Hey. After swapping in the buick 350 into my 84 Olds Cutlass I am left with a little problem. I have metric fittings in the steering box and SAE fittings on the pump. Are there any adapter fittings out there? If so where would I get them? Thanks any help would be REALLY appreciated. Jason
The fittings in the back of the pump will interchange. Just remove the fitting and replace it with the metric fitting from the newer pump.
There is a place that sells the adapter bushings when switching to a quick ratio box into older cars. If you do a search here for quick ration box, there should be a reference and/or link to them. I believe they're about $25 for the pair. Found the thread easy. Here's the link: http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=55808&highlight=steering+box+conversion Here's also the info on the company that makes those bushings: 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. Lee Manufacturing 11661 Pendelton St. Sun Valley, CA 91352 818-768-0371 (talk to Tom Lee or his wife) As described in the pump section, you can also quite easily modify your pump for either a female 16x1.5mm o-ring port or to a female 5/8-18 UNF 45 degree flare port by finding the appropriate pickup truck P-pump.
