I put a 1989 model 454 in my 71 Chevelle.It has the long water pump. I want to go to my local O'reilley or Auto Zone and get both power steering hoses. What year and vehicle should I tell them the parts are for? I'm new to the big block scene and don't know the interchange on them! I don't have any hoses at all, just 2 empty holes in the power steering pump!!!! HEEEEELP!!!

what power steering pump are you using?
The return line is just a piece of hose with some hose clamps, The pressure line is the one that will have to have the correct lines. I ordered mine from NPD and it fit perfectly.

I would ask the part store to show you both hoses for both years and get the one that will fit best.

One more thing to consider: is the pump metric and the steering gear inch fittings?

So it sounds like you have the PS pump from 1989? And a steering gear from 1971?

Your chances of finding a PS hose to fit that at your local parts store are pretty close to zero. That pump will have a metric O-ring fitting on it while your steering gear will have a 45* taper seat. A hose with the right length AND the right bends on the steering gear end AND the right bends on the pump end AND the right hose clocking is a very unique combination indeed.

If you still have the PS pump from 1971 you can swap the pressure control valve and outlet fitting into the 1989 PS pump. Then just the proper hose for the 1971.

Otherwise you are into custom hose hot rod territory, which is not as bad as it might sound. I just bought all the hose and ends and adapter fittings I need to fabricate up a custom hose from my one-off setup for about $50 from Speedway Motors. As pointed out above, it is really only the pressure hose that is critical. The others can just be generic hose (albeit for hydraulic steering systems) clamped on. *That* they will have at the local parts store.

I put a 1989 model 454 in my 71 Chevelle.It has the long water pump. I want to go to my local O'reilley or Auto Zone and get both power steering hoses. What year and vehicle should I tell them the parts are for? I'm new to the big block scene and don't know the interchange on them! I don't have any hoses at all, just 2 empty holes in the power steering pump!!!! HEEEEELP!!!


go to a truck (big rig)parts house (fleet pride/etc) and have one made..

If you need to adapt a metric fitting to a 3/8" flare, NAPA sells the required adapters. They are:

* Weatherhead #1445: 3/8" is 5/8 18 - 14x1.5
* Weatherhead #1446: 3/8" is 5/8 18 - 16x1.5
* Weatherhead #1447: 3/8" is 5/8 18 - 18x1.5

Also, here is an article about what you are trying to do:

http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/techarticles/49838_bolt_on_late_model_steering/index.html

Tom