Correct Power Steering Hoses

[John M.]

Any advice on where to purchase "judging" correct power steering hoses for my 73 restoration?

Regards,
John

[Joe L.]

Re: Correct Power Steering Hoses

Any advice on where to purchase "judging" correct power steering hoses for my 73 restoration?

Regards,
John

John------


The only power steering hoses I know of that are correct are GM and all of those are discontinued. Those hoses were not the same as aftermarket or, even, AC-Delco. All of the aftermarket I have seen were not even close to original. Of course, they're 100% functional but not configurationally correct.

So, if you're after absolutely correct hoses, you'll need to find NOS. One caution, though: the GM power steering RETURN hose available for many years was actually not correct, but as close to correct as you're going to find.

[Edward J.]

Re: Correct Power Steering Hoses

John, All factory p/strg. hoses were a single crimp, with have been long gone unless you find a older NOS part. Most hoses today have a double crimp. If you still have the original hoses and they don' leak just re-use them. for judging reasons they the only way to get all the points. Even without the correct hoses its a small deduction.

[Joe L.]

Re: Correct Power Steering Hoses

John, All factory p/strg. hoses were a single crimp, with have been long gone unless you find a older NOS part. Most hoses today have a double crimp. If you still have the original hoses and they don' leak just re-use them. for judging reasons they the only way to get all the points. Even without the correct hoses its a small deduction.

Edward-------

The GM SERVICE hoses, right through the time of their discontinuation, were the same as PRODUCTION and had single crimps. The exception was the return hose. As I mentioned, that hose was, for many years, configured somewhat differently than the original hoses, at least those used through at least 1972. Among the differences was a multiple crimped fitting. I assume that at some time in days-of-old the SERVICE return hose was the same as PRODUCTION. However, I've never seen a SERVICE example of such a hose.

[John M.]

Re: Correct Power Steering Hoses

All,

Found this hose on the net advertised as an original GM #3878886 power steering hose for a 73 BB. Can anyone id this as correct?

Thanks,
John

Hose.JPG

[Jimmy P.]

Re: Correct Power Steering Hoses

John,
Is there a difference in BB and SB hoses? If not I'll try to take photos of my hoses on my SB if it would help.

[Joe L.]

Re: Correct Power Steering Hoses

All,

Found this hose on the net advertised as an original GM #3878886 power steering hose for a 73 BB. Can anyone id this as correct?

Thanks,
John

[ATTACH=CONFIG]68803[/ATTACH]

John-------


This is NOT a GM #3878886. The GM #3878886 is the pressure hose for 1965-74 big block Corvettes.

Below is a photo of a real GM #3878886 which has its original GM packaging to confirm its identity. You'll note that it looks nothing like the hose you pictured. I don't know what the application is for the hose you pictured. It does not look like any Corvette power steering hose I've seen.

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[Joe L.]

Re: Correct Power Steering Hoses

John,
Is there a difference in BB and SB hoses? If not I'll try to take photos of my hoses on my SB if it would help.

Jimmy------


The pressure hose is different for small block versus big block. The other three hoses are the same.

[Rich C.]

Re: Correct Power Steering Hoses

I would think N.O.S. hoses are still around. It took me awhile, but I found one here, one there and lucked out at Carlisle several years ago to find the correct return hose (the hardest) for my '73 454. Still in the bags for that someday restoration.

1973 LS-4 454 coupe owned 26 years
1996 LT-4 CE coupe

[Jim S.]

Re: Correct Power Steering Hoses

Here is a portion of the actual return hose assembly drawing. It shows the pipe bend dimensions and the production flat crimp collar. Also, the rubber hose is 14.31 inches long. There was only one low pressure return line hose. Same for small block and big block.


Jim

[Joe L.]

Re: Correct Power Steering Hoses

Here is a portion of the actual return hose assembly drawing. It shows the pipe bend dimensions and the production flat crimp collar. Also, the rubber hose is 14.31 inches long. There was only one low pressure return line hose. Same for small block and big block.


Jim

Jim-------


Just what I surmised-----the crimp on the original return hose was the same style as that used on the other hoses. The other hoses maintained the same crimp configuration right through the end of their availability. However, the crimp on the return hose changed many years before it was discontinued. Unfortunately, the part number, GM #3826276, never changed so it's impossible to tell an original from a later SERVICE piece by part number.

