The local Mustang parts shop sold me the following:
(1) 1967 Mustang P/S Pump to Control Valve Pressure Hose
(1) 1967-1968 Mustang P/S Control Valve to Pump Return Hose
(2) 1967-1970 Mustang P/S Control Valve to Cylinder Hoses
He did warn me that the 1967 pressure hose had a small fitting different from all the other years, so if anything had been updated, I might need to exchange it for a 68 hose with a larger fitting. However, when I got the new pressure hose beside the old pressure hose, they looked absolutely nothing alike. Plus, my old pressure hose had a different size fitting going into yet another different sized adapter before going into the control valve.
Now, I know the new 1967 pressure hose won’t fit, but I’m not sure what replacement hose is best. The current one has some really awkward bends in the tubing like someone forced it to fit, so in the perfect world I’d like to find one that fits better and doesn’t need the additional adapter. However, if the 1967 Mustang hose is the way to go, I guess I’ll find an adapter to make that fit. Any advice on the best hose for this situation is appreciated.
The two control valve to cylinder hoses were crap. The metal tubing parts are longer with deeper bends, and they really didn’t want to fit at all.
The return hose didn’t want to thread, but once it did, it actually fit great and had the correct bends.
So after replacing the return hose and two small hoses, I’m no better off.
Fitting in control valve is the adapter to change 67 to 68 You have a 68 hose which is OK. The hoses you buy today are a generic fit at best. I have to use a bender to get them even close to fitting. If dealing with what you have, the first step is cleaning. Spray cleaners & a big cat pan & a brush… or the closest car wash. Turn wheels to right, & wash till you run out of quarters!
You may have several leaks. Best cyl hoses I have found are scott drake. Gold ends & about $50 pair. OE hoses start at approx. $100 each
I suggest getting the big block hose retainer . Drill one hole for bolt in lower control arm housing…
Get a boot & bushing kit too.
My guess is the cyl leaks. Remove nuts & bushing/washers. Rotate the rod to see if it is bent. A kit is avail to reseal the cyl.
Kinda a pain to do & needs a “special” tool.
It didn’t even occur to me that the large adapter was taking the fitting down in size. I guess the 67 hose will fit.
I’m going to wipe everything down and then wrap the hoses in plastic to see if the fluid shows up inside or outside the plastic, but after today’s inspection I think it’s the ram cylinder spraying fluid out onto the hoses. If so, sounds like it may just be best to replace the ram cylinder.
Just know that the power steering system used by Ford throughout the 60s is a horrible. There is no room for a bit of a misalignment in seating the hoses and tightening them. If they are not seated just right, they will leak. It is very difficult to figure out where the leak exactly is. If you have a hoist and friend (s) to help it makes it a bit easier. It is also very messy as the fluid gets everywhere.
As a very long time Cougar owner (bought my first Cougar back in 1981) I have been frustrated by this system many times. I bought a 68 XR-7 to be a fun driver. Even though the stock power steering system didn’t leak (first one I had ever seen on a running driving Cougar that was used regularly that did not leak) I had done a bunch of research and decided to switch to the Borgeson power steering box system and eliminate the stock power ram and control valve which is the bane of most FoMoCo enthusiasts. The Borgeson kit is a relatively easy conversion for 68 and up (collapsible steering column), but it’s a different system for 67 and older without collapsible column. If I was doing a concourse correct restoration I would rebuild the original system, but a fun, or regular, driver… I will switch to the Borgeson system and save the aggravation and money (depending on what you need to replace/rebuild on the stock system, it would be cheaper to go with the Borgeson).
Good luck and you may be well advised to start getting counselling now.
Beggin’ the Colonel’s pardon but I have to disagree. While I will concede that there are simpler/more trouble free systems out there, if you use the right parts you will (in my experience) have little to no problems. Oh, and let me disclose that I am an owner of a number of cars having such a system since 1977.
Isabel sports an OEM system and even with her 450-500 HP 408C she drives just fine with a stock PS system.
I’ll pass on the counseling and put that money in the piggy bank in case (unlikely) that I need replacement OEM style PS parts.
The biggest problem with these systems is people doing half a$$ed repairs and expecting them to work properly.
Over time the original system becomes more in need of a rebuild/replacement. That can become quite expensive even if you are providing the labor. Take it to a shop (depending on their experience with the stock system) and you could do two Borgeson conversions.
People also spend a lot of money on rack and pinion systems because they want a system that is more efficient than the stock system.
I went with Borgeson because it’s a better system without the built in slop of the FoMoCo unit and at a good price point.
I have no problem with whatever anyone decides to go with as they have to live with it. Some will love it, some won’t. It’s like any modification one decides to do.
Enjoy your cat.
For stock appearance, Holley.
Both have advantages and disadvantages.
Heather’s Cougar has an Edelbrock and it seems to run just fine.
Bill, we could really open up a can of worms with this topic.
Happy New Year all.
It’s frustrating because my system works well … it just leaks like a sieve. Back when I did my 66 Mustang in the early 00s I had so many quality control problems with the reproduction pumps, but both the pump and control valve seem solid on this car, so hopefully replacing the ram will quell the flow of fluid.
I’m trying to decide between the premium reproduction unit or a remanufactured OEM unit. Leaning toward the remanufactured one right now.
Finally got the high pressure hose and adapter out. Getting to the adapter was a trick. Had success with small vice grips making about an 1/8th of a turn at a time. The 1967 hose with the correct fitting plumbed up so much better - no awkward bends and turns.
Next trick was getting the old hydraulic ram off after 50 years. The nuts came off with no problem, but it finally took a pickle fork to break the old unit loose.
I went with a remanufactured hydraulic ram after the poor reviews and stories of poor hose threading on the new options. However, the lower hole on the reman unit still had horrible threading. It took at least an hour rotating between my two used OEM hoses and my economy replacement hose to finally get one to thread at all. Then I was 99% sure it wasn’t going to completely seat.
I’ve gone from a fluid fountain to just the tiniest ooze from the hose connection on the slave cylinder. Part of me wants to yank it all and send it back. Part of me thinks there’s no guarantee the next one will be any better.
Other than missing the hose clamp on the control valve for the pressure and return hoses (by the clamp to the drag link), it needs to look a lot like this unless you want to be yet another owner who has nothing but bad things to say about the stock system:
I did notice one of the hoses from the pump goes in between the two going to/from the control valve/cylinder. To help avoid more stress to the hose system, you may want to correct this.
I hope you have no more leaks. Good luck with it.
