90 chevy 4wheel steer/4wheel drive/4wheel independant suspension

[roll-bar Bob]

that thing looks like fun good work

[Econo-box from Hell]

one question i am unable to find the answer to is how to use one power steering pump to power both the stock front steering, and the hydraulic rear steer. I tried just putting a tee into both the pressure and return lines, but this method makes neither the front or rear steer work well at all. Even when i'm not trying to steer the front the rear is really S L O W. If i hook up just the front, or just the rear everything works excellent. If i can't solve the problem, i'll just add another ps pump....actually i tried that, but the pump i mounted doesn't work....Tomorrow i'm gonna try restricting the flow through the return lines and see if that'll make any difference.

Anyone have expierence with this issue?

I just put this question out not too long ago because I am adding rear steering to the Metro.  You can only run one hydraulic circut at a time (choose front or rear but not both) or you can go with two pumps.  I personally am going to do the two pump thing.  If you've go a few bucks to put in this project you can install an electric over hydraulic pump for your rear steer.  Just make sure you buy a pump that is powered in both directions, some are power up, gravity down.

[HIGBEE]

one question i am unable to find the answer to is how to use one power steering pump to power both the stock front steering, and the hydraulic rear steer. I tried just putting a tee into both the pressure and return lines, but this method makes neither the front or rear steer work well at all. Even when i'm not trying to steer the front the rear is really S L O W. If i hook up just the front, or just the rear everything works excellent. If i can't solve the problem, i'll just add another ps pump....actually i tried that, but the pump i mounted doesn't work....Tomorrow i'm gonna try restricting the flow through the return lines and see if that'll make any difference.

Anyone have expierence with this issue?

I just put this question out not too long ago because I am adding rear steering to the Metro.  You can only run one hydraulic circut at a time (choose front or rear but not both) or you can go with two pumps.  I personally am going to do the two pump thing.  If you've go a few bucks to put in this project you can install an electric over hydraulic pump for your rear steer.  Just make sure you buy a pump that is powered in both directions, some are power up, gravity down.

why not use a priority valve, like you find on a hydroboost unit. That runs one pump for the steering and brakes.

I run four wheel steer and only one pump and one orbital valve.

[Econo-box from Hell]

one question i am unable to find the answer to is how to use one power steering pump to power both the stock front steering, and the hydraulic rear steer. I tried just putting a tee into both the pressure and return lines, but this method makes neither the front or rear steer work well at all. Even when i'm not trying to steer the front the rear is really S L O W. If i hook up just the front, or just the rear everything works excellent. If i can't solve the problem, i'll just add another ps pump....actually i tried that, but the pump i mounted doesn't work....Tomorrow i'm gonna try restricting the flow through the return lines and see if that'll make any difference.

Anyone have expierence with this issue?

I just put this question out not too long ago because I am adding rear steering to the Metro. You can only run one hydraulic circut at a time (choose front or rear but not both) or you can go with two pumps. I personally am going to do the two pump thing. If you've go a few bucks to put in this project you can install an electric over hydraulic pump for your rear steer. Just make sure you buy a pump that is powered in both directions, some are power up, gravity down.

why not use a priority valve, like you find on a hydroboost unit. That runs one pump for the steering and brakes.

I run four wheel steer and only one pump and one orbital valve.

Fill me in Skippy!!!!! I would love to do that verses fabin up a second pump bracket.

[lapeer20m]

Fill me in Skippy!!!!! I would love to do that verses fabin up a second pump bracket.

Me too!  I already mounted two different ps pumps from the junk yard to my truck.  Of coarse neither of them could utilize the same  bracket, and neither of them worked.  I think i'm gonna trade one of the junk pumps in as a core charge for a brand new one if i can't figure out how to run two circuits from one pump.

things im' gonna try:

putting quarter turn valves in to restrict the flow in the return lines to see if reducing flow will increase pressure

if that doesn't work, perhaps i'll try connecting both units into 1 circuit.  ie: connect the input for the valve for rear steer directly into the return line from the ps box......

[lapeer20m]

Things didn't go so good the past couple days.  I only work 9 days per month, 24 hour shifts, so i have lots of time to work on projects. 

With the lack of torsion bars in the rear, i have to find a way to hold the truck up.   the cheapest air bags i can find are just over $100 per bag...that's too rich for this project

i purchased a pair of monroe air shocks, installed them, and......nothing. Apparently the rear end of the truck has more weight than the air shocks have lift. GRRRR! They're rated for 150 psi, and i pumped them up to 250 psi and still nothing. I have some 3 or 4" bore hydraulic cylinders laying around. I can fill those with enough air to lift the truck i'm sure. IF that doesn't work, i'll try some coil springs from the scrap yard.  The rear of the truck can't weigh that much!

I've been having coolant system problems too. Mounted the radiator behind the drivers seat.  I'm a slow learner. I blew a hole in 3 different lower radiator hoses right where they connect to the motor. I eventually decided my thermostat wouldn't open and the steam pressure inside the motor coupled with the coolant pump that doesn't allow liquids to flow backwards was enough to pop the hose. I removed the thermostat for now....IT was supposed to be a quick half hour project, mounting the radiator and filling with coolant. Took more than half a day. 

somedays it's like i'm just beating my head against the wall.

right now the truck is at the local auto repair place getting a new exhaust...

