The radiator and main coolant tubing is now complete. I am almost finished with all the plumbing in the bug’s front nose compartment. The MR2’s electrical power steering requires both a supply line as well as a return line. The supply simply dumps into the pump but the return comes off the rack and returns into the reservoir. I will be removing the radiator so I can finish everything behind it.
With the fuel system plumbed up, I can now focus on the power steering. The MR2 comes with an electric power steering pump. To insure that my rebuilt steering rack will not have any problems I need to clear out all debris in both the steering pump and the reservoir. I ran fluid through the pump a few times to clean it out. All I have to do now is get the feed line crimped at the hydraulic shop.
I cut a steel plate the same size as my foam template and then determined where the MR2 steering rack should be located. I then cut a hole in the steel plate for the MR2 power steering pump. I went ahead and mounted the pump to the plate. I will now align everything and create the brackets for the rack itself.
I am building a plate to hold the steering rack and pump in place in the VW bug’s frame. I will position everything on a template I cut out of a piece of foam board.