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With engine out of my '80, doing some upgrades, I decided to stay with stock power steering linkage with new control valve and cylinder but hate, dbl hate, the pump. Has anyone put in a different...better, simpler-to-install-and-adj-pump??
I've seen the pumps with separate reservoir used in LS swaps. Has anyone fitted one of those to a stock sys??
Thanks for any input or direction.
I don't know what you mean about "simpler to install and adjust pump". The only thing simpler to adjust would be a serpentine belt set up, they'll all have a pulley and hoses. I'm not sure about what complication your trying to simplify.
The stock pump uses a bracket that surrounds the unit making it difficult to get to the tension adj nut. But, before you can adj you must get under the car and losen a metric pivot bolt that allows the unit/pulley to be tightened. After tightening the adj nut you must get back under the car to tighten the pivot bolt.
And, if there's a leak in the outlet connection you must remove the whole unit to tighten it.
Furthermore, it's an outside belt...so, if you need to change other belts you must take the pump belt off first.
There must be a better simpler design out there!!!
The stock pump uses a bracket that surrounds the unit making it difficult to get to the tension adj nut. But, before you can adj you must get under the car and losen a metric pivot bolt that allows the unit/pulley to be tightened. After tightening the adj nut you must get back under the car to tighten the pivot bolt.
And, if there's a leak in the outlet connection you must remove the whole unit to tighten it.
Furthermore, it's an outside belt...so, if you need to change other belts you must take the pump belt off first.
There must be a better simpler design out there!!!
Actually, this is pretty much a set it and forget it set up. Once it's done (except for belt changes that don't happen all that often), there's no reason to mess with it. As for the leak, no, you don't have to remove the pump to get to it, and if it's put together correctly in the first place, chances are slim that it'll leak there. This really isn't that big a deal, but there are options out there. Serpentine belts, an LS type system or spending a bunch of money for a pump with a remote reservoir come to mind, it depends on what you wanna do.
OK, I pressed for comments and got some.....
I guess this is a lesson in "beware of what you ask for".
Thanks for taking time to response. But, I wasn't asking to be convinced the old way is best. Yes, I'm aware of the possible solutions of pump and separate resevoir and changing to a serpentine sys.
My original post is asking for feedback from those that have tried a different pump. I would still appreciate hearing from anyone with some experience on those pumps with integral or separate reservoir.
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.......... Has anyone fitted one of those to a stock sys??
Thanks for any input or direction.
The guy was so clear, he needs an updated pump, I can't see any reason why he shouldn't ask for that and he should stay with the 60 years old technology!!
The stock pump uses a bracket that surrounds the unit making it difficult to get to the tension adj nut. But, before you can adj you must get under the car and losen a metric pivot bolt that allows the unit/pulley to be tightened. After tightening the adj nut you must get back under the car to tighten the pivot bolt.
And, if there's a leak in the outlet connection you must remove the whole unit to tighten it.
Furthermore, it's an outside belt...so, if you need to change other belts you must take the pump belt off first.
There must be a better simpler design out there!!!
I'm able to adjust my ps pump from above. I'm not sure why you feel the need to crawl under your car. You only need to break the pivot bolt loose. But what you describe is going to be the case with pretty much any v-belt setup. Like you've been told, the only real way to simplify things is to convert to a serpentine setup with a tensioner.
The guy was so clear, he needs an updated pump, I can't see any reason why he shouldn't ask for that and he should stay with the 60 years old technology!!
Well, I didn't read the question in such a clear manner nor did others apparently. He doesn't 'need' an updated pump, he's convinced himself that he 'wants' a different pump to solve an issue that nobody else seem to think exists.
I was under the hood on my daily beater yesterday that happens to be exactly 50 years newer in design than the C2/C3 platform. I couldn't find the power steering pump and had to resort to looking at the shop manual. Looks like the engine would have to be lifted to get it out. Hey- there's progress!
From: Where it's always hot as Hell-South Louisiana.
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
I spent 6 hours yesterday changing the a/c compressor on my 2000 GMC truck 5.3 L.... 2 of those hours were wrestling with getting the belt off, and back on.......The compressor removal / install was easier than the fricking belt. I've NEVER had to remove a wheel well to access an a/c pump...lol...
I never saw the power steering pump b/t/way !!!!