PS Pump removal
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 93
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From: Palm Springs, CA USA
PS Pump removal
I have the parts on order to try and reseal my ps pump and thanks to Jim Shea for the diagrams to help me along. Now my next problem. I have everything loose to remove the pump but I believe there is one last bolt that has to come out. From the diagrams it look like there is one short bolt at the front bottom of the pump that goes through the brace. Is that correct? How in the world do you get at that one and more important how do you get it back in? Almost looks like you need to remove the hood and the radiator to get at it. Any advice is appreciated. If I have it right, there are 2 bolts on the front of the pump that come out and 2 in the back that are part of the pump. Thanks, Wells
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
What year and engine? The front bolt usually comes out by itself! 
I had a real hard time getting mine back in, but managed to reach up blind from underneath while my wife wiggled the p/s pump until I "found the hole." For tightening it I was actually able to reach it from above (I am tall) so I guess I could loosen it that way too. The pulley does get in the way. The 2 nuts in back i had to reach up from underneath.
Also, to reach that front bolt - since it is all the way at the front of the car you would tend to stick your head under the car with your feet and body sticking out the front of the car. That didn't work for me. I had to be on my back with my feet down by the rear wheels in order to reach the bolt.
I had a real hard time getting mine back in, but managed to reach up blind from underneath while my wife wiggled the p/s pump until I "found the hole." For tightening it I was actually able to reach it from above (I am tall) so I guess I could loosen it that way too. The pulley does get in the way. The 2 nuts in back i had to reach up from underneath. Also, to reach that front bolt - since it is all the way at the front of the car you would tend to stick your head under the car with your feet and body sticking out the front of the car. That didn't work for me. I had to be on my back with my feet down by the rear wheels in order to reach the bolt.
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Palm Springs, CA USA
I have the 454 engine in a 74, and it looks like everything is loose except this last bolt. I am just trying to make sure it does have to come out to remove the pump as I know it will be hard to get it back in. Wells
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
Originally Posted by wellsw
I have the 454 engine in a 74, and it looks like everything is loose except this last bolt. I am just trying to make sure it does have to come out to remove the pump as I know it will be hard to get it back in. Wells
On mine, and I think this is the standard bigblock setup, the bolt in front goes through a hole in the bracket and into the p/s pump, so obviously it has to come out for the pump to come out. In my case, as I sort of alluded to, I had the opposite problem. My front bolt had fallen out and I didn't realize it was supposed to be there so I spent a lot of time and effort trying to figure out why I couldn't line up the p/s pump pulley and belt properly!
You need the bolt to hold it properly in place.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 93
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From: Palm Springs, CA USA
PS pump brace
I like the idea of removing the entire brace, but when I look at the bolt that holds the top of the brace it seems harder to access than the bottom bolt on the pump. The idler puley is right in front of it and if I could get a wrench on the bolt, I don't think there is any room to turn it. How do you get this bolt out? Thanks, Wells
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