I've got my 69 L78 all together and I'm jonesing to take her out for a drive. Height of the cruising season here in AZ.

I'm still waiting for my manual steering box to get rebuilt so I kept the power steering box that was in there, but plugged the pressure and return line fittings, and pulled the pump & brackets & hoses off altogether. She steers okay, just wondering if it's safe to drive around like that.

Thanks in advance.
- Denis

Did the same thing when I was in high school. Car was 67 RS with 390 horse 427. Drove fine on the highway and around town a little tough to park in tight spaces.
To make things better you could connect one hose into the other that way it would just run the fuild back and forth instead working against itself. It did make my arms bigger though.


Tuck Jones
69 Z/28 X-33
Orange/Black stripes
4 speed

You want a recirc hose connecting the pressure port to the return line port. It can be just a low pressure return hose connecting short pipes coming out of the two ports. You really don't want to run the gear completely dry. The oil will lubricate the internal gear parts.

If you effectively just plug the ports and there is oil inside the gear. You will not be able to turn your steering wheel. You will have a hydraulic lock.

JIML82

You want a recirc hose connecting the pressure port to the return line port. It can be just a low pressure return hose connecting short pipes coming out of the two ports. You really don't want to run the gear completely dry. The oil will lubricate the internal gear parts.

If you effectively just plug the ports and there is oil inside the gear. You will not be able to turn your steering wheel. You will have a hydraulic lock.
JIML82

Thanks Jim. I took your advice. To build my recirc hose, I took a used pressure line, cut it just before the fitting at the pump, and secured the cut end to the return fitting on the PS box using a pair of hose clamps. I know the box is only partially full because I had steerage before replacing the plugs with a recirc hose. I routed the hose loop away from the exhaust manifold and moving suspension/steering parts. Took it out for a short drive, steers fine albeit a bit unresponsive, not that much worse than my manual steering cars. Got my 30-day paper license plates today, first outing tomorrow at Pavillons, I'm ready to roll! Thanks again.
:thumbsup:

I did that for a while in high school, too. just took off the belt, don't remember why. it was a bear to park!