power steering conversion on CJ7

[scanner248]

Planning on adding power steering to my 81 CJ7 . Looking for some advise on this project. Also would like to add hydraulic clutch, but I'll start a new thread for that when I get started.

Engine is a fuel injection converted AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l . I've located parts (pump, hoses, box and bracket) coming off a 93 grand cherokee with a 4.0L engine.

My jeep also has a 3" body lift and 3" suspension lift. I've already got a dropped pitman arm to account for the suspension lift. Anything to consider for the existing body lift?

I'm assuming these parts should be completely compatible for the swap. Am I wrong or missing anything? Anything else will I need to get? What else will I need to account for during the conversion?

Any and all advise is appreciated.

 

[Sasquach]

I don't think the 4.0 pump mount works on the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l . You will need to replace either the entire intermediate steering shaft or at very least the coupler on the end to accomodate the diff spline on the ps box.
A search will provide some info here.

 

[73CJ]

The steering shaft will probably need to be lengthened. Lower joint is larger.

Pressure hose can be made at most NAPA stores. Many others can do it as well. Return is a non-pressure hose and easily available.

I found a complete pump setup in a junkyard. Pulleys and bracket for cheap.

There was a change to o-ring fittings. Best to has the same on both pump and gearbox.

 

[yellow85cj]

The 4.0 set up might work. Does your pump bracket look like the one in this thread?
Power Steering and Power Brake upgrade? - JeepForum.com

You will have to "extend" the intermediate shaft some. The 3 inch body lift is responsible for that mod.

The bell coupler will have to be changed, but not sure if the CJ bell will fit an XJ gear box.

You could get a lower YJ intermediate shaft and use that with the upper CJ. You are going to have to split the shaft to get it long enough anyway, might as well try to get a YJ lower.

Most, if not all of the 4.0's are serp belt set ups. You will have to change to a v belt pulley unless you happen to have a serp set up on your AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l .

Interested in what you come up with.

 

[scanner248]

All,
Thanks for the info. I got to the donor vehicle and understood what is really required. I opted to not take the pump that was on it at the time, but did grab the box.

My set up is a 4.0 l head with fuel injection. Sounds similar to the set up that Sasquatch lists. It is currently a v-belt from the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l . I got home and measured the distance between the face of the mount on the 4.0 intake and the center of the open v-belt on the water pump pulley. It is 3 7/8 ".

So now I need to find a pump. If I locate another one from a 4.0 l motor, I should just be able to swap out the serpentine style pulley for a v-belt on the pump itself, right? Is there any known years/models of donor vehicles to look for?

Concerning the intermediate shaft, I understand the spline and length differences. Is there an aftermarket shaft that anyone sells that can be bought off the shelf?

 

[Sasquach]

As I remember the 4.0 pump bracket does not fot the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l but can't say for certain, It may be because my intake manifold does not have the mounting points. What I used was an original AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l pump and bracket, they can be had on Ebay pretty regularly. I'm pretty sure any AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l mount will do.

 

[scanner248]

Project update:

I tracked down a pump and brackets from an '86 CJ7 . Having to fabricate mounting brackets due to previous 4.0 head conversion. Because the manifold donor was from a 96 XJ, the original rear mounting bracket doesn't mate up to the surface of the intake manifold.


Questions:

1. The original pulley was a single belt and didn't line up with the main pulley. I've seen in a few conversion pictures a double belt pulley needed. What are the details on the part? Where or how can find one?

2. Drive shaft. Looks like I'm going to have to replace the whole shaft. My current shaft has already been extended to account for the body lift, but the lower coupling needs to be replaced to fit the new box. The spline count on the new box is 26. I found a replacement bell coupler online for a CJ with power steering. Though I don't think that the part is correct for my current shaft. (I didn't own this project at the time it was lifted) Is a lower shaft from a YJ really interchangeable with a CJ upper? The spline count on the steering column shaft is 48.

The 4.0 set up might work. Does your pump bracket look like the one in this thread?
Power Steering and Power Brake upgrade? - JeepForum.com

You will have to "extend" the intermediate shaft some. The 3 inch body lift is responsible for that mod.

The bell coupler will have to be changed, but not sure if the CJ bell will fit an XJ gear box.

You could get a lower YJ intermediate shaft and use that with the upper CJ. You are going to have to split the shaft to get it long enough anyway, might as well try to get a YJ lower.

Most, if not all of the 4.0's are serp belt set ups. You will have to change to a v belt pulley unless you happen to have a serp set up on your AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l .

Interested in what you come up with.

 

[yellow85cj]

The double pulley on the pump (one smaller than the other) was for the air pump part of the emissions system. The larger pulley on the dual pulley is for the PS/crank/water pump belt. So you only need a single pulley for the PS pump. A dual pulley can be used, you just don't have anything on the small pulley.

You need a dual pulley on the water pump, and a bolt on pulley on the crank.

IIRC the inboard pulley on the crank and water pump are for the PS. The outboard side is for the alternator.

How far out of line was the belt? Was the pulley not pressed on far enough? Or is it a problem with the pump mount.

As for the intermediate shaft, the CJ and YJ upper and lowers are interchangeable as far as the fit of the shafts together and the length.

A YJ upper is a double D at the column end, so it will not fit a CJ column. So unless you are looking at putting in a YJ/XJ column it's useless on a CJ. (XJ/YJ columns are pretty much plug and play in a CJ)

A YJ lower does not have a bell coupler end (it has a fixed u joint). If you were using a YJ or probably an XJ box it should fit fine though, I do not know what the spline count is for the YJ lower, but don't think it will be correct for a CJ (GM.Saginaw) era PS gearbox. You would have to check it.

Why do you think that the new bell coupler will not fit your current intermediate shaft? On stock CJ shafts, that was the only difference between a PS and manual system. At least on the later models that I have hands on experience with.

Got any pics?

BTW, may have gotten things backwards in the earlier post. Body lift means extend the shaft from stock length, removing or lowering the amount of body lift you would need to shorten or go towards stock length.

 

[scanner248]

Here's a couple of pictures. Not finished building the brackets yet.

The pulley was around 1/4-1/2" too far forward. It was fully seated onto the pump shaft. Could put it back on after I'm done with the brackets.

DSC08153.jpg

DSC08154.jpg

Here's the lower end coupling of the current steering shaft. I re-counted the splines on the new gear box. It's 30. I've found someone parting out an 89 XJ. Would you expect it to work or do I have to find a YJ donor?

DSC08156.jpg

 

[BrockGrimes]

Check the links in this thread:
http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f19/power-steering-conversion-874/

See post #24 here:
http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f49/useful-info-thought-id-share-665/

 

[yellow85cj]

Is this what your pulley looks like? About 1 7/8".

Approx 7/8" for shaft from front to back. Most OEM pulleys I have come across have 937 stamped on them.

 

[yellow85cj]

That's not a OEM/stock end on the intermediate shaft. Looks more like an after market. At least mid 70's through 86 used a bell coupler on the end.

 

[scanner248]

The pulley I have is exactly as you describe. Dimensions and stamped with 937 on the face.
DSC08155.jpg

I figured that it wasn't the original shaft. Someone else did a lot of suspension and lift work on it before.

I found a steering shaft from an 89 XJ. It will work. Will have to do some splicing to get the length I need.