i have checking on a hydroboost system for my 1939 chevy 1.5 ton truck . at 1st i thought about Electric Power Steering , for my needs that are somewhat different and to many variables that i am uncomfortable with . i have received great information with pictures detailing every step , from all of you Stovebolters . thank you
i have been measuring for space in the engine compartment , so far the hydroboost might fit . i would have room for the brake and clutch master cylinder , creative mounting of the power steering pump .
the power steering gearbox is the next challenge . i am still in the planning stage . has anyone used the hydroboost system ?
yes , i am researching hydroboost for my 1939 chevy truck . i am checking the space available for the power steering pump and power steering gearbox , the pump location i can be
a creative mounting install .
the power steering gear box looks to be the biggest challenge , finding the correct match for the 1939 steering design ?
Look at power steering boxes for certain models of Toyota Land Cruiser. They're almost a clone of an early Chevy truck box, but with power assist built in.
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Not sure anything about what you are doing with a hydro boost. I have 2 ton with hydro boost and it is mounted under the cab on the frame. Not in the engine compartment. There is also supposed to be like a 2 foot vacuum reservoir tank also on the frame.
Ppacker, what you have is called a hydro-vac. It uses vacuum from the engine for boosting the brake application - really a vacuum powered booster. A hydroboost uses power steering pump fluid power instead of vacuum to boost the brake application. If you used the same terminology as a hydro-vac, a hydroboost would be called a hydro-hydro.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
I don't know about other brands of trucks, my 2011 Chevrolet 2500HD has Hydro boost, the heavier duty pickups that are factory trailer packages have the Hydro boost, as well as all of the diesels since they don't produce engine vacuum.
1957 Chevrolet 5700 LCF 283 SM420 2 speed rear, 1955 IH 300U T/A, 1978 Corvette 350 auto, 1978 Yamaha DT175, 1999 Harley Davidson Softail Fat Boy
The only disadvantage to that system becomes obvious in case the engine stalls for some reason. Then both steering and braking becomes a "phase 10 panic" situation. Some of the Ford medium duty truck hydraulic boost systems used a battery-powered hydraulic pump for emergency braking- - - -not sure if it also helped steer. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
You have the same problem with a vacuum assist. If the engine stalls, you lose vacuum.
GM has used electric backup hydraulic pumps as well. I toyed with the idea of trying to rig up a system with just the electric backup, but it is only specced to run for a few seconds at a time and they are expensive enough that I didn't want to risk burning it out trying to run it continuously.
On the electric hummvee that I built, I used an electric hydraulic pump to feed the steering and that worked well. The pump was *very* expensive though.
School busses have fully electric back up brakes At least the old junk ones on my farm do I investigated the electric unit on one of my 2006 model busses as a possible brake system for a truck As soon as you turn the key on you hear the electric brake prime itself for a few seconds and then the pedal is nice and easy going to help the driver stop the huge 48 passenger metal box with a delicate foot. On a side note it is powered by an 8.3L Navistar 444, wondered if that could be shoe horned into an AD truck too lol -s
There's enough room on the frame rails of most big rigs to hang a good-sized vacuum reservoir tank- - - -or maybe more than one. I like to use recycled Freon tanks. With a one way check valve between the intake manifold and the reservoir(s), there's enough vacuum for several brake applications. Vacuum wipers and/or an older 2 speed rear end can also benefit from having plenty of stored vacuum on tap. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Jerry, that is what I did when I swapped my single speed rear pig for a 2 speed. The original 1/2" steel vacuum line has a factory tee and an access hole in the frame rail, added a refrigerant tank, tee to the 2 speed selector, all is good.
1957 Chevrolet 5700 LCF 283 SM420 2 speed rear, 1955 IH 300U T/A, 1978 Corvette 350 auto, 1978 Yamaha DT175, 1999 Harley Davidson Softail Fat Boy
I have a hydro boost on my 454-powered '98, 2500 Suburban. I like the way it works and there's enough boost to heat the brakes when pulling a trailer with little effort. But installing a steering pump in my already crowded engine compartment on the 1-ton isn't an attractive option. It will require a complete revamp of the brackets for the alternator and A/C compressor, preferably with the steering pump on the ignition side of the engine.
Years ago I added a vacuum reservoir to my 1-ton. Originally it was to power the vacuum wipers and the hydrovac and incidentally the vacuum controls for the HVAC system and cruise control. I used an air tank for a semi trailer, bought new and was inexpensive. Hung it on the driver's side frame rail and plumbed in some flexible 5/8 copper tube over to the hydrovac on the other side of the frame where the factory put the hydrovac. Didn't even have to drill any new holes, thankfully. I added a check valve to the inlet manifold side. No longer have the vacuum wipers or vacuum cruise but I'm glad to have the extra vacuum. With the engine off I can hear the sucking from the hydrovac down in the corner of the cab for several brake applications.
1951 3800 1-ton "Earning its keep from the get-go" In the DITY Gallery 1962 261 (w/cam, Fenton headers, 2 carbs, MSD ign.), SM420 & Brown-Lipe 6231A 3spd aux. trans, stock axles & brakes. Owned since 1971.
I have a Hydroboost on my half ton GMC. Works well.
I sourced the unit off of an Astrovan in the junkyard - was about $15 about five or six years ago. I ran it for a while with no problems, but recently put a rebuild kit in it from Pirate Jacks (about $50)
The accumulator on the Astrovan Hydroboost is good for about two stops without the motor running. It'll stop without the booster, but it requires quite a bit of pedal force.
Mine is mounted on the frame rail on a bracket I bought off of ebay that the Hydroboost attaches to. The unit connects to the factory pedal set via a rod about 15" long which puts my brake master under the driver's seat. The brake pedal arm was modified to have the correct 'pedal ratio' for a brake system with a booster. I also shortened the pedal in the cab to make it a bit more 'ergonomic'
I run a GM 'ham can' power steering pump with an extra fitting welded on the reservoir for the return from the Hydroboost. I converted all the fittings on the Hydroboost to JIC/AN so I can use regular hydraulic hose/fittings.
