Hey guys, just have a quick question about the 79 grand prix. I just wanted to know if the sj model came with the F41 package too. I have the a factory sway bar, and the 4 bolt cover on the steering box also.
1979 F41 suspension question
- Thread starter Tony_SS
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As I was pointing out, the 4 bolt cover is irrelevant. If you have the factory rear sway bar in addition to the 1.25in front, you have the F41 package.
Also remember that the output shaft is differant on some boxes as well ,some are larger ,ran into that on a swap one day ,can't remember where though ,think it was a differance between a f body box and a b body steering box. and also there is a place that makes drop in inserts to use flared lines in a o ring box.
Lee Manufacturing
1661 Pendelton St.
Sun Valley, Ca. 91352
(818) 768-0371 (talk to Tom Lee or his wife)
"POWER STEERING PUMP – PRESSURES AND FLOWS
Where the Saginaw model 700 gear is known for its longevity, the Saginaw power steering P-pump has been around an equally long time. You most likely want to use your original pump with its reservoir and pulley. The good news is that your power steering pump can be quite easily upgraded for pressure and flow to work with your new fast ratio gear. The fitting on the back of the pump regulates the amount of oil flow from the pump. The flow control plunger, (which is inside the pump directly behind the fitting) controls the pressure relief. These parts are very interchangeable between various Saginaw P-pumps.
The Chevelle power steering pumps (before 1970) had relatively low pressure relief settings (950 psi). With modern wide tires and a fast steering ratio steering gear, you will probably want to increase the pressure relief setting of your pump. 1970 and later pumps had pressure relief settings of 1400 psi, so they should be very adequate.
Also, from 1964 through 1969 the Chevrolet power steering pump outlet incorporated a male fitting and therefore required a pressure hose with a female nut to connect to it. Starting in 1970 the fitting was converted to a 5/8-18 UNF female port with a 45 degree flare seat (the same as the rest of GM). Since your new fast ratio gear has metric ports you might even consider getting rid of either of the previous fittings that you have in your original pump and converting to a 16x1.5mm metric discharge fitting as well.
If you can obtain the pump that originally came with your fast ratio steering gear, this is the safest and best approach toward obtaining the discharge fitting and the flow control plunger that will give adequate flows and pressures for your steering system.
Another approach is find a P-pump used in Chevrolet and GMC C/K trucks that were built after 1979. Also the new lines of GM light duty pickups and SUV vehicles have P-pumps that can be used. These are the trucks with Chevrolet 4.3L V6, small block, or big block V8s. These pumps will all have 16x1.5mm metric discharge fittings.
However, if you have an early P-pump (1964 through 1969) and still want a 5/8-18 UNF female fitting with a 1400 psi pressure relief , you will need to find a P-pump from a 1976 through 1979 four wheel drive K-truck (not the two wheel drive C-truck).
Once you have the pump that you want, you will need to remove the discharge fitting that screws into the back of the pump. Then, you need to probe inside the discharge cavity and using a magnet or just tipping the pump you should be able to remove the flow control plunger (See Figure #3). This is the device that sets the pressure relief and it will interchange right into your original pump. First assemble the spring then the flow control plunger. Note, make sure that you orient the plunger so that the screen side of the plunger goes into the pump first (nest to the spring).
POWER STEERING HOSES
I don’t have any expertise with aftermarket power steering hoses. So I am not familiar with what types of end configurations, bends, etc that are available. If you are able to get the set of hoses from the vehicle that supplied your fast ratio gear, you might get lucky. They just might fit your car!!!
The most straightforward approach would be to use power steering hoses with metric fittings that screw directly into the ports of your fast ratio gear. Modify your pump as described earlier to also use a metric female discharge fitting.
However, there is another alternative. Lee Manufacturing sells small aluminum inserts that can be press fitted into steering gears with metric pressure and return ports. You use the original hoses with the 11/16-18 UNS and 5/8-18 UNF nuts and 45 degree flared ends. Since the metric and conventional threads are very close to each other you will find that the 5/8 nut screws very easily into the 16mm port, the 11/16 nut may need a little persuasion but it also will screw into the 18mm port. The face of the insert is cut at a 45 degree angle, so the old hoses will seal against it. There are two different inserts (#40620 - pressure) and #40630 - return) and he sells them at a reasonable price.
good artical here too.
