Power steering problems

I have a '73 CJ5 with manual steering that I am trying to upgrade to power. I went to the auto parts store and bought a power steering box for a '73 CJ5 as well as the pressure and return hoses. The pump and brackets I found at a wrecking yard. Here's my problem: The threaded nut on the end of the pressure line will only fit in the larger hole on the box (came from the store with a green cap in it). I could have sworn this was the return line hole, not the pressure. Which hole is which?? I have a smaller hole (has a red cap on it) and a larger hole (green cap). Can someone please clear up this confusion??

 

My Chilton's doesn't show hoses & flow, but can't you turn the pulley in the proper drection & feel which hole has vacuum or more likely pressure? You may want to put some fluid in the pump before trying this.
Then check it on your steering box.
There may be something under tech or the older model's Forum. Try a search.

gj

 

Hi Brian. I'm going to do the same thing. Add p.s. to my 74 CJ-5 with the 258 6 cyl. How much did the steer. box cost at the auto parts store ? Can you use the stock steering column with the p.s. box? I'll also need to find mounting brackets for the pump. I've heard that the mount for the box may work as is ???

Please keep me posted on your progress!

Thanks, Jim

 

The steering box was about 170 bucks at the auto parts store along with a core charge (mine was $200) and, yes - you can use the same three hole mount for the new box. If you go to a junkyard, you can usually find a pump that will work. I was lucky enough to find one off the same engine on ebay for $40 - and that included the pulley and bracket (of course, I also found one later at a local junk yard when I was out searching for a connector for the return port - they don't sell these in the auto parts store). As for using your stock steering column - yes, you can, but you need to replace the manual steering coupler that connects to the box with one designed for power steering (this was about $40 bucks through 4-wheel drive hardware. Of course, you can always try to make your own or do another junk yard search if you want to keep the price down.) Hose I bought new (they ran about $35), so all in all I spent about $300 when all was said and done.

 

If I were you I would try and get the steering shaft attached to the box before you try and install. Believe me, it is a bitch to get that thing attached with one hand and hold the box with the other. I'm no sally, but those boxes are a bit cumbersome. Awkward too.
I replaced an old power steering box with new so I didn't pay any attention to size of holes. Really tightened the steering up a lot. Mine cost about what yours was. 160 something and 2 or 250 core. They really want these things back.

Good luck with the conversion,

High5

 

Thanks for the info. Brian. Did you have any trouble figuring out which pulleys to use? I sorted through piles of them (double groove) at Jeeps Unlimited and don't think I've come up with the right ones yet. I'll know when my pump arrives. You'd think with a name like "Jeeps Unlimited" they would have a clue, but,NOOOO!
Anyway, let me know how yours turns out.

Jim