Herm's Power Steering

Hey Guys, I need some inspiration for my power steering swap. I picked up a Ford reverse rotation power steering box mounting kit from Herm. Found a power steering box from a '91 F250, and a power steering pump and bracket from an old buick in the junk yard.

Platform: CJ-2a body, mounted on a 1968 CJ-5 frame, factory '68 Buick 225, Dana 30 front axle.

I spent the last couple of days cleaning up the junk yard parts, and getting things mocked up to see what fits and what hits... and basically, everything hits! Who has done a Herm's Ford reverse rotation steering box upgrade with a factory Dauntless v6? I could use some pointers...

Box mounted to the bracket and slid on the frame. I had to remove my 1 year old Aluminum radiator to even get the thing in place. I will probably have to source a different radiator if I continue down this path...

The mechanical fan its the box, its not even close to clearing:





The location of the pitman arm pulls the drag link behind the tie rod, which creates interference as well.

The factory buick v6 power steering pump mount puts the pump right on top of the hydro ports on the steering box. In fact, I cant even get the pump mount properly bolted to the motor. Even if I could, there is no room for hose fittings, the pump is literally sitting on the box....

Then there are the steering shaft clearances with the rear dump exhaust manifold... thought I could use a ford rag joint and mate it to the manual saginaw shaft that was already there... but that definitely wont work, I cant even get it onto the input shaft. I guess I need to source some borgeson parts, or head back to the junk yard.

How did you other guys with Buick V6s remedy these issues? I'm almost ready to just do a Saginaw swap instead... which has its own issues, but should be much easier than this....

 

Your pictures aren't showing on my kindle, but that may be a problem on my end.

Here is a link to a web page I found the other day, I don't know anything about it but it may be a similar setup, he is putting Herm's system in a flatty.

Project Flatfender: Steering

 

Well lots of folks out there like the Herm's set up and lots don't.............It does make it tight in there. There is plenty of info on this site...

 

Doesn't Herm's site say it won't work with a V-6, and that it's only designed to work with the F-head? Not sure what the issues would be, but it looks like you might be finding out.

 

Other way around, won't work with 4 without extensive mods. He has customers pictures of a v6 install on his site.

 

My bad.

 

There is one of Herm's kits for sale near Tahoe, been listed for many many months.

Willys Jeep P/S Kit

 

I have his manual steering kit on my 57 CJ5 F134. I used a reman Ford Ranger steering gear, and an AA Jeep pitman arm. I also have a D30 front swap. It took some engineering but I got mine in there.

Lemme know if you want pics or measurements of anything.

 

Ok, I finally got the pictures working, take another look. The biggest thing for me is the fact that the mechaincal fan hits, did everyone who used Herms kit have to go with an electric fan? What about the tie rods being crossed over, how did people tackle that? I guess this system is designed around the factory dana 27 steering set up.

Jrobz23, I'd like to see some pictures of your set up if you dont mind.

 

I looked at the pictures on his site, he does say the fan is close. Also I noticed they pulled fuel pump, covered the hole, so he must have switched to an electric pump. For the PS pump bracket are you using a Buick high mount type bracket?
I'm definitely leaning towards Saginaw, it may be a harder installed but requires fewer mods to the existing systems.

http://hermtheoverdriveguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/ps-3.jpg

 

I moved my radiator up higher on the flange to clear the steering box. This ended up being a really stupid move with a mech fan, no shroud, and no temp sensor hooked up. I bought a e-fan for when I put the Jeep back together.

I used a regular looking jeep pitman and my tie rods do not bind. I have a D30.

The FHead is out but I can take some pics for ya.

 

Pics

Ford Saginaw Steering

 

I’m really against an electric fan in this jeep. Right now it’s a ‘46 2a that sounds and generally looks stock (to an untrained eye) I think it would just totally throw off the vintage feel I’ve made an effort towards.

 

I hear ya, but overheating is not cool either. If you can wiggle everything around and keep a nice fan shroud, you might be able to get away with it. My 57 never had a shroud to my knowledge. I'd just hate to see ya end up in my shoes. GL

 

There is no way to make a mechanical fan fit with Herms kit.

 

Oh it fit, it just didnt do anything lol

 

Not trying to put down the Herms kit but it seems the Saginaw would be more straightforward. Definitely more original system friendly.

 

The kit is made for Saginaw steering, just Ford style, not Chevy, so reverse direction (pitman forward).
Two perks of the kit and why I went this way:
moves the steering back out of the way of rocks
uses a dead space instead of where my future winch wants to be

I like the kit in theory, haven't had it long enough to give a real verdict.

 

Plenty of room up front for most winches along side a Saginaw box on the left front frame rail and if it's mounted correctly rocks are no issue.........just have to plan ahead.

 

I am doing a Saginaw up front, biggest issue for me was the motor mount, here is how I got around it.