[DET17]

Well a rainy weekend here in Georgia, and my Malibu conversion project continues on.....

Got my GC steering gear, and bought the NAPA weatherhead fittings to convert from the metric Saginaw to inch hoses. The return side is perfect, no issues. As I posted earlier, the pressure side is not. I know everyone defers to the LEE aluminum adapters, but I'm attempting to steer clear of them.

Some have mentioned modifying stock pressure hoses with metric end fittings. I've got a fairly new hose, trying to salvage it & don't really wantto screw with my pump fitting. I've been searching for a metric O-ring end fitting which will flare onto the exisitng 3/8 inch steel tube end of the stock hose. Anybody found this fitting?

I know there are many adapters from the metric to AN available....found them all. Those still require another step....new hose, modified hose with AN female.

Am I looking for the holy grail here? I've beat the search function to death and have yet to find the silver bullet.

Thanks, all.

Duane

 

[novaderrik]

the "holy grail" you are searching for is as easy as getting a PS pressure hose for an '80 Camaro with a 305 and getting a PS pump fitting from an early 80's GM car or truck in the junkyard.
total cost will be less than $20, and you won't have any extra fittings that can cause problems down the road.
yes, it is as easy as it sounds.

 

[DET17]

the "holy grail" you are searching for is as easy as getting a PS pressure hose for an '80 Camaro with a 305 and getting a PS pump fitting from an early 80's GM car or truck in the junkyard.
total cost will be less than $20, and you won't have any extra fittings that can cause problems down the road.
yes, it is as easy as it sounds.

Well, perhaps the MN junkyards still have 80's cars in them, but no so in my part of the country. I've talked to several local salvage yards, and they all say that they were "cleaned out" maybe 5 years ago when I believe the Chinese were paying top $$$ for our junk steel. Bottom line, all those oldies are long gone. When I bought my GC steering gear, I noticed there was nothing in that yard which was older than around mid 90's.

Considered eBay, but how does anyone really know WHAT they remove parts from? I'm not gambling if I can't see the vehicle.

Thanks for the thought.

 

[novaderrik]

there's gotta be something you can steal a PS fitting out of- i think the trucks used the old style PS pump right up until the late 90's, and even some Jeeps had the Saginaw PS pump in them- maybe look at the same Jeep your steering box came out of.
i know Caprices used that PS pump until the '93 model year.
all you need os the fitting in the back that the PS line screws into- it will screw right into PS pumps going back to the early 70's.

 

[phocksphyre]

This way is so easy, I could never figure out why anyone would screw around with hose 'adapters'.
John

 

[vferrizz]

You can also find a shop that makes hydraulic hoses and have them make you what you need.

 

[Joel Koontz]

I can confirm that changing the fitting in the PS pump to a metric one is a good option.

I did this when I converted to HydroBoost Brakes. I got the fitting off of an S-10 Pickup, I think it was a 1986 model. Simple as pulling the orginal fitting out of the PS pump and then putting the S-10 fitting in. I was then able to use factory HB lines with metric ends.

 

[DET17]

Well, thanks for the varied advice guys. What I've decided to do is purchase different metric adapter fittings. After doing extensive internet recon (Earls, XRP, Aeroquip) for adapter fittings, I have purchased the following, which I record here for posterity:

Aeroquip FCM2609 (-06xM18x1.5) steel adapter fitting
Aeroquip FCM2608 (-06xM16x1.5) steel adapter fitting.

Last week I had the local autoparts pull a hose for the original GC pressure side, and took a close look at the end configuration with O-ring. The nearest thing I've been able to find is the Aeroquip (or XRP fittings, perhaps same) which is a dead ringer for original. After much contemplation (too much) I have decided NOT to use the NAPA Weatherhead fittings, but rather buy the above and have both my hoses converted to -06AN (JIC 37) female end fittings.

One thing I am, is a stickler for symmetry, and professional appearance. I sure won't do this GC conversion cheaper than anyone else, but that matters not to me. I want the box leak free and looking like GM put it there back in 1970. BTW, both of my hoses are recently new, so I've already sunk that money which will be salvaged with the new flared -06 ends, which I hope to obtain locally for the 3/8 tubing ends.

I'll post a followup for anyone converting in this same direction. Infact, I've taken pics of everything so far, and if I can figure out how to post pics I hope to assemble the photo log of this conversion. :thumbsup:

thanks,

Duane

 

[novaderrik]

those aeroquip fittings aren't going to look like GM put them there back in 1970..
i think this looks a little more factory, once you look past the Caprice serpentine setup. it's an '84 Monte SS box in my 74 Monte with a 1980 Camaro PS pressure hose that i got for about $15 at Advance Auto.
the return hardline is the pump side of the pressure hose from the car the box came from- i really want to find something different that lays in there a little more naturally.

 

[DET17]

Hey Derrick,

Thanks for the pics and the 411. I agree you need at least one of those hoses to fit the layout a bit more asthetically. I hope you can't tell about the Aeroquip fittings from a top view, but then I'm not trying to build a chalk mark restoration car.....what with the whole new front suspension, rear, bars, etc. etc. etc. I am interested in converting to a serpentine drive belt, but not so much in the BLING & BILLET if you get me. I'll have to do some future recon. to see what years serpentine will retro to my 70, which has only PS and the requisite alternator. I'll update once I get the GC pump installed and take a couple pics for the folks to view/second guess me

BTW, I'm ordering the DORMAN rag joint today from RockAuto up in Wisconsin....best deal I've been able to find and it appears all that is required is to drill up the 5/16 bolt to 3/8 and index the wheel & steering gear properly.

Thanks again.

Duane

 

[BowtieAaron]

i bought a new high pressure line from autozone for a 93-98 GC for 20 bucks and put the pump side down so it will fit, then i flaired the end with a 3/8 nut on it. works perfect. and looks just about stock.
return line, i already had part of the return fitting so i added rubber hose to it and ran it to the pump.

i have hydraulic line and compression fitting that i had napa make up, wasted 40 some bucks on it to find out, it was a dumb idea and i could get the stock one to fit.


aaron

edit.
i also got a rag joint from a 73-87 chevy truck from the junk yard when i got the box. i didnt even change out the rubber. i cleaned it up and painted it. looks good. you can buy the rubbers for like 7 bucks.