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power steering fluid cooler

Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2020 12:53 pm
by Hwy78Cruiser
My '66 Toro has a little radiator/cooler up in the grille area. It's hard to imagine power steering pump working so hard that it needs cooling, but there it is. My '64 Cutlass has what looks to be the same power steering pump, with no cooler.

My question, couched in the idea that "Toronados were highly engineered" (and I am an engineer) is: Is this cooler really needed?

I am doing a little re-configuring under the hood, including replacing the vacuum headlamp openers with electronic linear actuators (see separate topic), and I am thinking if eliminating the power steering fluid cooler.

Can anyone offer a compelling reason that I should keep that little power steering pump cooler?

Re: power steering fluid cooler

Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2020 7:24 am
by Loaded 68 W34
You need to remember that your 66 Toro has MUCH more wieght over the front wheels than you cutlass. All of the load from the engine, trans, and axle is over the front tires, not to mention that the sheetmetal/bumpers on the toro are heavier. I would not remove the steering cooler. Also, despite what it looks like from the outside, the pump is most likely not the same. When I restored my 68 pump, the viens and associated parts were almost 1/4" deeper than any of the a body pumps I have. This means the toro pump will move more fluid per revolution than the a body pump. You are correct that the pumps look identical from the outside, but once you remove the guts from the pump housing, you may find that they are deeper/ thicker.

Re: power steering fluid cooler

Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2020 9:43 pm
by Hwy78Cruiser
Very good insights, I will keep the cooler, thank you!

Re: power steering fluid cooler

Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2020 12:08 pm
by Otto Skorzeny
And my philosophy, also as an engineer, is that even if it's not absolutely necessary, it can't hurt.

Re: power steering fluid cooler

Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 2:08 pm
by Willysnut1959
What do they say about birds of a feather flocking together? I'm a civil engineer as well.
Marty, St. Louis
2-1966 Toronado's

Re: power steering fluid cooler

Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 3:54 pm
by Otto Skorzeny
That's funny.

I quit my engineering job 7 months after I graduated from Ga Tech. I haven't done anything related to my degree since.