AN Line everything

In light of the LS swap, im converting my power steering and coolant lines over to AN. Has anyone done something similar? Are there any size recommendations for power steering feed and return? What adapters do I need to thread into the rack and pinion that will adapt it over to AN?

 

You should be able to find a shop that makes hydraulic hoses. Not all of them are the same, some can do it. Some can’t, or I should say could but don’t know how.

When my el Camino had a leak, I removed the high pressure line and brought it to one I know would be able to handle it. The old hard line where it attaches to the rack, cut & welded on a AN fitting. Then made a hose of the correct length, -4 I think, maybe-6. I don’t remember what they did on the other end. I think they took the fitting, sliced it in half & wended on a AN fitting there too.

For the low pressure hose, I just measured & replaced it along with new hose clamps.

In case you never done it, you almost need 3 hands. 1 to hold a wrench on the fitting you’re tightening onto. 2 to tighten the swivel fitting. 3 to hold a wrench on the hose to keep it aligned correctly. I try to hold 2 wrenches with 1 hand (1&3). Then tighten the swivel fitting with my other hand (2).

 

This is a huge job if you are actually going to use "real" AN lines. I've done this partially on a few old cars and it is both a PITA and insanely expensive. Do you have a radiator that's setup for AN lines?

In any event, I would highly recommend against this as it's a solution searching for a problem.

 

I can imagine doing the coolant hoses would be outrageously expensive. Not only to have a fittings welded on the radiator, engine inlet and outlet, and all the heater hose connections. Then you also need to buy some giant wrenches to hook them all up.

The power steering wouldn’t be quite so bad. I recall the price being steep but not too bad.

If a section needs to be formed, that’ll be tricky. I’ve never used them but some of the hose shops have a spring like thing that you put on the outside of the hose and bend it to make the shape you need. Or you could go crazy with a bunch of zip ties.

 

I switched my trans cooler over to AN. It wasn't bad. You need to go from M14x1.5 at the transmission case to whatever AN line you want - I went with 6AN based on the size of the barbs on my Hayden cooler.

There are a LOT of very, very expensive speedparts out there that appear to be made by one Taiwanese OEM, and a whole bunch of really shitty Chinese crap. This "EvilEnergy" brand appears to be the house brand of the Taiwanese OEM. I found the quality to be no less than Japanese-made parts on a buddy's ricecar. Fit and finish was great, threads were all correct and well-matched. No issues with install other than it being in a little bit of a tricky to reach spot.

$14 EVIL ENERGY 6AN Male Flare to M14 x 1.5mm Male Metric Fitting Adapter Aluminium Alloy 2PCS

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0989C3GFK?ie=UTF8

$18 EVIL ENERGY 6AN Hose End Fitting 90 Degree Swivel for CPE Braided Hose Black 2PCS

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08NYKT479?ie=UTF8







I don't know the thread pitch on the PS pump off the top of my head, but someone around here surely does. I'm on the road right now but when I get home I have a used PS pump sitting around, I can try to take a look at it.

 

Never cheap out on fittings. I’ve seen numerous cheap fittings break out of nowhere. Russell or aeroquip are the only two I use personally.

 

I typically agree, but availability when this was done was tight, and I needed to get the truck moving.

I did a benchtop destructive test on one of the 90s - the swivels and threads held up to unreasonable force. Couldn't do a pressure test any higher than my air compressor (110PSI give or take) but those lines are nowhere near that.

 

I 100% agree about the cost. I’ve done Earls AN fittings and Deutsch connectors on my previous S2000 and at the midway point it was getting out of hand. If you have a fat wallet and unlimited budget, go for it.