I've been driving my 67 that has a p/s box on it without a pump hooked up. Its been that way since I've had it, which is 5 years and 800+ miles but no idea before that.

Armstrong steering is hard on me and makes it impossible for my wife to drive the car.

I'm going to connect a pump and lines this winter but I'm wondering if I can expect any problems from the box, since it was used for I don't know how long without a pump.

Can the box be damaged this way?

First of all, what is hooked to the two hose ports? Is there a recirculation hose connecting the two? Or have they been exposed to the elements for the last many years? As you steer one direction or another, the ports are continuoully sucking and blowing air/oil back and forth. So plain caps or duct tape on the ports probably didn't do much good.

Unless there was a recirculation hose connecting both ports together, I would strongly suggest a new box. I doubt that you could have hurt anything inside the box by manually steering it. But moisture and rust could have really screwed up the precision valve.

JIML82

There is a hose that looped the two together. I've had it off once.

The only thing I worry about is the fluid in there, its probly old, how to flush it out?
Oh and I'm worried about the box from long term steering it with no pump.