Actually, the return hose available from GM in SERVICE for many years looks more like an aftermarket-type piece. The other hoses were much different than aftermarket and, in my opinion, MUCH higher quality. When they were available, they also cost about 5 times more than the aftermarket pieces. One usually gets what one pays for. The GM hoses were never available through Delco channels. Delco did and does offer the Corvette power steering hoses but they are aftermarket quality.

[Jim S.]

Re: Correct Power Steering Hoses

Joe,
I was the supervisor of the product engineering section that had responsibility for power steering hose assemblies, flexible couplings, and all the rubber seals in the pumps and steering gears. I became responsible in 1971 and continued until 1984 when I was placed on-loan to the new Saturn Corporation to develop their steering system.

I do recall that Chevrolet purchased the permanently assembled return line hose assembly from Saginaw for current model Corvettes. But Chevrolet purchasing did not buy the service return line from Saginaw.

Saginaw manufactured service pressure hose assemblies for many years after the C3 ceased production in 1982. Saginaw absolutely did not want that type of very low volume service only type of business. They worked with a couple suppliers for several years to finally qualify a pressure line assembly that would pass a specified pressure cycling impulse test. (This all occurred after I went to Saturn and retired in 2001 so I really don't have first hand knowledge of the certification process.)

It is true that Saginaw would charge fairly high prices for very low volume service parts. However, those astronomical selling prices for most service parts (i.e. $12 for a coupling pinch bolt) did not occur because of Saginaw. GM Service Parts would arbitrarily increase their selling price by roughly 10% per year. (Regardless if Saginaw raised prices or not.) Take 10% per year over 20 or 30 years and see what happens to your selling price for a 25 cent bolt.

Jim

[Joe L.]

Re: Correct Power Steering Hoses

I would think N.O.S. hoses are still around. It took me awhile, but I found one here, one there and lucked out at Carlisle several years ago to find the correct return hose (the hardest) for my '73 454. Still in the bags for that someday restoration.

1973 LS-4 454 coupe owned 26 years
1996 LT-4 CE coupe

Rich------

I'd be VERY interested in seeing photos of the NOS return hose you found. It should be labeled GM #3826278.

[Joe L.]

Re: Correct Power Steering Hoses

Joe,
I was the supervisor of the product engineering section that had responsibility for power steering hose assemblies, flexible couplings, and all the rubber seals in the pumps and steering gears. I became responsible in 1971 and continued until 1984 when I was placed on-loan to the new Saturn Corporation to develop their steering system.

I do recall that Chevrolet purchased the permanently assembled return line hose assembly from Saginaw for current model Corvettes. But Chevrolet purchasing did not buy the service return line from Saginaw.

Saginaw manufactured service pressure hose assemblies for many years after the C3 ceased production in 1982. Saginaw absolutely did not want that type of very low volume service only type of business. They worked with a couple suppliers for several years to finally qualify a pressure line assembly that would pass a specified pressure cycling impulse test. (This all occurred after I went to Saturn and retired in 2001 so I really don't have first hand knowledge of the certification process.)

It is true that Saginaw would charge fairly high prices for very low volume service parts. However, those astronomical selling prices for most service parts (i.e. $12 for a coupling pinch bolt) did not occur because of Saginaw. GM Service Parts would arbitrarily increase their selling price by roughly 10% per year. (Regardless if Saginaw raised prices or not.) Take 10% per year over 20 or 30 years and see what happens to your selling price for a 25 cent bolt.

Jim

Jim-------


Yes, the GMSPO "price inflation" phenomenon did greatly affect the cost of SERVICE parts over time. However, the GM SERVICE power steering hoses were always considerably more expensive than aftermarket "equivalents", even back in 1963 when they were first introduced. In my opinion, the GM hoses were of much higher quality than any aftermarket I have seen. They just have a different "feel" about them.

Also, as I mentioned, the GM hoses were never available through Delco parts channels. Delco did and continues to offer 63-82 Corvette power steering hoses but they are aftermarket quality and definitely not the same as the GM hoses. Of course, this is not to say that the aftermarket hoses are bad-----I'm sure they'll function quite well and be adequately durable. But, I just don't think they're of the same quality as the GM hoses.

[Joe L.]

Re: Correct Power Steering Hoses

Here are a few photos of a GM #3826278 return hose. Note the part number is stamped on the crimped fitting.


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