Badly misaligned power steering belt
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 699
Likes: 46
From: Charlotte NC
Badly misaligned power steering belt
Been scratching my head on this one all day. Maybe one of you has had the same issue -
working on a 69 427/390 with PS and AC. All factory pulleys and such, nothing modified. My power steering pump sits in the lower cradle just fine and the pulley/belt aligns perfectly with crank and water pump. BUT as I tighten the 2 mounting bolts for the wacky bracket that attaches to the front exhaust manifold bolt and the front of the head - it pushes the top of the ps pump WAY forward (like 1 1/2" !!).
I will admit this car has the '70-up style pump housing on it (the boxy reservoir, not the oval snout). That could be an issue but the reservoir isn't hitting anywhere and I've always been told the pump itself is the same.
could my wacky bracket just be bent all to hell?
working on a 69 427/390 with PS and AC. All factory pulleys and such, nothing modified. My power steering pump sits in the lower cradle just fine and the pulley/belt aligns perfectly with crank and water pump. BUT as I tighten the 2 mounting bolts for the wacky bracket that attaches to the front exhaust manifold bolt and the front of the head - it pushes the top of the ps pump WAY forward (like 1 1/2" !!).
I will admit this car has the '70-up style pump housing on it (the boxy reservoir, not the oval snout). That could be an issue but the reservoir isn't hitting anywhere and I've always been told the pump itself is the same.
could my wacky bracket just be bent all to hell?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
YES..I went through that on a 1967 427 with add on factory power steering set-up. Luckily or me I had the engine on my engine stand after it was rebuilt and could get all the belts/pulleys to line up. I used a laser to me sure they are in line...and this was due to how the old belts looked that I saved when I pulled the engine out for rebuilding.
The power steering reservoir being the boxy squared design has nothing to do with it....because the pumps are the same in shape but may slightly differ visually for those who are sticklers for originality.
On another subject..but related...What I found to be the most aggravating was getting the belt that goes from the crankshaft to the water pump to be the correct length so it fit snugly due to there is not an adjustment for it. I went through numerous belts until I found one that would work.
DUB
The power steering reservoir being the boxy squared design has nothing to do with it....because the pumps are the same in shape but may slightly differ visually for those who are sticklers for originality.
On another subject..but related...What I found to be the most aggravating was getting the belt that goes from the crankshaft to the water pump to be the correct length so it fit snugly due to there is not an adjustment for it. I went through numerous belts until I found one that would work.
DUB
