Installing reman PS gearbox tonight. Any advice?

Last night I removed the old PS gearbox. Thanks to my buddy BroncoJohnny for loaning me the pitman arm puller. I'm happy to report I didn't break it

So tonight I'll do the install of the reman unit from
www.larescorp.com
model 1100

A couple questions:
The fluid that drained from the old unit/hoses was red. Maybe it was red from rust in the system, maybe it was originally auto tranny fluid used by the guy that did the install of the system 10 yrs ago?? ( The few times I needed to, I always topped off with the normal clear PS fluid). Assuming no info comes with the reman unit, I've heard of running auto tranny fluid in place of PS fluid.... anyone else hear of, or use that :?

I didn't check the reservoir to see if it's fully empty. Do I need to purge it, or just fill it up when everything is connected?

I've read I'll need to bleed or burp the system. Simply turning the wheels slowly lock-to-lock a few times with engine running, is my understanding.
Do I do this with wheels on the ground, or front wheels suspended?

Maybe there will be a data sheet/install shet with the unit that answers these questions, but I'd prefer to get my input from a reliable source...
so let me lnow if you have input on these questions.
Thanks!

 

Mike and Jerry, thanks for the advice.

 

Lynn, I used Stu's writeup for the TJ when it did it this summer.

http://www.stu-offroad.com/steering/gearbox/gearbox-1.htm

 

Sparky, thanks for the link to Stu's. I hadn't been to his site for quite a while. As usual, his write up is very detailed, and helpful for those features that are common to all saginaw boxes.

 

Got it installed last night, burped it, cleaned up the tools and put everything away, got a shower and was eating dinner by 7:30

When I had a local shop do the Saginaw install back in '95, we used a "used" PS box to save money. It worked well, didn't leak, but I always thought it steered TOO easy. Of course over the next 10 years of abuse, it just kept getting looser. I could literally one-finger it lock-to-lock sitting still. But there was a delay between movement of the input to the box, and the output. It was getting to the point where I had to work to keep it between the lines, constantly correcting/overcorrecting.
Well, this new remanufactured box is SO much different!!
This box was sold as a CJ box, I ordered one for a '75.
It has just over 4 turns lock-to-lock when connected to the steering column, but with the pitman arm off.
Once I connected the pitman arm, I'm at 3 turns L to L due to the stop bolts being adjusted so the tires don't hit the springs.
Overall it was a pretty straightforward bolt-on job.
It did take almost a quart of ps fluid, like Stu said in his TJ write up.
I did the burping/ bleeding process first by turning L to L a number of times, slowly at first, with the pitman arm not connected and engine off. I could hear alot of bubbling going on, I kept adding more juice.
After I connected the pitman arm, I jacked it up with both front wheels off the ground and repeated turning back and forth, still with engine off.
Finally I didn't see any change in fluid level after a few turns, so then I fired it up. One turn to each side and checked, I needed maybe another 2 or 3 oz. More turns, more checks, added maybe one more ounce. Man, what a difference!
I can't wait to try it on the highway... I only drove in front of the house so far
I checked it again this morning, I see that I'm getting some seepage at the fittings. I'll have to see if I can tighten them a bit.
Overall, I'm quite pleased so far. It feels like a completely different rig to drive

It steers like my S10/ZR2 now
It takes a bit more effort than it used to (that's a good thing). Steering is tight, almost no play between movement of the steering wheel to movement of the tires while sitting still, engine off.

Thanks for the good advice guys!