Saginaw Power Steering Pump Install in 86 Bronco

[Xris]

Hey everyone! Finally got to refurbishing the Saginaw Pump I bought many months ago. This was kind of put on hold once I started the body restore. Just recently had a chance to do some minor stuff, like this.

First to answer some questions that may get asked:

1) Why install a Saginaw? Saginaws are an all around better unit than the stock unit. They outflow the stock unit which allow you to run bigger tires without all that annoying squeeling...by the way anyone else experience that excrutiating squeeling sound in your stock unit...none to be heard with a saginaw. These units last longer than the stock unit.

2) Where did you get it? You can buy brand new from any auto parts store...it can cost you upwards of $60-75 not including the high pressure hose, which is another $12-$18. I got mine out of the bone yard for $25 from a 1984 Ford Econoline Van. They can also be found in F-250/350s and other year vans. Do a search for more years and makes.

3) Can any backyard mechanic do the swap? For the most part yes. Depending on year of Bronco or F-150, you may have to modify the engine bracket. With my 86 I had to do no such thing...I did however, have to add some washers to the long bolt...I'll explain later. I have heard on some 86s you do have to modify while others you do not...weird!

4) So what was the overall cost? $25 Saginaw Pump + $15 high pressure hose (this is a must) + $3 (x2)PS Fluid = $46. I also repainted my Sag, becasue it was looking pretty bad.

I'll start from the beginning:

Here is the Saginaw just out of the yard...not too pretty!
Back


Front


The first thing I did was to strip down the Saginaw Bracket and Pump. I used a grinder with brush to clean the gunk off and then an air sander to finish it off. Next I used POR-15 as a rust converter/preventer:



POR-15 required a few coats. Once it was dry, I preceeded to paint the pump. I went with a blue High Temp enamel:



Once the pump was dry, tape was removed and ready for installation:


For all of you who need the part number on the High Pressure Hose:


I next installed the High Pressure Hose to the back of the pump prior to installing in the truck. The original low pressure hose from the stock unit will be used in this swap to reconnect to the Saginaw.

Here is what your stock unit looks like installed:


You'll notice that there are only 2 bolts to remove. Note :silver washer is the stabilzing bolt (approx 6 inches long), while the one located on the bottom is the adjustment bolt. Remove these to remove the pump. At thsi time, I left the hoses connected.

Next I installed the new pump using the same bolts. I had to add some thick washers to the upper stabilizing bolt becasue the saginaw bracket was not as wide as the stock unit. This allows that pinch to take place and stabilze the pump. At some point I'll fab up a new spacer.

This is the low pressure hose. Simply remove it with a flat head screw driver. I had a bucket sitting below the radiator to collect any PS fluid.


This is the High Pressure Hose connected to the Steering Box from the original stock unit...this is where you will connect the new HP Hose:


Tighten the belt, assure all connections are tight and fill the PS Pump with fluid.


The Stock Unit out...my suggestion is to save the bolts and anything else you can salvage off the old unit and throw this crap away...


questions??

[Xris]

It works SOOO smooth. I filled the pump up and had to wait while the battery charged. The truck has been sitting since last October while I dismantal the body, so I was not able to see the results of my work until about an hour ago. Wow...no whine, one finger turning, easy inexpensive swap!

[Xris]

This was probably the easiest mod Ive done with awesome results. Now I need to get the beast back on the road, so I can really test it out!

[FatMike86]

Thanks for the write-up, I just did the swap myself. Although I must have a different bracket than you, cuz I had to ream out the top hole of the Saginaw bracket because the bolt spacing is different...

[project86]

Yup, I had the same result with mine. I got the pump out of an early 80's van, and had to ream out the upper bolt hole on the pump-mounted bracket to fit. The holes on the Sag are 3/4" closer together than my stock 86 pump. I was too lazy to go back and pull the whole engine bracket from the van, although I'm not positive that would have fit anyway.