Got my motor in and very thing fine there, The problem is with my power steering. I cleaned it, painted it, installed new hoses, new fluid.
As per the book I spun the pump backward to prime. With the engine running
everything seems fine but when I turn the steeriing wheel it starts jerking
left and right very fast. The power steering worked great before it was
removed for the engine rebuild.

The car is a 72
454
4 speed
PS
PB
A/C

You connected the low pressure hose to the high pressure port and the high pressure hose to the low pressure port. Disconnect and reconnect properly.

Thanks so much, I'll check that tomorrow.
I took the pump off 18 months ago, just got the engine back in and running.
On the downhill side of a complete resto.

I made that mistake on a Mustang once. It was spectacular! The steering wheel went lock to lock a couple times a second with the engine at idle.

Scared the bejesus outta me.

Imagine trying to grab that wheel and stop it by hand!

Ok now I'am confussed, my hoses can only go in one way because of
different size holes/threads. My low pressure hose slips on a tube on
the back of the pump which goes to a slip on tube 90 degree fitting on
the inside/right hole on the steering box. the outside/left hole on the steering box is where the high pressure hose is hooked up which goes to a threaded
hole on the back of the pump. Also I have a small spring loaded one way check valve that needs to go where?? It fits in either hole, but I would think
it's needed for the high presssure side. It is also directional one way, would I be guessing right, to think the fluid flows into the outside/left high pressure
hole and the check valve stops the fluid back flowing to the pump when the engine stops.?
Thanks for all the replys

I thought that I replied to this posting this AM. However, I don't see it so here is some more information for you.

It is nearly impossible to hook up the production power steering hoses incorrectly. The pump discharge fitting has a female 5/8 thread. It takes a pressure hose with a male 5/8 nut. The other end of the pressure hose has a 11/16 male nut. It screws into the 11/16 female gear port that is nearest the aluminum side cover. The low pressure return fitting has a 5/8 male nut and it screws into the female 5/8 gear port that is closest to the gear input shaft. So the correct production pressure hose and return pipe will only install one way.

I think that your problem could be that you have a large quantity of air in your steering system. The best way to get the air out - before starting the engine - is to jack up the front wheels and rotate the steering wheel full lock to full lock about two dozen times. Refill the reservoir as necessary. Then let the car down and start the engine. Turn the steering wheel lock to lock a few times. Check the lever and refill as necessary. Then go for a ride.

When you have air that is pushed through the power steering pump, the air and oil gets whipped to a froth. The fluid looks milky. Hydraulic fluid is normally not compressible. Trapped air in the oil makes the oil compressible. This can give erratic power assist.

Are you using genuine GM power steering fluid? GM fluid is amber color. It is only sold by GM dealers. The stuff on Pep Boys, Autozone, and other supplier shelves most likely is not genuine GM fluid. The GM fluid is the only one specifically developed to operate with the Saginaw pumps.

You make mention of a check valve. If your power steering pipes have 45 degree double flares on both ends and 5/8 and 11/16 male nuts, then here is how the check valve is supposed to work. Each of the gear ports will have a separate brass 45 degree seat that is pressed down inside the port.

On Saginaw gears with 45 degree flare connections (all gears and pumps before 1980) and check valves; the check valve is in the pressure port, (the one closest to the aluminum side cover). First a small spring is set into the port. Then a thin small metal plate is placed on top of the spring. The brass seat is then pressed into the port. The spring loaded metal plate blocks the small hole in the brass seat. It is pushed down and out of the way by the flow of power steering oil from the pump.

You are correct that it is the check valve in the pressure port that prevents high pressure spikes from passing back through the power steering circuit. These spikes are caused by road vibrations coming up through the road wheels and being passed back through the mechanical linkage and gear components all the way back to the steering wheel in the driver's hands.

Hope this is not too much information.
Hope that it helps.
JIML82

Thanks JIML82
Yes, I do have air in the system from the milky look.
I used Autozone fluid, it is amber in color.
Do you think I should drain and replace with GM, I'am not sure if my
pump is a Saginaw pump or not.
I can easly drain the fluid out of the pump, but not sure how to
drain the gear box.
Here's what I will do
1. replace fluid
2.spin pump backward to prime as per repair manual
3. jack up the front wheels and rotate the steering wheel full lock to
full lock about two dozen times
4.lower car, start and rotate lock to lock
5. refill pump as needed.

Thanks to everyone

Valk,
If your problem was/is air in the system, the problem should go away with time. The air will eventually work itself out.

Jim