Pump to use with Hydro boost

[steveh]

Seeking thoughts and options,.

I have had hydro boost in my 70 F350 motor home for about a year now and am quite happy with its… well except for the Thompson / Ford type pump. I know those where not the best… and do find that the steering is a bit tougher after a long run on the highway when the fluids are good and hot.

Knowing that the Thompson / Ford type pump are not the best I was looking to upgrade to either a Saginaw or the new Ford type style of pump ( the one with the white metal pump body and plastic half reservoir used from late 70s and up)

Any thought what is best for the hydro boost set up??? And what others has gone with?

Steve

[Bullitt390]

The Ford Thompson is considered far superior to the later 70s early 80s plastic units.

A lot of guys that run power steering and hydroboost are either retrofitting late 80s Chevy units or Ford Powerstroke units.

Josh

[JG F100]

I used a saginaw pump from an 86 astro van with the remote reservoir, had to modify the existing bracket and get the right offset pulley.

[steveh]

Thanks. Got any pics of how you mounted the pump?

Back to the junk yard I will go.

Steve

[JG F100]

Thanks. Got any pics of how you mounted the pump?

Back to the junk yard I will go.

Steve

I cut the facing off a GM bracket and welded it up to a Ford bracket

[steveh]

Very nice work (on the overall project and this sub project). I was thinking about the same thing but was questing pulley aligment spacing. Do you plan on using the GM pulley. I have AC so i may have to do something slightly different but thought i could adjust the bracket for the pulling alignment.

Thanks for the pics
Steve

[JG F100]

Very nice work (on the overall project and this sub project). I was thinking about the same thing but was questing pulley aligment spacing. Do you plan on using the GM pulley. I have AC so i may have to do something slightly different but thought i could adjust the bracket for the pulling alignment.

Thanks for the pics
Steve

I did use a GM pulley, the first one I bought had too much offset and didnt line up so I went back and got another that looked much flatter and it lined up. It was off some old Pontiac, there were also plenty of dual groove pulleys out there that looked like they would work. Good thing about these pumps is how abundant they are, I could also swap over to a serpentine pulley if I needed to.

[steveh]

Thanks. After looking at those pumps in the pics... it looks like it is the standard Saginaw pump with a different case (Ham Can as someone called it) That makes for lots of pulley possibilities now. And for an easy metal work and welding job.

Thanks for everyone help. I'll post comments when I get this mocked up an in.

Steve

[19FORD67]

you guys are too good. looks great wish I could do that stuff.

[Rusty67]

There was a pump that the Lincolns used in the 70s that had 2 return line bibs on them for the hydroboost and PS setups. I can look into it more if you want, its been a while since I read the article on that.

[steveh]

I know which pump you are speaking of. There were the good Saginaw ones. I think the trouble with the case on those if the filler neck would interfere a bit with the 390 power steering mount. Meaning that you would have to place the pump leaning to the one side about 45 degrees.

The pump that JG F100 used in the same pump.. Just a different case.. and is a great idea.

Guys (and gals) seem to like the Saginaw pumps... and I think that is the way I am going to go.

The original ford Thompson one is ok... but I am seeing it's weeknesses when it get hot...maybe it is just tired... So time for an upgrade.