87 DL Wagon -Difficulty swapping from manual to power steering?

[azdave]

I really like my plain Jane, pure stock, 5-speed, 87 DL wagon that I brought back to life a few years ago and travel at least 150 miles a week with it. At one point, I wanted to install a DR tranny but realize that is something I would very rarely use so I've decided to leave that be. The one thing that I would really like to add is power steering. I've had multiple elbow surgeries on both arms and due to that and just getting older (born pre-60's) I would really like to be able to turn the steering wheel with less effort. Is converting to power steering a simple task if I can find parts or will I have to change alternators and A/C compressors and find all kinds of rare parts to do it properly? My A/C works great and in Arizona, that has to remain functional.

Seems like a lot of stuff needs to move to make room for the pump, belt changes, etc. Might this also involve a change to the water pump shaft length? Is the crossmember different due to location holes for mounting the power rack or routing the PS hoses? Other related threads here are pretty vague about how much really needs to change.

Photo shows my current setup

Edited February 11 by azdave

[88SubGL]

That is one clean engine compartment! While I have never done the conversion you’re wanting, I will say, probably the hardest part would be removing and installing the rack. I just looked back at the pictures I took when I changed the clutch on my ‘88 and the rack is buried. 

[azdave]

Thanks. That image gives me a little more idea what I would be in for on the lower end. Really wish I had a donor car to do the swap but they don't come up for sale very often around here and are very rare to be found in a junk yard. I don't even know of another like mine around here. I go to the weekend Subie meets once in awhile but haven't seen one there either.

[el_freddo]

Azdave, the PS pump mounts beside the AC compressor. You would need a different set of fan belts to run the pump, otherwise everything else remains as it is. 

It’s been too long for me to remember how the EA82 PS pump mounted to the block exactly. 

You should be able to get a complete kit and fit it to your L series. 

The PS rack will use the same mounts as the manual rack. I can’t remember if there’s any differences in the rack ends between PS and manual racks, again, been a long time since I had a manual rack in an L series. 

Cheers 

Bennie

[azdave]

6 hours ago, el_freddo said:

Azdave, the PS pump mounts beside the AC compressor.

Thank you. I'll maybe reach out to David Melcher over in Cali as he seems to have quite a bit of L-series stuff on FB. I don't think he is on USMB though. I also replied to a FS thread here for Dave S. in New Mexico to see what he might have.

Edited February 12 by azdave

[moosens]

For the benefit of others:
David Melcher sure has helped a lot of us. Only gotten to know him over this last decade or less but I’ve done well with getting parts from him as others have. A very decent person to deal with. 

One of the very few people selling parts on FB that you can trust. 
 

I agree with Bennie, same foggy memory too. Shouldn’t need anything beyond the mounting bracket and belts. 
 

Good luck with the hunt. 

[88SubGL]

Here’s a shot of pump setup.

[azdave]

Thanks again. Time to build a parts pile. I see Rock Auto has some of the bits so I can start my list there for a few of the pieces.