[Smithingell]

Fill me in Skippy!!!!! I would love to do that verses fabin up a second pump bracket.

Me too! I already mounted two different ps pumps from the junk yard to my truck. Of coarse neither of them could utilize the same bracket, and neither of them worked. I think i'm gonna trade one of the junk pumps in as a core charge for a brand new one if i can't figure out how to run two circuits from one pump.

things im' gonna try:

putting quarter turn valves in to restrict the flow in the return lines to see if reducing flow will increase pressure

if that doesn't work, perhaps i'll try connecting both units into 1 circuit. ie: connect the input for the valve for rear steer directly into the return line from the ps box......

Hold on here....slow down a little bit...Econobox posted a question about this in the Garage section (priority valves)....

I'm going to draw out the schematic for you two so you can set this up correctly....but let me tell you right now, you dont want to try running a manual front system (didnt you say your still using the stock rack and pinion?) and a full hydro rear, unless you have the rear controlled seperatly, in which case, then you probably should run 2 pumps...too damn complicated...

I'll post the schematic that will allow you to run 4 wheel steer (3 selectable modes-2 wheel front, 4 wheel crab, and 4 wheel opposed) and be able to control all of it through the steering wheel, with a single pump (yes, a stock power steering pump)......

[Smithingell]

oh....check Ebay for the airbags, I bought a pair of brand new Goodyear bags for something like $80

[lapeer20m]

i read all the posts from econobox or whoever about hydro steering with the schematics and all.....but the schematics are missing. 

[Smithingell]

because I havent posted them yet, I had to draw it out first!

[Econo-box from Hell]

Hot and fresh hydraulic drawings here: http://wegotmud.com/forum/index.php?topic=16331.0

[lapeer20m]

those are some excellent articles, thanks !

on a completely different subject from hydro steering......

anyone using tire chains this time of year?

If i don't freeze to death tomorrow i think i'm gonna try open the differential on the ifs axles and weld the spider gears....i've welded spiders on rear axles before, but never even attempted to open an ifs unit...anything i need to be especially concerned about?

[lapeer20m]

Didn't get around to making the lincoln lockers yet...the truck spent most of the day at the muffler shop. 

worked on my fancy diamond plate alluminum switchboard




i have now installed a pair of hydraulic cylinders




these will lift the truck with about 150 psi of air pressure.  That cheap wal-mart plug in the cigarette lighter air compressor i have says it's rated to 250 psi.



did a little "reasearch and development", here's the evidence:



here is a shot of the air shocks before i removed them.  I don't have any good shots of the new hydro (pnumo) cylinders in place



the project is progressing, although not nearly as fast as i'd really like.  We've been putting in about 70 man hours per week the entire month of january. 

[Econo-box from Hell]

Took me all winter to put my Rockswells in.  I feel your pain.

[Smithingell]

wow....what size are those cylinders??

[lapeer20m]

about a 3" bore, and 5 times longer than necessary.   They're out of a helicoptor i was told and are definately extremely light.  Not the perfect solution, but something i have laying around.  i'm already over my $1,000 budget. 

[Uncle Steve]

looks cool, keep us updated, to

[KORNBREAD]

thats the coolest thing ever. i want to ride in that thing. keep it up. also i want that switch board so bad!!!!!!!!!!!

[KORNBREAD]

hey i passed your house today and got to see that in your yard. i wanted to stop and enterduce myself so i could see it. it looks so sweet.!!!!!!!

[lapeer20m]

if ya see me working on it, stop in and say hi.  i only work 2 days a week 24 hour shifts, so i spend about 5 days a week working on the truck.  i drive a maroon eagle talon, if the car is there so am i.  now that the cold weather is here i'm doing pretty much all the work inside the barn. 

we got a lot done yesterday.  Pretty much finished the sheet metal work, the roll bar, fixed the hydraulic steering so 1 pump runs both front and rear steer, mounted my new chain and sprockets.  Upgraded to #60 chain....the size difference between that and the 40 is unbeliebable, i also re=mounted the 38" tsl onto my freshly painted 16.5" rims using a pair or crow bars.  The tires were quite an accomplishment!  I was proud of myself for getting that done by hand. mounted the battery tray, started on the air conditioning compressor modification to use it as an air compressor, upgraded my reer steerig cylinder mount, and prob a few other things i am not remembering right now.  2 of us worked about 12 hours.  Some days we work and nothing goes right, then there are days like yesterday where everything went really fast.   

Now the truck won't start.  I thought it was running out of fuel, but an extra 5 gallons didn't help.....i was able to get her into the barn and i shut her off with the key.  Now she won't start!b Turns over fast,   UGGGG!
1990 throttle body.  I have good spark and my plugs (well i only checked the #1 plug) are dry. 

i'm gona try replaceing the fuel pump and see if that helps.  what is the propler method ofr checking fuel pressure?  I put a tee in the fuel line and used an old water psi guage near the pump and it read about 4 or 5 psi.  I think it's supposed to have around 11?  Is that 11 psi read from a guage using a tee, or is that 11 psi if the guage that plugs the end of the fuel hose???

thanks for the help

this is the first chevy truck i've ever toyed around with...i'm really not much of a mechanic.