The strange fitting with the little o-ring where the high pressure hose connects to the late model merc internal steering ram. Id there an adapter fitting to use this hose and screw it into a latham steering filter? (looks to be a standard an fitting comming out of the filter)

post a pic, a hydraulics shop was able to get a new fitting that went to my steering filter. Was machined wrong and lived with it leaking for years.

This piece shown in the photos is from a Mercury Verado pump hose. Is this it?
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yep pretty much like that!

Run down to Parker, they may have that in stock for you.

Tell them to look under Saginaw Power Steering fittings...there's various sizes like 16mm x 1.5 and 18mm x 1.5
Obviously, have them check yours for thread size and type.

GM uses these for some of their EFI systems too.

Many places sell these fittings, so your hyd shop should too:

I was going to say saginaw also

Imco has a fitting that's 3/8 male npt, to female for the line to thread into

got that comming from imco. As for Parker... they are off my list. they charged me over $100 to make 2 14" 3/8 hoses, and refused to put their fitting on the brand new 3/8 hose I had, Went to Agri-Supply today and they made 3 hoses for me using my hose and their fittings. 1 from the filter to the helm and the port and stbd hoses from the helm to the ram thruhull fittings. $45 for everything..

https://www.holley.com/brands/earls/...tion_adapters/

Jeff