aluminum reservoir for a trick looking installation complete with stainless steel braided lines.

And answering to the safety concern about using used parts on a brake system, I have to agree that it is always better to use new or rebuilt parts. However, the booster does not completely affect the use of the brakes. You still can have full use of your brakes with a little more effort. I guess the comparison would be about having to turn harder if your engine died during a turn rendering your steering a little harder to turn. You would still be able to turn, just a little more effort involved. Ask anyone with no power steering or power brakes on any vehicle. There is a difference. A hydraulic power brake booster and pump usually give signs both visible, (oil leak) and audible (squeal or whine) before having any type of failure. The GM engineers designed these systems with the highest regard for safety. Rarely do they fail when they are properly maintained. If you find a pump with burned or contaminated fluid, avoid it. But if you find one with good clean fluid in it, chances are that it is in good working condition with alot of trouble free miles left on it. And remember to use the proper fluid in it. Draining the old fluid and replacing it with new fluid before installing it is highly advised.


[Modified by Sharky Guam, 9:24 AM 7/24/2002]

 

Norval and Ed...My application will be a little different considering the LH to RH drive conversion as well as not having any of the standard Corvette power steering set up left. Mine only has Toyota power steering box with none of the original ram assist remaining.
The low speed problems with the steering pump will have to be addressed at a later date as I know I can source a pump over here with no problem, it's just the initial booster that I hope I can locate while I'm in the States. I've been told there's a wreckers near to where I'll be staying in Florida so I just hope I can strike it lucky and find the parts I need.

 

Bob,

You could find a power steering pump from a Land Cruiser or Toyota truck that would work. You would have to adapt the bracketry. Or you could go back to the GM pump and use long hoses to reach the steering assist ram. I am assuming that you retained it and put it on the other side during the conversion. However, if you don't find a hydraboost or a pump, I could find one here in Guam and send it down to you. We are only a few hours away and Continental Airlines has relatively cheap air freight service to Australia. Perhaps, I coud bring it down to you on my next trip.

:seeya

Please post pics of your vette or email them to me. I would love to see how one looks with a right hand drive conversion.

 

Ed...Thank you very much for the offer. I'll let you know how my search goes once I'm in the US. I will have computer access while I'm there so I'll keep my progress posted.
As for the power ram set up.....it no longer exists on my Vette or most other Vettes that go through the RHD conversion though having said that I have a mate who still has the ram set up in his 76. It's a common thing to remove those pieces entirely during the conversion process and just fit a "standard" power steering box unit either from a Ford or a Toyota Cressida which is the one I have. Mine was already done before I bought the car so I had no say in what went into it during the conversion. You can imagine how cramped the RH (now driver's side) of the motor now is and this is makes it awkward fitting headers too I can tell you especially considering the offset to the right that the engine has built in.
Removing items like the pitman arm from the steering box is a joy in itself considering that standard tools made for that application will not fit at all. Though the idea that some jobs can be done quite satisfactorily when there is no RIGHT tool for the job at hand seems to be lost of some of the so called professionals out there.
I'll keep it in mind to look out for the accompanying steering pump along with the booster when I'm scouring the wreckers.
Thanks again.

 

Ok, keep us posted!

:seeya

 

Sharky,

Starting in 1974 through 1981 the production Corvette power steering pumps have a high flow of 2.9 gallons per minute. This should be enough flow for the hydroboost and the power steering system.

The earlier Vettes had flows of 1.75 gpm (1967, 68, 69) and flows of 1.6 gpm (1970 - 73). The 1982 Vette was 1.9 gpm.

Is there any correlation between performance and pump flows through the various model years?

My guess is that maybe you are running out of pressure. All of the Corvette pumps have a maximum pressure setting of 900 to 1100 psi. Most of the trucks have maximum pressure relief in the 1400 psi range.

 

Sounds like a cool mod. I hadn't even thought of doing that until I saw this post. My brother has a 95 single-wheel 3500 I could snap a pic of in the morning to show you what it looks like in the truck. I agree that it would be best to just use the pump from the truck too. That will make it an easy fit.

 

One thing that comes to mind concerning the hoses. The 1/4 inch ID Corvette pressure hoses ( pump to valve, and the two valve to cylinder hoses) were only validated to 1100 psi. They won't just suddenly rupture, but I would think that over time they may begin to seap at the crimp fittings if you subject them to 1500 psi from a truck power steering pump. It wouldn't be a bad idea to upgrade those three hoses when you convert to hydroboost.