1969 Autocar (I was told at least)

You still have a thermostat behind housing where the upper radiator hose connects to. Shutters were to warm you up when it was cold. Poppin Johns where an exception but they also did not have a water pump.
Shock is a wast in my opinion. Will not defeat hydraulics.
The trucks like that I remember with regular hydraulic p/s had the steering box forward of the steer axle. There is one in and out of here but I do not see it often. I will look at it next time I see it.
Point is if you cannot find one in the bone yard to get everything expect expensive problems.
Suppose you know the housing behind p/s reservoir is a bypass engine oil filter. Maybe a LF750 with three different possible o-ring seals. The oil change interval was doubled with the addition of those.

 

Many years ago i had an Old White Road Boss with a Similar System.
That block with the four Hoses coming out of It, on the end of the ram is a Directional control valve. Which is controlled by that Top Draglink. Whenever i had the same symptoms you describe it was time to put a Kit in that Valve.

Hope this helps..

 

It's an odd system, alright, but remember, in '69. power steering was still in it's infancy, and I think this was an "add-on" PS system to a manually steered truck.Power steering didn't become standard until the mid 70's. My '72 Pete (in avatar) did not have PS, a '73 Mack I drove, did not, but a '75 Mack I drove, did.( what a blessing THAT was) I think with all that hardware, it is going to steer funky, it was a downside of those systems, like the air. Nowadays, that's all in the steering box. Great pics, btw.

 

Hope you can find a kit

I would leave it as is and mount a triple 7 somewhere.

 

If you cannot find seals try Hercules Sealing Products and the the red book for hydraulic seals. I have the books but they are both on line anymore.

 

They replaced that big filter and is a spin on that does the same job. FleetGuard LF777, Baldwin 7577.
Least of your worries right now.