big block pulley alignment help
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
big block pulley alignment help
my car is a 71 with a 454 and I am having trouble aligning the p/s pump pulley for the belt to track straight. here is a pic. the nose of the pump needs to be rotated towards the driver side tire. this is a new lower bracket and a rebuilt pump from the local parts house.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
If this is a "new" bracket, was there an old one? This one appears bent at the very least, and possibly it is the wrong bracket. Assuming of course that nothing else has changed (water pump, pulleys, etc.).
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
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From: Jennings LA
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 4,855
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From: Columbia South Carolina
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
I have already tried that, they will space it out from the block, but my pump needs to rotate/twist toward the drivers tire. anyone got pics of how they did theirs? I was thinking of elongating the pump mounting hole and once I had it right building it back up with my mig and redrilling it
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
OK, this may or may not be your problem, but on my 68 bigblock I spent days and weeks trying to line up the frigging p/s pump. I took it off and put it back on several times. I tried 2 different size belts thinking that would work. It made me totally nuts!!!
Finally ..... I figured out that there was a bolt missing!! Without this bolt the p/s pump was not being held in securely so it was impossible to line up properly. The bolt goes in from the FRONT of the p/s pump. Make sure you have that bolt in place!
(I have a thread detailing my problem and solution somewhere in the archives) If the missing bolt seems to be your problem or you want more detail I can probably dig up the old thread.
OK, here is my first thread, like yours, asking for help lining up the p/s pulleys. Lots of good info and suggestion in this thread:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1392299
After I figured out my problem I posted a follow up thread...
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1410900
no pics... hmmm I think i have pics somewhere. good luck!
Here are 2 pics... you can just see the bolt in front. It is shiny and new. The other pic is same shot, just a closeup
hey, Gator79, you were in the old thread!
So you either checked the bolt already.... or you forgot!
Finally ..... I figured out that there was a bolt missing!! Without this bolt the p/s pump was not being held in securely so it was impossible to line up properly. The bolt goes in from the FRONT of the p/s pump. Make sure you have that bolt in place!
(I have a thread detailing my problem and solution somewhere in the archives) If the missing bolt seems to be your problem or you want more detail I can probably dig up the old thread.
OK, here is my first thread, like yours, asking for help lining up the p/s pulleys. Lots of good info and suggestion in this thread:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1392299
After I figured out my problem I posted a follow up thread...
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1410900
no pics... hmmm I think i have pics somewhere. good luck!
Here are 2 pics... you can just see the bolt in front. It is shiny and new. The other pic is same shot, just a closeup
hey, Gator79, you were in the old thread!
So you either checked the bolt already.... or you forgot!
Last edited by PRNDL; Jul 3, 2007 at 02:33 PM.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: AL
my car is a 71 with a 454 and I am having trouble aligning the p/s pump pulley for the belt to track straight. here is a pic. the nose of the pump needs to be rotated towards the driver side tire. this is a new lower bracket and a rebuilt pump from the local parts house.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
OK, this may or may not be your problem, but on my 68 bigblock I spent days and weeks trying to line up the frigging p/s pump. I took it off and put it back on several times. I tried 2 different size belts thinking that would work. It made me totally nuts!!!
Finally ..... I figured out that there was a bolt missing!! Without this bolt the p/s pump was not being held in securely so it was impossible to line up properly. The bolt goes in from the FRONT of the p/s pump. Make sure you have that bolt in place!
hey, Gator79, you were in the old thread! So you either checked the bolt already.... or you forgot!
Finally ..... I figured out that there was a bolt missing!! Without this bolt the p/s pump was not being held in securely so it was impossible to line up properly. The bolt goes in from the FRONT of the p/s pump. Make sure you have that bolt in place!
hey, Gator79, you were in the old thread!
So you either checked the bolt already.... or you forgot! 
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
I worked on quite a bit today and it is lined up pretty good, I ended up shimming with washers again, this seemed to be the only way. I did notice the grooves on the water pump and crank pulley are wider than the other pulleys and this can throw you off just looking at the pulleys. I assume this is normal. what is the width of the original belts?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,608
Likes: 3
From: TEXAS - you mean there are other states?
I know that $%*!@# bolt 
The lower alternator bracket allows for the adjustment on the P/S pump - most likely holds it back from rotating towards the center of the engine.
The one pic shows the front manifold with the wrong bolt - it requires a stud with the hex head in the middle.
I was recently having issues with my idler pulley lining up - but pretty much have that straightened out. I do need to buy the upper stud bolt though. Will get to the P/S pump next.
The lower alternator bracket allows for the adjustment on the P/S pump - most likely holds it back from rotating towards the center of the engine.
The one pic shows the front manifold with the wrong bolt - it requires a stud with the hex head in the middle.
I was recently having issues with my idler pulley lining up - but pretty much have that straightened out. I do need to buy the upper stud bolt though. Will get to the P/S pump next.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 259
Likes: 2
From: Sacramento CA
All the pulleys are Deep Groove so the 3/8" belt will sit lower in the groove. This helps them from flying off at high RPMs. Is your P/S pump pulley cast iron with deep grooves? Looks like it but something must be mis-matched if it doesn't line up. It shouldn't need shimming.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
All the pulleys are Deep Groove so the 3/8" belt will sit lower in the groove. This helps them from flying off at high RPMs. Is your P/S pump pulley cast iron with deep grooves? Looks like it but something must be mis-matched if it doesn't line up. It shouldn't need shimming.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,608
Likes: 3
From: TEXAS - you mean there are other states?
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1392299
See Post # 12 - part that is near bubble # 14
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...t=idler+pulley
See Post # 3
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...t=idler+pulley
Last edited by kaiserbud; Jul 6, 2007 at 12:17 AM.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
From: Fairview TX
As mentioned above, this pump is missing the second bracket. In the photo you can see one of the the studs on the back driver side of the pump that the bracket bolts to.
Look at the diagram here (the actual bracket on this page is the one you have, but the diagram shows both): link
Look at the diagram here (the actual bracket on this page is the one you have, but the diagram shows both): link
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,608
Likes: 3
From: TEXAS - you mean there are other states?
hmmm Frank - I do not see both (if both means you are referring to the idler pulley as well).
I just took some pics of my idler as I am correcting some alignment issues - My friend has my camera - will grab it today and post a pic for ya
I just took some pics of my idler as I am correcting some alignment issues - My friend has my camera - will grab it today and post a pic for ya