Alright I know this topic has been covered a billion times. I've looked at a lot of posts and I think I have a list of all the parts I'm going to need to convert my 1969 convertible, small block 350 from manual to power steering. Take a look and see if I am missing anything

This is doing the new style box to by the way smile.gif

Steering Gear Box - Cardone 276550

Power Steering Pump w/ Reservoir & Cap - Not sure which one to buy yet.

Pitman Arm - Moog K6582 - Someone had this part # listed on their website so I hope its right.

Power Steering Pressure & Return Hoses - Is there anything special about these? Are they application specific?

Steering Coupler w/ Conversion Inserts - This is that $60 package deal from Lee Manufacturing. I think the inserts are what convert the fittings from metric to standard right?

Power Steering Brackets - I'm not sure which brackets to get yet because I don't know if my water pump is long or short.

Power Steering Pully - Not sure with this yet either. I'm guessing I need to know more about my motor before I can pick the right one. All I know is that I have a 350 and its not the original. Not sure where it came from.


I'm a complete car noobie so trying to tackel this project is a HUGE undertaking. Thanks for your help!

box and pitman are correct, both from rockauto for cheap (116 and 50)
Inserts adapt the flare, nothing more, this is how I run it without any problems (used a little teflon tape on the threads), but some have bought the Weatheread adapters that adapt the threads and flare, which might be a better idea.
March Performance will have a great steering bracket kit

Ok so buy:

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

INSTEAD of getting the LEE Manufacturing insterts? I'm guessing I'll still need to buy the Steering Coupler from them though right?

right

I bought the Motormite #31011 coupler from Rock Auto also. $44 It's for a 1979 Camaro.

Mike

I have a 69 long style w/pump, depending on which p/s pump shaft you have, here are two gm part # for key way'd pullies. Single belt grove 3770509. Double grove 3941107. Hope this helps

well, I did the same thing I just repeated now to make sure it still works...

went to rockauto.com and hit start...

entered in 1986... chev... camaro... 5.0 mfi...and went to steering.

hit Steering box, and it gave me a choice of 4, one of which is listed as : Cardone 276550, pwr steering with sport suspension $116.99 + 25 core.

That's the one!

I'm having some trouble determining if my water pump is long or short. If I post some pics of on the motor do you think you could tell?

Don't need to...if it's a stock '69, it's long, 67-68 are short.
If the alternator's on the drivers side, it's short, pass side=long
If you can get your finger between the timing cover and the water pump, it's long

I doubt its the stock waterpump. The alternator is on the passenger's side. And I can fit my whole hand between the timing cover and water pump.

So I guess what you're saying is I have a long water pump. smile.gif My wife will be so happy. smile.gif

lol....

OK I think I am getting this narrowed down....

I am looking at a power steering pump from Classic Industries. It described as follows:

Replacement Power Steering Pump
Part Number: PS6000
For 1969-74 8cyd
Cost: $69.95

Couple things... I don't know if what the correct hoses are going to be and if they will be the same size to use those weatherhead fittings. The reason I mention that is because it looks like the fittings listed above are for both 3/8" inlet and outlet. I looked at a summit PS pump and the inlet is listed as 3/8 and the outlet is listed as 5/8-18 in. Is this is the same thing? Is this pretty much gonna be a industry standard for all PS pumps?

I still need a pully for it to... I'm not sure if the pump I listed above is keyed or press on. I'm assuming its keyed - same as the summit.

The stock replacement pump will use a keyed pulley.

The weatherhead fittings on the gearbox will both be 3/8 us flare.

On my stock pump, the pressure outlet is 3/8 us flare.

The return line is simply a 3/8 tube fitting, soldered onto the reservoir, ya know, like a pcv valve or brake booster?

The pressure hose I bought from rockauto, by my aplication, was 3/8 us flare on both ends.

For the return line, what I got from Rockauto was a 5" long piece of pipe, bent 90 in the middle, with a 3/8 us flare fitting on one end and a raised part to retain a hose on the other.

From there, it was a trip to the auto parts store for 2' of 3/8 power steering return hose.

It's possible, or maybe even likely, that the replacement power steering pump won't come with ANY fitting, just pipe thread holes, and you'll have to get the correct fittings.

Yikes... no fittings. That'll be a disaster for me hehe. If stuff doesn't just screw together out of the box I panic.

oh relax.... you cannot avoid the inevtible second or even third trip to the parts store no matter what. Order up whatcha got, dummy it up on the bench, see what's missing and what don't fit, and order again. Once all the peices fit together on the bench, they WILL fit together in the car.

Don't forget to get a pitman arm puller. Use the kind that looks like a clamp with a bolt thru the middle. $14 at autozone.

Hehe... Problem is that I live in a town of 800. We have a NAPA, but they never have anything you need.

I end up ordering everything online and shippping costs start to kill you if you can't lump your orders together.

let us know how it turns out. Either the Napa or the local hardware store will probably have the fittings you need, if it turns out you need any. Ny local Napa can get me just about ANYTTHING in a day, 'course, Mark the owner runs a '67 RS.

Hey Jim,

I saw that the part number on the moog pitman arm was k6582 so I ordered it. Also had this part listed on the other site stating that it is the LONG style arm. I just got mine in and it doesnt look like the long style arm. Anyone know the lenght this arm is suppose to be? Will it make a big difference if it is not the long arm?

Thanks
Mark

My pitman arm is 6", center to center on the pivots, It has "18770" cast into the top of it. It came out of a moog box, not sure the part#, whatever the parts store listed for a 68 w/power steering. w/the 3rd gen box, I get 2 1/2 turns.

K6582 will be 5.75"-5.8" center to center
Its what I run and was identical to my original 69 Camaro Power Steering pitman arm it replaced.

I'm getting in late on this, but here goes. I am currently restoring my 69 rs/ss and it has power steering. I would like to put a new steering box on it, because I hate to use the old one.

I was wondering, should I put the newer gear box on it like you guys have been discussing to improve the steering? I'm leaning that way.

If I do since my car already has pwr steering should this be all I need to make the swap?

1.New 3rd gen box like cardone 276550.

2.Weatherhead fittings #1446 & #1447 from NAPA.

3.New rag joint coupler. Could someone list part # from Lee mfg.

Will this do it or am I missing something?
Thanks alot.

That's all of it, ck, and yes, i'd do it in a heartbeat.... oh, yea, almost for got, i did do it...

It's kinda nice... steering effort's high enuf that you don't change lanes when you sneeze.

If you go to Lee for the coupler, you won't need a part#, so many of us have called them, they know exactly what to send you.

Thanks Jim. It's hard to believe the variation in price of the cardone 276550 box. I've called Advance auto-$229.99 and NAPA- $152.99.

Then there's Rock Auto $116.00, but you have to pay shipping and $25 core and shipping to ship it back.

I checked my outer steering arms and they are the 3954875 & 3954876 short arms.
If I make this steering box switch will my steering be too fast with these short outer arms and long pitman arm?

My steering arms are 5 3/8", measured installed, from the center of the lower ball joint to the center of the tie rod end. (rear mounting bolt to tie rod end is 3 3/8) not sure if they are long or short, they were original to the car.

With a 6" pitman arm, my steering is fast, but not "too" fast, it has great feel on center, but does not have a lot of "return", you kinda have to crank it back to center a bit. (Caster is 3.5 degrees)