Hey folks,

New to the forums, so apologize if this question has been answered before (but i couldn't find it doing a search)

i'm about to the pull the trigger on an 81 DLX 4x4, however my biggest gripe is that it has manual steering. I haven't been able to find any power steering conversion kits, so i'm assuming that I need to part everything out individually (as it was an option in 81).

Anyone ever gone down that road before, and if they have, has it been a complete pain? tips?

Also, I have found a full kit from an 85, and the seller has told me that if you re-position the cooler line and reservoir it will work. that sounds a bit sketchy to me though... thoughts?

This may or may not be the decision point on going down the rebuild path

 

shouldnt be too hard, I plan on doing this swap on my 79. also just for street driving the manual steering isnt too bad just make sure everything is greased properly.

as for offroading I wouldnt want to be crawling on rocks with manual steering, would be super hard imo.

 

I', not sure what years are compatible, but I found all the parts needed from one truck, an 82, at a pick and pull. It wasn't much of a problem installing it since I had all the parts required. BTW, my truck is an 81 4x4 long bed. The cooler fits behind the grille and the reservoir bolted right in as the the mount holes are all ready there. Make sure you get the pressure line that runs between the pump and steering box, all other lines are basically return lines with no pressure.

 

I also have an '81 with manual steering. It is definitely a pain rock crawling. Wake up the next morning and feel like you got beat up!

 

I am interested in adding the P/S. Can anyone share anymore about how they did theirs? What parts are needed, etc.

 

Parts are, as far as I can remember:

Entire steering box
Pulley from crank
Cooler
Reservoir with all fittings/hoses

 

Here are some pics of what I have installed before my tear down on my 81.

Power steering box, mount bracket, pressure line and cooler with lines


Pump and mounting bracket


Belt tension bracket and pulley


Pulley add on that bolt to the front of crank pulley.


Sorry, didn't get the reservoir pic, but you get the idea of the parts required..For reference, I'm upgrading my alternator and mounting it on the right side. Hope this helps

 

i would make sure your head has the boss for the tensioner might have to get crafty if it doesnt, not sure if you could drill and thread it.

 

specifically on the front not the side

 

Ah yes, bracket, too. That thing is hard to figure out where to put. All the holes are hidden behind other things. Unless you've got your engine out of the truck and all cleaned up! Nice.

 

The steering box needs to come from a 4x4. I got the pump, crank pulley, mounting bracket and pressure line from a junkyard 2wd.

 

i can use the air pump belt to move my power steering pump? and cancel my air pump

 

Lons, do you still have these pics anywhere?

 

Sent pics via email. Hope they help

 

Re-posting the pics here

 

Thanks for sharing, Lon. Is that pics of your engine? Wow, that is clean! Those look like all new parts

 

Thanks, just trying to help out. The only new part is the alternator, all the rest was cleaned up and painted. Since that pic, I put the alternator back on the left side and installed a A/C compressor on the right. My truck didn't come with a/c, but need it here in Texas during the summer, so installed an aftermarket system.