1968 SB high-pressure stepped power steering hose - replace with M-body hose?

[cudak888]

Hello all:

My '68 Satellite has a rather long, seemingly overcomplicated (and stepped in size) power steering hose running from the gearbox to the Saginaw pump, like this one:

(Parts catalogs also note an "alternate routing" hose, which - unlike the $20 that this one costs, is somehow a whopping $150, and is never shown in pictures).

Besides the fact that its length causes it to coil on the K-frame, is there any reason why I cannot take out the NPT adapter from the steering box and run an M-body hose like this one? It seems so much simpler:



Just the same, like any car, these things were made to a price point - and I can't see the bean counters OK'ing that two-piece '68 hose unless Mopar's engineers made a really good argument in favor of using them.

-Kurt

 

[cudak888]

Found a solution - use the 1969+ up hose and replace the fitting and crush washer on the PS box.

-Kurt

 

[cudak888]

Ok, a little more info here for those who may find this thread via Google ages in the future and would like to beat me over the head for not having explained the hurdles in full:

The 1968 fitting appears to be a 7/16 flared fitting to 1/2" into the pump, but the diameter at the flared end seems to have changed in 1969. That's all well and good, but the Mopar parts sellers out there are trying to gouge the market for a $4 fitting by asking $25-35 for the little bugger.

After some Googling, I'm almost certain said fitting is known as a JIC (flare) x ORB (O-ring boss) hydraulic fitting adapter, a.k.a. "JIC x ORB adapter." And yes, it's about $4 from most vendors:

View attachment 279625

The '68 power steering pump is 7/16" JIC x 1/2" ORB. The '69+ is bigger at the JIC/flare end, but I don't know by how much. I'm guessing it's 1/2" JIC. Anyone have a 1969-up Mopar box that they can measure for me?

Even though the fitting is shown and said to be designed for an O-ring, the design is no different and can have a standard copper crush washer put in its place. Same thing.

And so there it is. Soon as I find out how much bigger the '69 version is, there will be no more mystery...and some money saved. Bingo!

-Kurt

 

[dpstark2]

There were two sizes of fittings used on the power steering pumps. Both are JIC flare to straight thread as you've identified. I think you're right about 7/16" vs. 1/2", but I can't be 100% certain. I'm really only posting to comment on the other end of the hose. Over the years, there were several different pumps and hoses. The first pic you posted is definitely a Federal type pump hose with the small power steering box end. The second looks like a later Saginaw type on the pump end, but I've never seen a male end on the box end for a late 60's to early 70's car. If that's an M-body line, it might work with the right adapter. However: some pumps had flare fittings and some had o-ring fittings. That pic looks like an o-ring. Your pump is almost certainly not o-ring. I don't think they used o-rings until 71 or later.

I guess my point is to pay attention to both ends. A secondary point: if you're unhappy with the routing, somebody might be able to shorten or remake the line for you for a few bucks locally. I have a guy that will crimp that many fittings for less than $40 plus fittings (10-15$ each).

Third point: I see those Federal hoses routed like you describe from time to time, but I don't think that's "factory." I think the hose actually left the pump and the right angle pointed up. The line ran by the battery and down the fender, making a 180 degree turn and heading to the box from the back. The small hose, I assume, was there to help clear manifolds, steering linkage, etc., and maybe add flexibility.

 

[cudak888]

There were two sizes of fittings used on the power steering pumps. Both are JIC flare to straight thread as you've identified. I think you're right about 7/16" vs. 1/2", but I can't be 100% certain. I'm really only posting to comment on the other end of the hose. Over the years, there were several different pumps and hoses. The first pic you posted is definitely a Federal type pump hose with the small power steering box end.

Unfortunately, this is the only photo given for both the Saginaw and Federal pump hoses by RockAuto. At the time of the post, I was too lazy to get a photo of the beat up original. Might try tonight.

The second looks like a later Saginaw type on the pump end, but I've never seen a male end on the box end for a late 60's to early 70's car. If that's an M-body line, it might work with the right adapter. However: some pumps had flare fittings and some had o-ring fittings. That pic looks like an o-ring. Your pump is almost certainly not o-ring. I don't think they used o-rings until 71 or later.

I figured out that a Eaton Weatherhead style twin flare fitting would allow for a hose with JIC pipe threads on each end (such as GMs or Fords equipped with Saginaw pumps and boxes), but it's not the most elegant solution:



And yes, my box doesn't use O-rings. Crush washer, flat at the bottom, and SAE threads.

I guess my point is to pay attention to both ends. A secondary point: if you're unhappy with the routing, somebody might be able to shorten or remake the line for you for a few bucks locally. I have a guy that will crimp that many fittings for less than $40 plus fittings (10-15$ each).

Third point: I see those Federal hoses routed like you describe from time to time, but I don't think that's "factory." I think the hose actually left the pump and the right angle pointed up. The line ran by the battery and down the fender, making a 180 degree turn and heading to the box from the back. The small hose, I assume, was there to help clear manifolds, steering linkage, etc., and maybe add flexibility.

Early 1971 Ford Mustangs pushed it to the limit with a 4' line of high pressure hose coiling up to the shock tower brace and back, under the auspices of cooling the fluid ('72-73 saw the addition of a cooler just like those on Mopars). That's my guess for the long hose on the '68s - either that, or they didn't have a source for a clamp-on fitting that could step down the 3/8" line to 1/4" - but it still doesn't explain the length. I'm not sure it's long enough to get up to the battery area though.

My '69 Valiant has a factory line from it's Federal pump to the gear, and it's just long enough - not too short or long.

-Kurt

 

[cudak888]

I think I narrowed the fitting to an 6AN to 1/2"-20tpi connector, but really couldn't pin down whether the 6AN fitting would have the correct thread and mate with the 5/16" flared pipe.

As a result, I decided to say the hell with it, and just ordered Bouchillon's "BPE9016F" for $10. It's the cheapest any of the Mopar sellers had it for, and I don't have to worry whether I'll lose another week to the wrong part in the mail.

In the meantime, my 1970-style hose arrived - an Edelmann 70344 for a 1970 Coronet/Belvedere with a Saginaw pump. $18 and change from Amazon. I had to relieve one of the bends in the pipe a bit (probably due to the 1989 Ram Van/Ramcharger-style P/S bracket), but otherwise it'll be a perfect fit once the BPE9016F arrives:

Now to find a darn P/S fluid finned cooler.

-Kurt

 

[idrivemopar]

Why don't you just find a local hydraulic tube and hose shop and have them build you a custom hose, I did that for my 73, and it wasn't much different in price than ordering a new one that was close to correct. Also, regarding the cooler, if you can find one great, but I had to build a custom mount and was able to get a cooler from local parts store that is almost identical to the original.

 

[cudak888]

Why don't you just find a local hydraulic tube and hose shop and have them build you a custom hose, I did that for my 73, and it wasn't much different in price than ordering a new one that was close to correct. Also, regarding the cooler, if you can find one great, but I had to build a custom mount and was able to get a cooler from local parts store that is almost identical to the original.

The local shops still cannot beat the price of the adapter plus the hose. Plus, if the hose ever fails, it's just a parts store away.

The parts store coolers I have found are aluminum. I'd rather solder on a bracket to a brass/copper unit if I can. A Grand Caravan cooler seems to be the best bet.

-Kurt

 

[cudak888]

The BPE fitting arrived today. Works well, and the setup looks as if it came from the factory. '70 Belvedere/Satellite hose is a nice clean fit.

-Kurt