I have a 65 chevelle with PS which has had the pump and lines removed for quite some time and left open. Should I pull it and flush it with some solvent? Never pulled one apart.

Thanks for any advice, Kevin

If no water has gotten into it and there is no rust, then I would say you are okay. I have used boxes which have sat in cars (with the hood closed) without lines hooked up before and never had a problem.

I woud flush it with new fluid....unhook the return line off the power steering pump and turn the wheel back and forth. Make sure you keep the pump full of fluid and don't let it run dry...

Just a very small amount of water in the power steering system will cause a lot of noise and foaming. It will eventually work its way out. However, if you think that water might have gotten in and stayed there for any length of time, it probably is best to flush the system first. I would be more concerned that bare metal parts inside the hoses, pump, or gear may have rusted.

Disconnect the return line at the pump. Route the hose to a clean pail. Have someone start the car, while another person adds fluid to the reservoir. Check the color and look for small particles that might be in the fluid. If things look clean, you could even consider reusing the fluid by just passing it through a cloth or coffee filter.

I also suggest that you use genuine GM power steering fluid. It is the only fluid specifically formulated to operate in the Saginaw power steering pump. Other fluids that are labeled power steering fluid are not tested to the extent that the GM fluid is tested.

JIML82