OK guys, I just installed a Volvo 160 steering box in my 49 Shoebox. and the pump is from a 65 Fairlane. SBF powered. I just started it and the steering wheel is jerking back and forth violently? when idling. it seems to be timed with the idle. what’s going on ?
OK here’s a thought , i’m not familiar with fords. would a 1965 Fairlane engine rotate the same direction as a 5.0 ? If so, would this possibly be the issue ? pump turning backwards ??
Did that to a Corvette once, scary reachng in to shut key off behind wildly oscilating steering wheel.. In my case it was reversed hoses that caused the issue. Easy error to make with a slave cylinder power assist, which I guess your isn't.
The pump may need a reducer to cut the pressure down, these are common items, easily found. Do some research first to see if others have run across the same issue with the swap. Do the hose thing first.
I've had that happen too, on a power ram or power assist system as used on Fords and Chevys. The left/right hoses can be switched. This seems to be an integral box. Swapping the pressure and return may be the issue, but found this thread on the boxes. Had not heard of this swap before. Hope this helps. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/tech-volvo-steering-in-a-shoebox-ford-made-ez.253457/
OK i’m stumped ? there’s no air in that lines. and this Volvo box has 2different size banjo fittings on it. I’m assuming the larger one is High pressure ? my set up had a pressure line made up that only fits to the larger banjo fitting on the box.
High pressure line is probably the smaller one. The low side needs to flow the same amount at a lower pressure hence the larger bore.
https://streettechmag.com/2015/03/25/shoebox-ford-tech-installing-a-volvo-gearbox-in-a-49-51-ford/ "the Series 160 unit is for you, which is basically the same box as the 140, but with an added power-assist case bolted on the input shaft side." Okay, this is a power assist. I'd say the issue is the add-on box at the top. Either the valving is wacky or as others have said, the hoses need to be swapped. What happens is the valves sense a left turn and applies fluid (wrongly) to the right turn side, then abruptly senses a right turn and applies (wrongly) to left. Violent side to side steering action. More info https://www.borgeson.com/instructions/999062.pdf
OK I’m getting somewhere. Farman offers an adapter kit to convert to AN fittings. they appears to both be the same. mine are different sizes, and the premade lines i have are made so that the high pressure connects to the larger port. witch seems to be backwards ? maybe my box has been modified ?
Take your lines to a hydraulic repair shop. Equipment dealers or large parts stores usually have hydraulic hose and fittings and the crimping machine to make hoses. They will likely be able to make a hose. If your existing hoses are long enough, you might get away with cutting the fitting off and crimping on a new one. They might also have adapters that would work. Is your Volvo pump metric? If so, you need to make sure the threads match. Keep that in mind if you order the adapters you mentioned. There's enough foreign stuff around now so it's usually not hard to find metric fittings.
As mentioned earlier the larger port is the return. It has to flow the same volume as the feed but at a lower pressure.
Can they just switch the fittings on the steering box ends? I recently needed a custom hose for a late model pump, the small one.........to run to a hydroboost set-up. Bought a premade hose with fittings on both ends. Figured I'd then have the special long fitting for the pump and could cut the hose and make a new tube and fitting for the opposite end. Apparently the Weatherhead brand was the go-to for the proper crimp style fitting, and most companies that make hoses don't carry them anymore. I went to a place that does tool repairs and they told me they wouldn't do it because of liabilities and they didn't have the parts anyway. Sent me to the nearby Parker store. They didn't do that style of fitting, and they had also bought out the store that used to do Weatherhead and converted it to Parker. They sent me to another place that I never found. I then stopped at the NAPA store, and they still did Weatherhead.......BUT, they were out of the fitting needed and didn't know if/when they might get some. Sent me to another NAPA store that did a lot of hoses because they were in a farming area. Nope, no Weatherhead......BUT directed me to another small company that was only about a mile from my house. They couldn't help either. So I gave up on that idea and bought another ready made hose with longer metal ends and I was able to cut the metal tube (unlike before when I cut the rubber hose). The metal part had a straight section as it exited the hose. I cut the metal tube off and removed the fitting. Then I put the fitting I needed back on the metal tube and made a push connect type bead at the end.........then tube benders to reform the tube as needed. Worked out great. The premade hoses are available from Rock Auto or Amazon. On Amazon you can see the shape of the hose but length is a guess........but its a lot cheaper than getting a hose made from scratch.
The problem was what most people were saying. the lines were backwards. I could not see this due to the fact that my lines were already made up to fit the box with the the different sized banjo fittings. I could not see past that not realizing that they were made incorrectly. i’ve Ordered the correct fittings 16 and 18 mm to 6an fittings and will be having a new 6an 90 installed on my pressure line and return. Thanks for all the input, much appreciated!!
Alright guys I have it working great. I ordered some fittings for the box 14mm to 6an and 16mm to 6an. then had a new hose made for high pressure line. All Good!! Thanks for all the great input..
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