By Grant Pearson
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THE PARTS The first step is to find a suitable power steering box. You can purchase a rebuilt unit from an auto parts store and pay the core charge or take the more cost effective route and obtain one through a salvage yard. If you get a box through the salvage yard, be sure to get the fittings that screw into the box! You'll need them later. Of course you'll need a pump and drive belt to supply pressure to the steering box. Pull a pump and brackets from a 4 or 6 cyl. similar to yours at the salvage yard. Done an engine conversion? No sweat, late Ford and Chevy power steering pumps will work fine with the Jeep box. Again, no matter what pump you're using, get the high pressure fitting that goes with it. Now you'll need some way to connect the two. If you're using an AMC engine and pump, then you can simply purchase a new power steering hose for the high pressure side. If you don't want to buy a new hose or if you've done an engine conversion, you can take the high pressure ends from the pump and the box to a hydraulic hose shop and have a hose made. A length of fuel hose and a couple of clamps will work fine for the low pressure return side. You may want to consider splicing a fuel filter in the low pressure hose, your new pump and box will appreciate the lack of contaminants. STEERING WITH ONE FINGER Believe it or not, after you've rounded up the parts, you've accomplished the most difficult part. Bolting it up is pretty easy. Use a tie rod fork to separate the rod end from the steering arm, then loosen the bolt that clamps the steering shaft to the box. Unbolt the old box and mount the power unit using the existing holes and bolts. Reconnect the tie rod and move on to the pump. Bolt your pump and brackets to your engine, attach the drive belt and connect the hoses. Fill the pump up with fluid and presto...power steering. Now you'll have to find another way to exercise your arms. POWER BRAKES? If your CJ didn't come with power steering than it probably didn't come with power brakes either. If you're tired of your butt lifting off the seat as your standing on the brake pedal trying to stop those 33's, here's how to add power brakes. MORE PARTS Another paycheck and another trip to the salvage yard...this time you'll need to grab a power brake booster and the bracket that holds it to the firewall. The master cylinder for the power brake setup is slightly different, so you'll have to get another one. Since the master cylinder is inexpensive, I'd strongly suggest buying it new considering it's important job. I learned this lesson after sailing through a stop sign with my salvage yard master cylinder, now I know why the donor Jeep was in the yard in the first place! BRAKES THAT REALLY WORK Bolt the bracket and booster to the firewall using the existing holes and connect the booster to the brake pedal. Bolt the new master cylinder to the booster, stretch the existing brake lines out and screw them into the master cylinder. Now you need a vacuum source for your booster, you can either hook the hose to the carburetor or the intake manifold. Bleed the system and last but not least, check if your brake lights still work. If not, slide the switch located above the brake pedal forward until it comes in contact with the tab on the brake pedal. This conversion can be done with very little money, and the results are well worth the effort. |
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