Went cruising through the local junkyard, and located three vehicles (american ones at least) that had hydroboost systems in them.

1: an early 80's(maybe?) Chevy (unknown rating). Probably a 6.2 diesel. Just a cab, so no pump, just a hydroboost housing and MC (disc/drum)

2: a late 70's/early 80's? Caddy with the most impressive :barf: :barf: :barf: 350 diesel. The power steering box is there, along with the HB housing and disc/drum MC

3: an unknown year Lincoln Versailles (sp?). this thing looks like a Mark V or a Continental. Has a 302 carbed (GAS), and a hydroboost with disc/disc MC. The PS pump is there, but it is not a standard teardrop setup. Looks more like a smog pump or an AC pump. could probably work, but I don't know how compatible that would be with the saginaw steering box?

So, what I would like to know here, is which one would you get? Should I try to adapt the lincoln one, since I am going disc/disc, or will the GM one cut it? Will be running 36s or 38 swampers on a YJ. Could I just use the Chevy HB and run my stock PS pump (88 jeep GW)? Does the PS pumps on these things make THAT much of a difference? What about using the Caddy setup? will that be ballsy enough? My feelings are "yes", since those damn things weigh 6K lbs. My Jeep will weigh 2 tons (probably). If the HB from the Chevy is going to be the best choice, could I use the Caddy PS pump?

I can probably get any one of these things for like $40. Would love to do a CHEAP HB system.....

So what you think?

I run a Chevy 1-ton Hydroboost Unit and a new model GM master cylinder(from a truck with 4 wheel disc). The only modification I had to make was to the plunger rod on the Hydroboost unit, had to shorten it a bit. I run mine through the stock CJ proport valve with no problems to my 4 wheel disc brakes..

Also running stock CJ- Steering box and stock GM Power Steering pump.

Hope this helps..

remember to get all the hoses as they can be pricey, if you use a chev setup you need the right pump cause it has two return line fittings on it. if you modify one to have dual return then any pump will work. why use the hydroboost? clearance or?

I'll vote for No. 2
The GM/Caddy booster is often suggested for this swap plus you get the GM saginaw teardrop pump and hoses.
I help with the R & D using my rig and wrote the web based installation page for the Vanco kit popularly sold through the 4X4 Doctor.
Check it out for installation tips....

Hydo Boost Install Instrucions (http://www.monsterslayer.com/jeep/HydroBoostJeepPage.htm)

I would personally look for a hydroboost system from a chevy van. I know I have seen them on astros, and probably on full size also. The reason being is that the astro came with a power steering pump that had an external reservoir. You could upgrade the reservoir to a lager one to increse fluid for cooler running and hydro assist.

HTH

No real clearance issues, just looking ahead.

With 4 wheel disc and future 38 & 1/2s, vac might not be up to it.

This is some stout stuff. Plus, I was looking at H8Monday's ram assist, and that is dead sexy. Gotta do that too :D

So, I will take a better look at all the bits & pieces next time I am there, and snag what I want.

I will take a better look at the plumbing, and see if I can find a hydroboost in a van. Anyone know which vans had this?

thanx

themaddhatter

I run my stock '83 HB, with a stock replacement pump. (I have stock HB on the Blazer since it was diesel.) I also have a master cylinder for an '83 1 ton. Brakes are D60 front and rear disk w/3/4 ton rotors and '77 Eldo calipers. Brakes are awesome. The HB in mine is also remote reservior. Same pump as the tear-drop style, just a different housing. Be careful w/van stuff, some of them have funky angles and other stuff due to the limited clearance available.

Alright, went back to the yard, and spotted an assload of hydroboosts.....

I think we found a dozen of them...

I still have some ?s though

Has anyone used the hydrovac system (Ford version of hydroboost)? Does it work as well? I would be interested in just using the MC and HB unit, and a saginaw PS pump......

Also, HB have different flavors as well... Saw a LOT of caddys and chevy cars WITHOUT accumulators on them... Wouldn't that be disadventagous? Without the accumulator, you won't get those couple of pumps before going manual..... Just like a vac PB system....

Saw one on an Astro too.. there is this crazy MC on it. Seems like a hinderance itself.

Has anyone come across a BAD HB system?

thanx

themaddhatter

There are three types of HB boosters, one with no accumulater(if the motors off, no power brakes), One with a Nitrogen power accumulater(nitrogen leaks out over time, then the accumulater stop working), Then the spring loaded type which is the best IMO(long lasting). The older 70s Caddi's are easy to work with, all the fittings are tappered threaded type, not the newer O-ring type which are harder to get holes made for. The Caddi MC reservior is very large and works good for 4 wheel disc(which I also use).

I have a writeup on my site for installing into a CJ, bought all the parts at NAPA. Just click PYRO below to get to my site.

Ok.........


So how would one tell the difference between the ntrogen accumulators and the spring loaded types?

When I did mine years ago, I checked a caddi manual to comfirm it was a spring type('76 fleetwood). Never had the two types side by side so don't know by looking at them.

Pyro, thanks for your input and the write-up on your site. I'm going to look into doing this swap the way you did it. BTW,

does anybody know if Chevy 1-ton vans came with 4wheel
disk brakes, and/or a remote resevoir for the pump?

here's what I'm doing: Forc D-60 front brakes, and Ford D-60
front brakes on the rear also. (mismatching crap)
I want a high-pressure pump for hydroboost that uses a
remote resevoir (I want to use a large resevoir for more capacity
due to hydro-assist front steering, and potential rear steer
as well...

Can one pump handle all this???

--Sherpa

The 89 G20 van (3/4 t) van I scoffed my 350 from has a remote reservoir pump (not boost though).

Anyone else got answers?

good questions.

Also, does anyone have any experience with the Ford hydro vac system mentioned above?

Charly

So, does anyone know how to externally identify a spring vs. gas type accumulator?

I found one accumulator that is gold in colr and is clearly stamped "compressed gas", but i also found one that is silver with no markings...can anyone confirm if this is spring loaded?

Thanks,

Charly