73 Jeep J4000 power steering

[kmart98]

My stock 73 Jeep J4000 is currently setup with manual steering. I would love to convert it over to power steering, since this thing is harder to control than my red headed pre-teen daughter. Does anyone have suggestions on components needed or where I can find them? Would I be better off just trying to find the parts from a donor or try to purchase all new/used components? I've tried to do some searching around for the different things - pump, reservoir, steering box, etc. but I'm afraid of spending a bunch of money for the wrong parts. I would appreciate any guidance anyone has. Engine is a 360 V8, 3 speed manual trans.

[tgreese]

This topic has been covered a lot here and at IFSJA - you should search and read old posts.

https://www.bing.com/search?q=site%3Afs ... conversion

Substitute ifsja.org for fsjnetwork.com to find a lot more info. A search like this will work on Google too, and I presume on other search engines.

The most reliable way to get the right parts is to look at the factory parts book for the parts you need and buy what matches the factory part numbers. Free to read and download on the Tom COllins site: https://oljeep.com/edge_parts_man.html

A '73 should have the later water pump, not this pump for '68-72 https://www.theamcforum.com/FORUM/6872- ... 98457.html The later pump has a bigger bearing and looks like this https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.ph ... 08&jsn=415 If you have this later pump, you should be able to get brackets and pulleys off any subsequent AMC V8 and they will line up.

The pump is a GM commodity pump - go used, new or rebuilt as you prefer. There is a pump for flare fittings and a later pump for o-ring fittings. They are the same except for the o-ring conversion fitting that screws into the back of the pump. Your hoses and steering gear have to be either flare or o-ring type.

You'll need hoses and I believe the flex coupling is different for manual steering. Suggest you pick new aftermarket hoses for this application, or for a later FSJ if you choose o-ring type. Plus you choice of power steering gear - many different Saginaw gears will work. The manual and power gears are both Saginaw, and bolt in for each other. Lots of discussion in old posts.

First post! Welcome from Boston.

[Srdayflyer]

recommend you buy a rebuilt steering box, replaced my cherokee box and rag joint , due to the unknown mileage but known age of 40 years and leakage ,figured to be safe $145.00 at advance auto for the box, and 40.00 for the rag joint, put power steering in my cj with used parts, very bad mistake, not only did i have to do the work twice,i almost killed myself when the used gear box failed at 65 mph, just my recommendation.

[kmart98]

Thank you Tim. I will take a look around.

This topic has been covered a lot here and at IFSJA - you should search and read old posts.

https://www.bing.com/search?q=site%3Afs ... conversion

Substitute ifsja.org for fsjnetwork.com to find a lot more info. A search like this will work on Google too, and I presume on other search engines.

The most reliable way to get the right parts is to look at the factory parts book for the parts you need and buy what matches the factory part numbers. Free to read and download on the Tom COllins site: https://oljeep.com/edge_parts_man.html

A '73 should have the later water pump, not this pump for '68-72 https://www.theamcforum.com/FORUM/6872- ... 98457.html The later pump has a bigger bearing and looks like this https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.ph ... 08&jsn=415 If you have this later pump, you should be able to get brackets and pulleys off any subsequent AMC V8 and they will line up.

The pump is a GM commodity pump - go used, new or rebuilt as you prefer. There is a pump for flare fittings and a later pump for o-ring fittings. They are the same except for the o-ring conversion fitting that screws into the back of the pump. Your hoses and steering gear have to be either flare or o-ring type.

You'll need hoses and I believe the flex coupling is different for manual steering. Suggest you pick new aftermarket hoses for this application, or for a later FSJ if you choose o-ring type. Plus you choice of power steering gear - many different Saginaw gears will work. The manual and power gears are both Saginaw, and bolt in for each other. Lots of discussion in old posts.

First post! Welcome from Boston.

[kmart98]

Thanks for the tip. That sounds horrible...and yes I'd prefer not to have to do the work twice.

recommend you buy a rebuilt steering box, replaced my cherokee box and rag joint , due to the unknown mileage but known age of 40 years and leakage ,figured to be safe $145.00 at advance auto for the box, and 40.00 for the rag joint, put power steering in my cj with used parts, very bad mistake, not only did i have to do the work twice,i almost killed myself when the used gear box failed at 65 mph, just my recommendation.

[tgreese]

I think Srdayflyer is right about a new or rebuilt steering gear, if you go with a period-correct part. You can buy a new repop for exactly your application.

A gear from a S10/Blazer/Jimmy/Bravada 4x4 is a popular junkyard swap. The 4x4 gear has a ratio more suitable for big tires, and these newer gears do not wear out like a used gear from the era. Supposedly ... worth investigating in old posts.