Power steering pump alignment
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 695
Likes: 55
From: Palm Desert California
Power steering pump alignment
Hey guys; ran into a problem installing a new P/S pump on my '73 small block. A couple of months ago I replaced the P/S and Alternator belts, everything was fine and in alignment. I knew I had a small leak in the pump but no big deal but later decided to replace it. Bought a reman pump from NAPA Identical to my old one and removed the old pulley (keyed) and installed on the new pump. I installed the new pump and noticed is was out of alignment by a 3/16 inch out toward the radiator. The pulley is sitting as far on the shaft as it will go, it seems the whole pump and bracket need to go toward the block but they will not. the pump sits in its bracket only one way and no adjustment is there to move it. I can't figure what has gone wrong. Measured the distance from the pulley to the pump body on both old and new pumps and got the same distance. Mounted the bracket and pump as per AIM. I am sure that when I replaced the belts that all was fine, I would have noticed a 3/16th offset. Any thoughts on what might have changed ? Sorry for the long post but thought I would give as much info as I could.
Thanks
Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 112
From: Great Plains Iowa
Have you put a straight edge against the pulley to verify it IS a full 3/16" foreword or is that 3/16" an eyeball estimate? You need to have the belt on and tensioned before measuring it.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 695
Likes: 55
From: Palm Desert California
Hey guys; ran into a problem installing a new P/S pump on my '73 small block. A couple of months ago I replaced the P/S and Alternator belts, everything was fine and in alignment. I knew I had a small leak in the pump but no big deal but later decided to replace it. Bought a reman pump from NAPA Identical to my old one and removed the old pulley (keyed) and installed on the new pump. I installed the new pump and noticed is was out of alignment by a 3/16 inch out toward the radiator. The pulley is sitting as far on the shaft as it will go, it seems the whole pump and bracket need to go toward the block but they will not. the pump sits in its bracket only one way and no adjustment is there to move it. I can't figure what has gone wrong. Measured the distance from the pulley to the pump body on both old and new pumps and got the same distance. Mounted the bracket and pump as per AIM. I am sure that when I replaced the belts that all was fine, I would have noticed a 3/16th offset. Any thoughts on what might have changed ? Sorry for the long post but thought I would give as much info as I could.
Thanks
Thanks
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 695
Likes: 55
From: Palm Desert California
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 695
Likes: 55
From: Palm Desert California
Pro
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 508
Likes: 59
From: Oscoda Michigan
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 695
Likes: 55
From: Palm Desert California
Something is wrong for sure. If you turned your core in go buy it back until you figure out what is wrong. I work at a NAPA and we have lots of problems with our rebuilds. Measure everything to determine what is different. On a side note I just returned the radiator I bought from work and ordered a Dewitts, hope this takes care of my problems. Good luck. Mike
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 112
From: Great Plains Iowa
Your belt doesn't line up because you have it on the WRONG PULLEY!
Power steering pumps get their power from the "add on" pulley that bolts to the front of the crankshaft pulley; NOT from the water pump pulley. It appears you have put the belt into the pulley for the smog pump.
I suggest screwing two 1-1/4" NC bolts into the two threaded holes in the front of the pump casting so you can have a "pry point" to adjust the belt tension.
I also suggest you quit sipping the Cool Aid when you're working on your car because its making you crazy........................
Power steering pumps get their power from the "add on" pulley that bolts to the front of the crankshaft pulley; NOT from the water pump pulley. It appears you have put the belt into the pulley for the smog pump.
I suggest screwing two 1-1/4" NC bolts into the two threaded holes in the front of the pump casting so you can have a "pry point" to adjust the belt tension.
I also suggest you quit sipping the Cool Aid when you're working on your car because its making you crazy........................
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 112
From: Great Plains Iowa
And on the big blocks the A/C belt goes around the water pump pulley ONLY which is why the big blocks use an idler pulley to add drive power to the water pump pulley.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,222
Likes: 93
From: shelbyville West Michigan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 112
From: Great Plains Iowa
Yes, all of the A/C equipped big block engines came with a 4" idler pulley that mounted on the left side of the water pump. The 4" pulley was flat-sided and pushed against the backside of the "minimum length" belt to "snub" it. Mine was missing so I made one and mounted it on the right side (see pictures). If you have a A/C equipped big block and would like to make one like mine I'll be glad to send you drawings and dimensions of it.
Last edited by toobroketoretire; Jun 4, 2015 at 07:48 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,338
Likes: 786
From: Redondo Beach, California
A word of advice...
If you have a C3, don't buy a replacement parts from NAPA, PepBoys, Autozone, O'Rielly's..etc.
Buy your replacement part from a recognized C3 vendor. Is this a difficult concept? The typical customer of NAPA, PepBoys, Autozone O'Reilly's is someone driving a daily driver that is a beater. Their prices, their parts, and the parts quality is targeted to this clientele. Buy your C3 parts from a recognized C3 vendor...they know all the fitment issues inside and out. Anyhow, this is my learning...I've spent many 10's of thousands of dollars on C3 parts. Just sharing my learning.
(OK, Actually sometimes NAPA can be a good source for many of the small components, fasteners, etc if you know what you're ordering...the NAPA sales people know nothing about C3's..I'd prefer a Corvette vendor for major rebuilt parts.)
If you have a C3, don't buy a replacement parts from NAPA, PepBoys, Autozone, O'Rielly's..etc.
Buy your replacement part from a recognized C3 vendor. Is this a difficult concept? The typical customer of NAPA, PepBoys, Autozone O'Reilly's is someone driving a daily driver that is a beater. Their prices, their parts, and the parts quality is targeted to this clientele. Buy your C3 parts from a recognized C3 vendor...they know all the fitment issues inside and out. Anyhow, this is my learning...I've spent many 10's of thousands of dollars on C3 parts. Just sharing my learning.
(OK, Actually sometimes NAPA can be a good source for many of the small components, fasteners, etc if you know what you're ordering...the NAPA sales people know nothing about C3's..I'd prefer a Corvette vendor for major rebuilt parts.)
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
unless I missed it, this issue had nothing at all to do with where he bought his part...
For things I cant get local and are more vette specific I use wilcox but for things the parts store do sell I get the free replacement parts and don't seem to have problems.....but of course this isnt an option for purists...
For things I cant get local and are more vette specific I use wilcox but for things the parts store do sell I get the free replacement parts and don't seem to have problems.....but of course this isnt an option for purists...
