Completed Project 98 Mountaineer SAS...

[turboexplorer]

So it felt like you almost had to turn against the turn and not as much pressure to turn with the turn. That would feel weird. Bet its wicked fun off road though!

 

[Stang5lgt]

So it felt like you almost had to turn against the turn and not as much pressure to turn with the turn. That would feel weird. Bet its wicked fun off road though!

Yeah it is a little different. Around town it works good. Feels weird cause it takes no effort to turn the wheel. Going wheeling this weekend. Get to try it out.

 

[TarHeel085]

Feels pretty good. The assist is kinda spooky on the highway cause if you turn the wheel a little it wants to push. Think the old 20:1 box would have been a little better with hydro cause it won't turn as fast giving me a little more leverage. I think I just need to get used to it. Been driving it with 20:1 for so long it just feels weird with the new box.

I am still running factory pump. I ordered a 97 Ford Escort PS pump pulley looks like it will fit and is about 3/4" smaller diameter then the Merc has now. Should be here in couple days.

Merc pulley just under 5 1/4"
Escort pulley right at 4 1/2"

So math master what % of speed am I gaining?

im interested to see how thats going to work, I need more pressure but dont wanna experiment with the west texas mod, this seems like a better solution.

in case anyone wants to get real specific the escort pump is 4.5156" and the explorer pump is 5.2187"

i might just pick one up, they are only $12 and the local advace has one.

 

[Stang5lgt]

im interested to see how thats going to work, I need more pressure but dont wanna experiment with the west texas mod, this seems like a better solution.

in case anyone wants to get real specific the escort pump is 4.5156" and the explorer pump is 5.2187"

i might just pick one up, they are only $12. is it a direct bolt on?

Looks to be a direct bolt. Ordered mine last at Autozone. So I hope it works or I can make it work.

I got rid of some of spooky feeling by tighting the crap out my tie rod jam nuts. It had worked the loose and the tie rod was spining when the hydro would move.

You can forget about death wobble and bump steer with this setup there is none. Totally amazing. I dig it big time.

 

[TarHeel085]

its looks like the bolt pattern is the same, im worried about offset, i looked them both up and it looks slightly different.

like i said, i might just get it, its only 10 minutes to replace it.

 

[Stang5lgt]

its looks like the bolt pattern is the same, im worried about offset, i looked them both up and it looks slightly different.

like i said, i might just get it, its only 10 minutes to replace it.

Yeah I noticed that too. But I figured for 12 bucks it was worth a shot.

 

[TarHeel085]

offset looks too damn close to call. one problem, the center bore on the explorer pulley is 1.14" and the escort pulley is 1" exactly. im going to dry and bore out the escort one .14" and put it on. shouldnt be too difficult.

here they are side by side

EDIT: issue #2, the holes dont line up, looks like a no go.

 

[Stang5lgt]

offset looks too damn close to call. one problem, the center bore on the explorer pulley is 1.14" and the escort pulley is 1" exactly. im going to dry and bore out the escort one .14" and put it on. shouldnt be too difficult.

here they are side by side

EDIT: issue #2, the holes dont line up, looks like a no go.

I will make mine work. Wait and see.

 

[Stang5lgt]

Unibit, die grinder, and dremel. My Escort pulley works like a champ! I can feel the difference at idle love it. I will post up pics when I get home.

 

[Stang5lgt]

Here we go.

Both pulleys this is spare setup I had from used Explorer motor I picked up awhile ago.

Stock pulley clearance...

Escort pulley clearance...

I oblonged the 3 holes with a dremel to fit doesn't take much. And the center hole I drilled out with 1 1/8" uni bit and clearanced it a little more with die grinder.

Installed and works like a champ.

Whole job took me about 30-45 mins.

 

[gmanpaint]

So how much better is it at idle now? I seen where you stated it is better, but by how much? 10%, 15%, etc...

 

[Stang5lgt]

So how much better is it at idle now? I seen where you stated it is better, but by how much? 10%, 15%, etc...

I guess I don't know how to explain it. LOL It is takes less to turn the steering wheel when parked. The stock pulley was around 16.5" circumference the Escort is around 14". Crank pulley is 6.4 Dia so circumference is 20.1" x 700 rpm idle = 14,070 inches in a min.

Old pulley = 852 RPM roughly
Escort pulley = 1005 RPM roughly

 

[gmanpaint]

Got me thinking now.

Turning a set of 35"x12.5" with a rack and pinion setup is a PITA, any little bit will help. It will be a while before I can get the SAS done, and this mod seems a worthy one for now and will still be useful after the SAS.

Now to find a smaller stock pulley for the 4.0L. LOL!

 

[Stang5lgt]

Got me thinking now.

Turning a set of 35"x12.5" with a rack and pinion setup is a PITA, any little bit will help. It will be a while before I can get the SAS done, and this mod seems a worthy one for now and will still be useful after the SAS.

Now to find a smaller stock pulley for the 4.0L. LOL!

1st Gen should be a piece of cake to find a pulley cause it uses a press on set up which Ford has used forever. 2nd Gen uses the 3 bolt set up so I had to find a pulley that was close. Escort was the only one I could find. Use Autozone website it tells you all the sizes of the pulleys. Just try different years and different cars and trucks until you find a smaller one.

 

[Stang5lgt]

Been doing some searching and seeing if there is any Ford stock PS pumps that might up the pressure some more too. I see the Police Interceptor came with special PS pump but I would have to fab a mount to make it work.

 

[turboexplorer]

You mentioned the ranger pump didnt like the pressure. I take it the F-150 box is a much stronger choice. Does it still fit well or is it way tight in there?

 

[Stang5lgt]

You mentioned the ranger pump didnt like the pressure. I take ot the F-150 box is a much stronger choice.

Boxes are the same. Only difference is the guts. I can turn tighter with the new box too so I think the piston travels further. The steering is super tight with tighter gear ratio in the F150 box. Even if you guys decide to do the Bronco box that sits outside the frame. You can pull the tight ratio piston and worm drive out of the newer F150 box and slides right inside the 78-79 Bronco box. Ford has never really changed the box. The Crown Vics still use the same box. The pitman arm just faces the other way.

 

[gmanpaint]

AGR is the only upgraded saginaw style pump that I know of for mine, but they do make a higher pressure (2500 psi) pump for the 5.0. I wonder if that's whats in the Interceptor's?

There is a mod that can be done to the stock pump to increase pressure. It's somewhere here on the forum. :scratch:

 

[Stang5lgt]

I found some info on increasing the pressure. Have to modify the bypass valve in the pump. Since I have two pumps I can try it on the spare. Pics to come soon...

 

[turboexplorer]

I like watching R&D projects!