[roger1]

I've got about 150 miles on my '55 Bel Air now.

I've got a problem with the power steering and I'm not sure what's going on.

My engine is a new Ramjet 350 with a GMPP serpentine drive setup on it. The GMPP serpentine setup is the 90-92 Camaro Z28 TPI motor setup. It comes with AC Delco remanufactured accessories. I have a new CPP 500 series steering box.

After several test drives everything seemed fine with the power steering. Then one day It started to wine/groan (during steering) after a 20 mile test drive on a 100 degree day and my engine ran a little hot because I had a problem with my radiator fan relays. The engine temp. ran up to about 235 degrees by the time I got home.
I got the fan relay problem fixed quick but the p/s pump continued to make noise.

So, I changed out the pump for a rebuilt one. I got an A1 Cardone from O'Reilly's. After installation, it sounded just fine. Nice and quiet. Then after a 10-15 mile test drive in my neighborhood, it got noisy during steering just like the first one was. I let the car sit overnight and tried it again. It's still noisy. I took it on another 10-15 mile test drive and checked the p/s fluid temperature with a cooking thermometer and it was 250 degrees. I then used a one of those laser pointer thermometers on the steering box and it was also 250 degrees. The water temperature never went over 185 degrees so the engine isn't hot.

This is too hot for p/s fluid. But why? I've never heard of anyone needing a power steering fluid cooler with a setup like I've got. Why would I need one? Yes the headers are close to the steering box but they are on all these cars. I am very confused with this situation.

I need another new pump now and am not opposed to putting a fluid cooler on the car. I just don't understand why I would need one when it seems no one else seems to.

Thoughts, ideas or help will be appreciated.

 

[RWENUTS]

Nice pic!
Did you burp all the air out when you installed it?
Pulley ratio!
Maybe it's spinning too fast or too slow aerating the fluid or making it cavitate causing it to heat up.

 

[roger1]

Nice pic!
Did you burp all the air out when you installed it?
Pulley ratio!
Maybe it's spinning too fast or too slow aerating the fluid or making it cavitate causing it to heat up.

Yes, I jacked up the car and turned the steering from lock to lock several times before starting. Then did again after starting the car. I then let the car down and turned the wheel lock to lock a few times engine running. Then I let the car sit a couple of hours to let any air bubbles settle out. I then started the car again and did a lock to lock a couple of times. No more air bubbles. No air bubbles means air is gone in the system.
The pulleys are all stock from a 1991 Z28 Camaro. So no issue there.

I'm now working with AGR Performance out of Fort Worth on it. They told me the issue may be from the Valvoline P/S fluid causing cavitation. I'm going to get one of their pumps and then use synthetic.
I also got information from another source that said they've seen pump troubles caused from Valvoline P/S fluid. I never would have guessed that.

 

[RWENUTS]

Good luck!
Darn nice lookin' build!