Power steering conversion

[eric8]

Hey I’ve got a 77 c10 with factory manual steering. I want to upgrade to power. I’m looking at a nice serpentine belt system that already has the ps pump in the kit.

My question is, aside from plumbing the lines, is there anything else left to this other than buying a factory steering box for a ps equipped truck? Is all else the same between the two trucks? Steering shaft, etc?

[kipps]

Sometime around 1980, GM switched all these trucks from SAE flare lines to Metric O-ring lines. If you simply buy a 1977 steering gear, you'll have to do more complicated adapting to connect it to the later-model power steering pump.

Buy a steering gear for a 1985-era truck, and use the power steering lines for the 1985 as well. They should work perfectly with the pump on the 1990's serpentine setup.

Seriously consider buying a Redhead steering gear, instead of buying a parts-store steering gear. There is a considerable difference in quality. Redhead boxes have tighter tolerances than cheap boxes, and the result is very noticeable in highway manners.

[eric8]

Ok thanks for all the info!