Saginaw Conversion for 82 400

[dirtymac]

I need to replace my steering gearbox (beyond repair) and lower steering shaft.  I'm considering going ahead and doing the Saginaw power steering pump conversion at the same time because  my existing pump is leaking and quite noisy.

I notice on the forums that people have discussed this on other engines and a few people have made the switch.  I have not been able to locate a bracket (no luck with the junkyard econolines).  I also tried Borgeson but they do not sell a bracket or kit for my engine.

I do have A/C.  I'm not sure if that will make a difference in the bracket needed.

[FuzzFace2]

The thing is the bracket for a 400 motor as I dint think any 400's came with that pump.
I know the 300 six in vans used that pump and what we get the brackets from.
So unless someone has done this and post you might be on your own.
Dave  ----

[Gary Lewis]

Lares is placing Saginaw guts in a C2 case so you don't need a different bracket.  You can read about it here.

[85lebaront2]

The question would be, did any of the cars using the 400 come with a Saginaw pump? I know some Lincolns with 460s used Saginaw pumps, I put a Lincoln front dress on a 1971 Mercury 429, primarily to get the GM A6 compressor instead of the York or Tecumseh twin.

[dirtymac]

Is there much difference between the Lares and the Lee?

[ArdWrknTrk]

Correction Gary. The Lares is a NEW C2.  (at least from the linked thread)

"Hello JF,
Yes our part #12338 is a upgraded design which runs quieter than the original OE."
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/lsc-12338


The Lee is a C2 case with Saginaw guts.
https://leepowersteering.com/collections/power-steering-pumps/products/ford-cii-power-steering-pump-replacement

"Our solution to this was to have our own steering pump housing made that takes tried and true Saginaw internals"

[ArdWrknTrk]

I would look at LTD's and Country Squire's from the mid-late '70's

They definitely came with the 400 as a base engine and a 'ham can' PS pump.

[Gary Lewis]

Thanks for correcting me, Jim.

(My excuse is that I came home from Switzerland with COVID and either it or all the drugs I'm taking to counter it has me in a fog.)

[ArdWrknTrk]

Wow, I'm sorry to hear that you've caught Covid again.

Hope you and Janey are back to 100% quickly!  

[Gary Lewis]

Yes, it is again.  Last year about this time we came home from the eastern seaboard with it.  And a couple years before that I came home from the Baltic with something.  Makes you wonder if it is all worth it.

Fortunately Janey hasn't gotten it from me this time.  Probably because she had another booster in June or July.  But I was waiting for the new one, which supposedly was available the day we left but I wasn't going to chance being ill on the trip from it.  As it turns out I was healthy for the trip and got to enjoy it.

[dirtymac]

It looks like both are drop in replacements.  The Lares is half the price of the Lee.  I am curious about the quality and longevity of both.  I am leaning toward the Lee because it is (from my understanding), basically a saginaw and not just a better C2.

[FuzzFace2]

ArdWrknTrk wrote

Wow, I'm sorry to hear that you've caught Covid again.

Hope you and Janey are back to 100% quickly!  

I have a buddy and his wife that got back from Eastern Canada, Main and islands up that way a few weeks ago with Covid also.
Knocked them both out pretty good.

Think I will stay home thank you vary much
Gary take care of your self
Dave ----

[Gary Lewis]

Thanks, Dave.  I'm gradually getting better.

[dirtymac]

It has taken a while to get here but the truck is driving again and now the steering is tight.  If you haven't seen my posts, I decided to do all of this work while I had everything out to replace the harmonic balancer.

I went with the Lee power steering pump and a Bluetop gear box.  I decided to replace the lower steering column with a Borgeson and that also lead to replacing the lower column bearing.  The old column was rough and the bearing was completely shot.  I replaced the hoses and cleaned years of gunk and dirt off of everything.

[Gary Lewis]

Wonderful!  But how does it drive? My recent experience with a Bluetop, Borgeson, and that lower column bearing was amazing.  Just AMAZING!

[dirtymac]

It drives great!  There was a lot of slop in the old steering.  Now the steering is smooth and tight.  Its very responsive.

[Angelo Voltura]

I am in the process of doing this conversion now.

You need the pump mounting bracket from a 460 van. Part number E3UA-3A722-GB or similar. These are far more common than the factory Saginaw pumps on M blocks, which did exist.

You also need an early car/truck M block water pump to PS pump swivel bracket and the aluminum spacer, the spacer is different than the 460 one so you cant use that. The Saginaw pump required is typically labeled as a "GM Type 2 Saginaw" at your local parts store. That pump has the correct mounting pattern on it for the Ford bracket.

It's that simple :)

[BigBrother-84]

dirtymac wrote

I went with the Lee power steering pump and a Bluetop gear box.

That was my plan A, but I discovered that BlueTop does not ship outside continental US.
So I went for the Lee plan + NAPA rebuilt gear box.  Guys told me I was lucky, since a rebuilt box can easily result as a bad experience.

I love the Lee, and my NAPA box is perfect.
I'm a happy lucky guy!

[ArdWrknTrk]

That Borgenson shaft certainly does look a lot like mine.

It's nice that Lee made their pump with an 11/16 shaft so you could use your existing pulley, but man they are proud of that thing!
The old Cardone bracketed Saginaw pump was under $90 outright (as the CII is completely different)

I hope it serves you well for another ~40 years

[Gary Lewis]

Dirtymac - Glad it drives so well.  I think you have a winning combo.  

Welcome back, Angelo.  Or is it Kotter?    Thanks for that info.  Might use it on Dad's truck, although I thought I had the Sag pump mount sorted.  We shall see.