Upgrade Power Steering Pump

[Slick Willie]

Alright, I'm looking at options for this weekend and long term. I'm going full hydro as soon as I get done wheeling this weekend, so I'm going to have to tap a steering pump for that anyway. I'm thinking my pump sucks now (160,000 miles, abuse, strain for a year with 42's, etc.) So I'm thinking about replacing my stock crappy pump with another one before this weekend in hopes of being able to turn a little better with a locked front axle. If it doesn't help, oh well, I would like to have a new good one before tapping it for full hydro anyway.

So, what are my options on this '86 GW?

1) Stock replacement pump from Vatozone (may not help much)
2) Some aftermarket pump (may not get it before this weekend)
3) Some combination of the two (rebuild with better parts??)

I'm not real clear on my options for upgrades from stock, but maybe some of you are. What are some upgrades from stock?

[Elliott]

PSC or AGR pumps are nice, but will take time to get to you. In a pinch you can get a OEM pump and replace the pressure relief valve and spring with one from a 1980+ GM truck that had hydroboost... should be able to pick one of those up at a yard near you for cheap. That relief valve set up will increase your flow and PSI... or at least the PSI. I have yet to actually gauge two to verify the port sizes are different....

[Michael]

Will, dude you are stuck....no factory pump will help you...only hydro.....I would recommend just going AGR....but that will be about $900. No way that will happen around there that fast.

pm Brad he is not active anymore but he has good ties in the wheelin community in Tyler....used to have a nice scout buggy and a waggy..

bchesley is his name on here. Cannot find his email addy.

[TPICherokee]

YOu may want to call AGR, their pumps are about $200 and they are located in Texas somewhere, maybe regular ground shipping is only 1 day to you so if they ship it tomorrow you would have it friday?

Just a thought...

[Desert Beast]

psc stocks thier pumps. should be able get one to you ASAP. im running a full hydro PSC system and i love it.
give kelvin a call over @ psc and he should be able to hook you up.

[Slick Willie]

Thanks guys! AGR is in FT. Worth, and PSC is in Azle, which is just NW of Ft. Worth. Good info to have. I had Brad's number at one point when he was trying to sell the Scout, but I'll have to look for it.

I think I'm too close on time though. I'll give those two a call and see what they say, but I'm with Michael...I don't think there is much to help my stock system do its job good enough for this weekend. Elliott's idea sounds good, but I don't have time to go to a junkyard before this weekend. I need to take my time on full hydro, so that's later for sure. And Today is Valentine's Day, so if I want my family jewels to stay attached, I won't spend time with my Waggy. :D Tomorrow I'm loading up at 9 am and going straight there.

And it's supposed to rain all weekend, so I should be able to turn better on slick rocks. I can just pop out the RWD and spin the front...with the front spinning, it should turn easier, especially on cold wet rocks. Looks like I'm going to have to rig up a tarp over my cage though....

[Slick Willie]

Well, Kevin said that if I upgraded to their hydro assist ready gear box (621MR), it would more than likely help for this weekend, but when I went full hydro later, I wouldn't need it unless I did hydro assist. I asked about buying their larger reservoir, and he said it would damage or break the new reservoir running a stock gear box. So it's all or nothing. He thinks I can replace the pump from Vatozone and maybe get some help, but probably not much.

We both agree that if I replaced the stock pump with a new one from the parts store, and put a new gear box or his 621MR on there, it would be better for this weekend. But I don't want a new gear box to later not need one at all. So I figure I'll just wing it this weekend, and when I get back, I'll get a high volume pump, orbital valve, and a big ram and plumb it all together. Then I can take my time and get it right.

I'll do some research on full hydro before I start asking more questions.

[Dmntxn77]

There would be a market for that gear box later.. I will need one soon since I plan to go hydro-assist.

If you decide to get it, contact me when you are ready to ditch it..