Power Steering Adjusting
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Joined: Dec 2011
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Power Steering Adjusting
I have a 1973 big block with power steering. There is a nut on the back of the steering pump you tighten and loosen to make drive belt tension adjustments.
This nut is very hard to reach. You have to get under the car and use a long extension with a flexible joint, you approach the nut from the rear between the engine block and the exhaust manifold, then you go over the motor mount and try to catch the nut. Very difficult to accomplish.
I decided to try this long hex nut. I trimmed the nut to 1 inch in length, then squared the cut edge and touch up the threads. When you finely get the nut and a washer on the stud on the back of the pump you can tighten it and loosen it at the end of the nut , one inch back from the pump. I was easily able to get a thin 9/16 wrench between the exhaust manifold and the bracket that holds the alternator.
Wish I had figured this out 20 years ago, and a half dozen adjustments later.
This nut is very hard to reach. You have to get under the car and use a long extension with a flexible joint, you approach the nut from the rear between the engine block and the exhaust manifold, then you go over the motor mount and try to catch the nut. Very difficult to accomplish.
I decided to try this long hex nut. I trimmed the nut to 1 inch in length, then squared the cut edge and touch up the threads. When you finely get the nut and a washer on the stud on the back of the pump you can tighten it and loosen it at the end of the nut , one inch back from the pump. I was easily able to get a thin 9/16 wrench between the exhaust manifold and the bracket that holds the alternator.
Wish I had figured this out 20 years ago, and a half dozen adjustments later.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 112
From: Great Plains Iowa
I have a 1971 big block and with good lighting I have found the rear nut can easily be seen and reached with a standard 9/16" open end wrench. So I never do any adjusting from under the car.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 695
Likes: 55
From: Palm Desert California
I have a 1973 big block with power steering. There is a nut on the back of the steering pump you tighten and loosen to make drive belt tension adjustments.
This nut is very hard to reach. You have to get under the car and use a long extension with a flexible joint, you approach the nut from the rear between the engine block and the exhaust manifold, then you go over the motor mount and try to catch the nut. Very difficult to accomplish.
I decided to try this long hex nut. I trimmed the nut to 1 inch in length, then squared the cut edge and touch up the threads. When you finely get the nut and a washer on the stud on the back of the pump you can tighten it and loosen it at the end of the nut , one inch back from the pump. I was easily able to get a thin 9/16 wrench between the exhaust manifold and the bracket that holds the alternator.
Wish I had figured this out 20 years ago, and a half dozen adjustments later.
This nut is very hard to reach. You have to get under the car and use a long extension with a flexible joint, you approach the nut from the rear between the engine block and the exhaust manifold, then you go over the motor mount and try to catch the nut. Very difficult to accomplish.
I decided to try this long hex nut. I trimmed the nut to 1 inch in length, then squared the cut edge and touch up the threads. When you finely get the nut and a washer on the stud on the back of the pump you can tighten it and loosen it at the end of the nut , one inch back from the pump. I was easily able to get a thin 9/16 wrench between the exhaust manifold and the bracket that holds the alternator.
Wish I had figured this out 20 years ago, and a half dozen adjustments later.
