power steering fluid cooler

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Hwy78Cruiser
Posts: 74
Joined: Fri Sep 14, 2018 11:23 am
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Years Owned: 1966

power steering fluid cooler

Postby Hwy78Cruiser » Mon Feb 03, 2020 12:53 pm

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?

Loaded 68 W34
Posts: 25
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Years Owned: 1968 w-34
1972 vista cruiser pro touring
1972 holiday coupe (442 clone)
1966 chevelle convertible

Re: power steering fluid cooler

Postby Loaded 68 W34 » Tue Feb 04, 2020 7:24 am

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.

Hwy78Cruiser
Posts: 74
Joined: Fri Sep 14, 2018 11:23 am
TOA Membership Number: 1373
Years Owned: 1966

Re: power steering fluid cooler

Postby Hwy78Cruiser » Tue Feb 04, 2020 9:43 pm

Very good insights, I will keep the cooler, thank you!

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Otto Skorzeny
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Joined: Fri Feb 28, 2014 12:41 pm
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Years Owned: 1966 Toronado

Re: power steering fluid cooler

Postby Otto Skorzeny » Wed Feb 05, 2020 12:08 pm

And my philosophy, also as an engineer, is that even if it's not absolutely necessary, it can't hurt.

Willysnut1959
Posts: 107
Joined: Sun Dec 16, 2018 11:01 am
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Years Owned: 1966 Toronado

Re: power steering fluid cooler

Postby Willysnut1959 » Tue Feb 11, 2020 2:08 pm

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

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Otto Skorzeny
Posts: 1721
Joined: Fri Feb 28, 2014 12:41 pm
TOA Membership Number: 0
Years Owned: 1966 Toronado

Re: power steering fluid cooler

Postby Otto Skorzeny » Tue Feb 11, 2020 3:54 pm

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.


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