LT1 power steering help needed

[57kansastruck]

I installed a LT1 in a 1957 3100. When I got the truck, it had a coil front suspension and rack and pinion already installed. I was told it was a Mustang 2. I don't believe that is correct. It has 11 inch rotors with 5x4 1/2 bolt patten. But I bought new Mustang 2, Chevy bolt pattern rotors and they wouldn't fit the spindles. I honestly have no idea what the donor vehicle was. When I installed the engine, the LT1 power steering lines are metric and the power rack is standard. I got the correct fitting for the rack and flared the fitting on. At the time I honestly assumed the larger of the two fittings went to the pressure side.
Today I installed the reservoir and filled it. I started the engine and the wheel turned by itself all the way to the right. The pump started whining so I shut it off. I assumed that I reversed the hoses by mistake. I crawled under the truck and switched the hoses. I filled it and started the engine. This time the wheels turned by itself all the way to the left. The pump whined and I immediately shut it off.
After investigating the Internet, apparently I was supposed to bleed the rack by turning the wheel lock to lock several times with the vehicle jacked up. I didn't know this.
Anyone have anything like this happen to them before? Should I reverse the hoses again? I don't believe I've hurt anything at this point. Should I bleed the rack first? How do i tell which is the high pressure hose input? I don't know the next step and appreciate any advice or instruction. The first pic is the way I installed the hoses, with the high pressure hose on the left. The second pic is after I reversed them. Thanks for any help. Jason

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by 57kansastruck

I installed a LT1 in a 1957 3100. When I got the truck, it had a coil front suspension and rack and pinion already installed. I was told it was a Mustang 2. I don't believe that is correct. It has 11 inch rotors with 5x4 1/2 bolt patten. But I bought new Mustang 2, Chevy bolt pattern rotors and they wouldn't fit the spindles. I honestly have no idea what the donor vehicle was. When I installed the engine, the LT1 power steering lines are metric and the power rack is standard. I got the correct fitting for the rack and flared the fitting on. At the time I honestly assumed the larger of the two fittings went to the pressure side.
Today I installed the reservoir and filled it. I started the engine and the wheel turned by itself all the way to the right. The pump started whining so I shut it off. I assumed that I reversed the hoses by mistake. I crawled under the truck and switched the hoses. I filled it and started the engine. This time the wheels turned by itself all the way to the left. The pump whined and I immediately shut it off.
After investigating the Internet, apparently I was supposed to bleed the rack by turning the wheel lock to lock several times with the vehicle jacked up. I didn't know this.
Anyone have anything like this happen to them before? Should I reverse the hoses again? I don't believe I've hurt anything at this point. Should I bleed the rack first? How do i tell which is the high pressure hose input? I don't know the next step and appreciate any advice or instruction. The first pic is the way I installed the hoses, with the high pressure hose on the left. The second pic is after I reversed them. Thanks for any help. Jason

I have an LT1 using and older GM rack. I made my own hoses using SS hose with fittings. I then got fittings that screwed into the rack to match up with the hoses. You definently need to bleed your rack. Fill it up with the cap off and the wheels off the ground turn it lock to lock several times until you no longer see any bubbles. I would go back to your original hose configuration (the first time you had them hooked up). I can tell you coming out of the LT1 pump what is your hi-pressure side and if you tell me what rack you are using we can try to figure out what the high side is of the rack to confirm that you have the lines hooked up right.

After you have bleed, with the cap off start the engine and again turn lock to lock several times to fully bleed the pump. Top off and re-cap.

Marc