JasonWW

iTrader: (2)

Hey Guys, I want to replace my stock LS1 power steering reservoir for a remote mounted unit and have found zero info by searching.

There are a couple of reasons for doing this as I'm sure people are going to ask why. One is to make the engine look better. When you pop the hood on any LS1 car they always have that ugly black reservoir in place. I'm cleaning all the crap out of the way so you can really see the engine. EGR, PCV, AIR, coils, etc...

I may also polish the pump and get one of those pulleys with the big holes cut into them so you can see the pump. I think it would make for a very unique looking modification.

Second is because the fluid gets scorching hot. This can't be good. I just replaced all the fluid in the system as the old fluid looked burnt up and it holds less than one quart. I want the new reservoir hold maybe 2 quarts and I may add a cooler to it as well.

So as far as I can tell I just need a canister that has a vented cap, one outlet line at the bottom, an inlet line higher up that redirects the fluid against the wall to prevent foaming and to make sure it sit higher than the pump so that gravity will feed it properly.

I still need to look into the fittings and lines I will need as they are mostly hidden behind the pulley.

As a side note, my cap seal was dissolving and tiny bits of the orange rubber may have partially clogged my rack. It just recently started to leak a little around the rack seal that the steering arm attaches to. Freaking strange if you ask me. The rack is only one year old. Maybe adding a filter to the system is also a good idea.

Check this crap out:


Has anyone seen this happen?
I think it was caused when my engine was removed and the pump was layed on it's side in the engine bay. I'm thinking the constant contact of the fluid to the seal made it dissolve.

Here are a few candidates for PS fluid reservoir. Some may need a little welding to make them work:












I may also have a new one fabbed up as well.

So if anyone has any thoughts on this or suggestions, let me know.

Jason

JasonWW

iTrader: (2)

Here's a few pics of my current engine. That is a different black TA in the background.





Here's a pic from 5 minutes ago. Yes, it just rained.



See, if the reservoir were not there you would be able to see both heads.

JasonWW

iTrader: (2)

I may see if I can relocate the pump a bit lower as this would give more reservoir mounting options. Another thought is to make a custom tank in a short rectangular shape and mount it on the drivers side shock tower right behind the fuse box. I may add a sump to make sure it doesn't suck air under high cornering loads.

Wow!, check out what I just ran across.


An Oil Tank Temperature Gauge Plug. I'd sure like to integrate that in there some how. 16 bucks:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Oil-T...6811QQtcZphoto

I wonder if a oven temp gauge for meat can be modded to fit through the stock cap so it will read fluid temps? Interesting idea. I'm sure I could refine it and have it looking slick as well.

RE AND CHERYL

iTrader: (31)

Your biggest problem will be relocating the pump low enough to gravity feed fluid to the pump. You will need at least 1/2" line and to locate the resivor at least 6" above the pump with a good slpe to the feed line. IMHO it would be too much trouble and I would just add a 3-5 pass cooler to the return side and be done with it.

Re'

JasonWW

iTrader: (2)

I don't think the pump will require relocating. It would be optional.

I could build a small 2" tall 5" wide tank to mount in place of the stock tank just as a small reserve and run a line to the larger main tank. That would do the job as well, I think.

Does anyone know the flow rates?

I'm a leader, not a follower. Thanks anyway.

JasonWW

iTrader: (2)

Check this out. Reads level and temp at the push of a button.




A little pricey at $120.

Another LCD Oil Temperature Dipstick. $70 or so.


The mechanical ones are usually under $25.



I had no idea these were even made.

Phoenix 5.7

iTrader: (7)

didn't the LT1 cars have a remote reservoir?

JasonWW

iTrader: (2)

Maybe, but that's a different setup.

Phoenix 5.7

iTrader: (7)

it might be a working setup to look at for ideas

orangeapeel

iTrader: (18)

That last picture looks like a turkey thermo.

JasonWW

iTrader: (2)

The LT1 reservoir is about as much remote located as the LS1. It's just and inch or 2 higher. The LS1 tank is mounted to the top of the pump with some clips so they are both kind of a floating design.

I'm wanting to relocate it much further away. Not to mention designing a whole new unit.

Now another thought would be for me to make a new tank that is much shorter, but wider so it doesn't block the view as much. I could take it even further by adding some fins to the area of the tank behind the pulley and then add some fins to the pulley so it would blow air across the aluminum tank fins much in the same way the alternator cools itself. Now that would be trick.

JasonWW

iTrader: (2)

That's what I was thinking!

JasonWW

iTrader: (2)

I can't even find some decent pics of the LT1 setup.

I did run across the LS1 pulleys. Sweet!

Phoenix 5.7

iTrader: (7)

be careful with some of those pulleys. friend of mine had a pulley fail, puncture his reservoir, and burn his pump


check out Turn One, they make PS pumps. might have something for reservoir

JasonWW

iTrader: (2)

Hell, if I take it to the next level:

Does anyone know about electric power steering pumps?

JasonWW

iTrader: (2)

Actually, I think the GTO's have the better system. I was just checking a 04 out. Their reservoir is completely detached from the pump with 2 lines leading down to it. In fact their pump is different as well. Instead of a bracket bolted to the head and the pump bolted to the bracket, they have a longer pump which bolts right to the head. Much simpler. Plus their pulley has holes in it so you can unbolt the pump without taking the pulley off.


I didn't know about the diameter difference.
My '99 diameter: 6.5"
04 GTO diameter: 6.1"




As you can tell from the overall design, it would be rather easy to replace the reservoir with a different one or to simply move it around some. I wonder if I could swap to the GTO pump? It may simplify things.

JasonWW

iTrader: (2)

Does anyone have any good pics of the LS1 pump with the pulley off?

In this pic you notice the steel line makes a strange 150* arc. Anyone know if this is a necessary design or if they did it for clearance?



Here's a cool 10% underdrive pulley:

JasonWW

iTrader: (2)

I found one pic:

JasonWW

iTrader: (2)

Here's a good pic of the GTO engine:

JasonWW

iTrader: (2)

C4 and C5 comparison.