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Hi All
Im new on this site, just want some ideas for upgrading to power steering on a HQ V8 sedan lowered 2".
My steering is too heavy while parking with 215/55/17 tyres and a smaller steering wheel, all joints are in good condition and I believe the manual steering box is in good condition, it feels good when driving and cornering at normal speeds.
I have the steering linkages disconnect at the moment, when turning the input shaft I measure 3.5 turns lock to lock. The steering arms are standard factory.
I am considering a reconditioned factory Saginaw Power Steering upgrade, what do I need to buy for a complete install, will my manual pitman arm be reusable? can anyone advise were to buy a complete setup from.
I have heard Dr Terry supplies reconditioned Power Steering boxes from this site, is that correct? if so Im interested in buying one
Thanks to everyone for reading this post and for any information or help on this topic
Cheers Chris
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You need: Power steering box with steering arm attached. Rag joint from box to column. Power steering pump and bracket plus spacers and bolts. Two row pulley, inner rib is for power steering, front one is for alternator. You can use a 3 row but it has to be off HQ-WB, I think the later cast iron ones off injected 5.0L ones work too. The power steer pulley is hard up against the harmonic balancer. High pressure hose with fittings and a return hose (held with clamps). Belt. Best off buying the whole conversion and getting the boxes and pumps recoed. Dr Terry used to get these rebuilt, he will respond when he sees this. You can buy a whole 6cyl kit too, just change the pump brackets. Being a HQ you shoudl already have the correct steering arms. You can buy the parts too, examples: https://www.ebay.com.au/...%3D%7Ctkp%3ABFBM-sm54oJnhttps://www.ebay.com.au/...D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_rJueKCZwhttps://www.ebay.com.au/...D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_rJueKCZwhttps://www.ebay.com.au/...D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_zJueKCZwhttps://www.ebay.com.au/...D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_zJueKCZw |
_______________________________________________________ If we all had the same (good) taste, who would buy all the Fords? |
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Originally Posted by: HK1837  You need:
Power steering box with steering arm attached. Rag joint from box to column. Power steering pump and bracket plus spacers and bolts. Two row pulley, inner rib is for power steering, front one is for alternator. You can use a 3 row but it has to be off HQ-WB, I think the later cast iron ones off injected 5.0L ones work too. The power steer pulley is hard up against the harmonic balancer.
High pressure hose with fittings and a return hose (held with clamps). Belt.
Best off buying the whole conversion and getting the boxes and pumps recoed. Dr Terry used to get these rebuilt, he will respond when he sees this. You can buy a whole 6cyl kit too, just change the pump brackets. Being a HQ you should already have the correct steering arms.
You can buy the parts too, examples:
Thanks HK I have added your ebay links to my watch list on ebay, thats very helpful The rag joint must be different is it the spline or the lenght? At present Im reconditing the engine and having the complete rotating assembly balanced with the original 1 row pulley, do you think the 2 row pulley will make much difference to the balance or should i get a 2 row pulley asap and supply it to the machine shop, any idea were I can buy one from? I just noticed my manual box has cast onto it 2810037 and 19 in bigger letters next to it, does the 3.5 turns lock to lock sound correct to you? Thanks Again Edited by user Monday, 2 February 2026 7:16:07 AM(UTC)
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2810037 might just be the bare casting number, the steering box numbers as assemblies are 2815354 and 2816415. There are two manual steering boxes for HQ-HZ. With the short arms in HQ and HJ they are 20:1 and 16.7:1. When the longer arms came in for HX and HZ they become 25:1 and 20:1. It was really only GTS that got the lower ratio boxes. The HQ Engineering Tech Specs show the 16.7:1 steering as 3.07 turns lock to lock, and 20:1 as 3.68 turns lock to lock. HX shows 5:1 turns but doesn't show the 16.7 ratio's turns although it is in there as an option. HZ shows 5.2 turns lock to lock. |
_______________________________________________________ If we all had the same (good) taste, who would buy all the Fords? |
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Thanks HK
That explains it well, sounds like I have the 20:1 ratio.
Any idea were I can buy a 2 row crank pulley to suit the power steering, I have searched the net but unable to find one
Cheers
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You’ll just have to keep looking. Plenty if HQ to WB V8 made with power steering. |
_______________________________________________________ If we all had the same (good) taste, who would buy all the Fords? |
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Or the other alternative is to go electric power steering. https://advancedtrackand....au/products/atr-bracketNo 2 row pulley needed.
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Originally Posted by: Hq 253 Owner  Hi All
Im new on this site, just want some ideas for upgrading to power steering on a HQ V8 sedan lowered 2".
My steering is too heavy while parking with 215/55/17 tyres and a smaller steering wheel, all joints are in good condition and I believe the manual steering box is in good condition, it feels good when driving and cornering at normal speeds.
I have the steering linkages disconnect at the moment, when turning the input shaft I measure 3.5 turns lock to lock. The steering arms are standard factory.
I am considering a reconditioned factory Saginaw Power Steering upgrade, what do I need to buy for a complete install, will my manual pitman arm be reusable? can anyone advise were to buy a complete setup from.
I have heard Dr Terry supplies reconditioned Power Steering boxes from this site, is that correct? if so Im interested in buying one
Thanks to everyone for reading this post and for any information or help on this topic
Cheers Chris
With manual steering, wide tyres, and a small steering wheel, it’s normal for your HQ to feel heavy when parking. The best fix is upgrading to a factory Saginaw power steering box. You will need: power steering box, pump, hoses, brackets, and a power steering pitman arm (your manual one won’t fit). Dr Terry supplies reconditioned boxes and is a reliable option. After installation, the steering will feel much lighter and smoother, especially at low speeds
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You can use the triple row pulley as well. It’s probably easier to find than the two row one.
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Originally Posted by: wbute  You can use the triple row pulley as well. It’s probably easier to find than the two row one. I gave him that detail in the 2nd post, about the 5th line down. Has to be HQ-WB 3 row or the big, heavy cast VN-VS one. Not VB-VL. |
_______________________________________________________ If we all had the same (good) taste, who would buy all the Fords? |
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Hi Guys. Sorry but I no longer overhaul power steering units, I closed that section of the business nearly 10 years ago. To answer the other queries, yes the rag joint for the power box is different to the manual & you will find V8 brackets & pulleys much easier to obtain than 6-cyl ones, as so many Statesmans had them as standard & they were all 308s (except for the early HQ base model).
On another topic the "factory" power steering box fitted to HQ-WB series Holdens is an Australian made Bendix-Bishop variable ratio box, which IMHO is superior to the Saginaw units we see in imported US GM cars.
The old ram system fitted to HK-HG Holdens & all the power pumps fitted to Holdens were made by Saginaw.
Dr Terry |
If at first you don't succeed, just call it Version 1.0 |
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