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/techa ... index.html
Lee Manufacturing
1661 Pendelton St.
Sun Valley, Ca. 91352
(818) 768-0371 (talk to Tom Lee or his wife)
"POWER STEERING PUMP – PRESSURES AND FLOWS
Where the Saginaw model 700 gear is known for its longevity, the Saginaw power steering P-pump has been around an equally long time. You most likely want to use your original pump with its reservoir and pulley. The good news is that your power steering pump can be quite easily upgraded for pressure and flow to work with your new fast ratio gear. The fitting on the back of the pump regulates the amount of oil flow from the pump. The flow control plunger, (which is inside the pump directly behind the fitting) controls the pressure relief. These parts are very interchangeable between various Saginaw P-pumps.
The Chevelle power steering pumps (before 1970) had relatively low pressure relief settings (950 psi). With modern wide tires and a fast steering ratio steering gear, you will probably want to increase the pressure relief setting of your pump. 1970 and later pumps had pressure relief settings of 1400 psi, so they should be very adequate.
Also, from 1964 through 1969 the Chevrolet power steering pump outlet incorporated a male fitting and therefore required a pressure hose with a female nut to connect to it. Starting in 1970 the fitting was converted to a 5/8-18 UNF female port with a 45 degree flare seat (the same as the rest of GM). Since your new fast ratio gear has metric ports you might even consider getting rid of either of the previous fittings that you have in your original pump and converting to a 16x1.5mm metric discharge fitting as well.
If you can obtain the pump that originally came with your fast ratio steering gear, this is the safest and best approach toward obtaining the discharge fitting and the flow control plunger that will give adequate flows and pressures for your steering system.
Another approach is find a P-pump used in Chevrolet and GMC C/K trucks that were built after 1979. Also the new lines of GM light duty pickups and SUV vehicles have P-pumps that can be used. These are the trucks with Chevrolet 4.3L V6, small block, or big block V8s. These pumps will all have 16x1.5mm metric discharge fittings.
However, if you have an early P-pump (1964 through 1969) and still want a 5/8-18 UNF female fitting with a 1400 psi pressure relief , you will need to find a P-pump from a 1976 through 1979 four wheel drive K-truck (not the two wheel drive C-truck).
Once you have the pump that you want, you will need to remove the discharge fitting that screws into the back of the pump. Then, you need to probe inside the discharge cavity and using a magnet or just tipping the pump you should be able to remove the flow control plunger (See Figure #3). This is the device that sets the pressure relief and it will interchange right into your original pump. First assemble the spring then the flow control plunger. Note, make sure that you orient the plunger so that the screen side of the plunger goes into the pump first (nest to the spring).
POWER STEERING HOSES
I don’t have any expertise with aftermarket power steering hoses. So I am not familiar with what types of end configurations, bends, etc that are available. If you are able to get the set of hoses from the vehicle that supplied your fast ratio gear, you might get lucky. They just might fit your car!!!
The most straightforward approach would be to use power steering hoses with metric fittings that screw directly into the ports of your fast ratio gear. Modify your pump as described earlier to also use a metric female discharge fitting.
However, there is another alternative. Lee Manufacturing sells small aluminum inserts that can be press fitted into steering gears with metric pressure and return ports. You use the original hoses with the 11/16-18 UNS and 5/8-18 UNF nuts and 45 degree flared ends. Since the metric and conventional threads are very close to each other you will find that the 5/8 nut screws very easily into the 16mm port, the 11/16 nut may need a little persuasion but it also will screw into the 18mm port. The face of the insert is cut at a 45 degree angle, so the old hoses will seal against it. There are two different inserts (#40620 - pressure) and #40630 - return) and he sells them at a reasonable price.
good artical here too.
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/techa ... index.html
since we are on the subject of f41... were there different sway bars for different years/models? i have a sway bar for my regal that i pulled off a 78-79 grand prix and my 84 cutty has f41 but it doesnt seam to be as thick....?
If we're talking FRONT sway bar, the 78-80 Grand Prix alone had three different diameters....1 1/16", 1 1/8". and 1 1/4" (Rally).
The REAR got you a 3/4" as an option or 7/8" for Rally.....per GM Pontiac parts manual.
Chevy had the same, plus skinnier ones for the six cylinder models.
The REAR got you a 3/4" as an option or 7/8" for Rally.....per GM Pontiac parts manual.
Chevy had the same, plus skinnier ones for the six cylinder models.
i think i may have ended up with the ralley ones then, my one set is huge, comparable to the f body hollow sway bar and the rear is larger then the one on my cutty. thanks for the info!
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