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I'm in the process of installing the Borgeson power steering in my 68 327/350 car. I have the IDIDIT steering column. In talking to IDIDIT, they said NOT to collapse there column. So I cut 2.5 inches off the end. I used a cut off wheel to cut it, and to form the DD on the end to fit the rag joint. I had to remove the end bearing on the column and reinstall it. The issue was to figure out how much to cut off. I used a wooden dowel as a stand in for the shaft. See pic. It's impossible to leave the column in place and install the box to get a measurement. Once the box was installed, I used the dowel to measure how much to cut off. Whew,,,, it fit. The column has a bit of adjustment in it (left right, up down). I made sure not to tighted the column bolts untill the rag joint was installed, to line up with the new steering box. I also made sure the rag joint wasn't tight, (in and out), untill the column was set. I'm really looking forward to driving my car with power steering.
The issue I'm having now is the power steering pump pulley. I tried the steel double pulley. It was to wide. It rubs against the alternator belt. So I tried a single steel pulley. It doesn't line up with the other pulleys. It isn't far enough to the rear. For those with the 327 350 hp small block, and the Borgeson steering box. Will the cast iron single pulley work?
I went through a similar problem when I added AC to my '73. Somewhere either on a vendor's website or on this forum are some belt diagrams similar to this one that has part numbers for the various pulleys. I had to replace one pulley at least but I've slept since then and can't remember much more about what I had to do.
If you read within the thread you will also find several other posts with lists of pulleys to mate things together and the ones I ended up using on mine. There are several tables to see what matches. Ask if you have anymore questions. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1595410814
If you tell us your crank pulley part numbers we can probably figure out what you need.....hopefully you got a 68 PS pump... does it have a keyway?
Last edited by carriljc; Aug 29, 2019 at 09:39 AM.
If you read within the thread you will also find several other posts with lists of pulleys to mate things together and the ones I ended up using on mine. There are several tables to see what matches. Ask if you have anymore questions. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1595410814
If you tell us your crank pulley part numbers we can probably figure out what you need.....hopefully you got a 68 PS pump... does it have a keyway?
I can see in your picture it looks like a single groove cast iron pulley. This is what I ordered. In looking at the original cast iron pulleys, there are 2 groove and single groove cast iron pulleys. I think the single groove pulley slot is the same as the rear slot of the 2 groove. My pump is a Borgeson pump,,, with a keyway.
Why don't you get the pulley number off the forward most crank pulley on your car? We can then ascertain what should fit with it.
Originally Posted by kodpkd
I can see in your picture it looks like a single groove cast iron pulley. This is what I ordered. In looking at the original cast iron pulleys, there are 2 groove and single groove cast iron pulleys. I think the single groove pulley slot is the same as the rear slot of the 2 groove. My pump is a Borgeson pump,,, with a keyway.
Interesting what you find... I just looked at my water pump pulley. It isn't aligned with the balancer pulley. It is a bit to far back. I just ordered fan pulley spacers. It has been this way since I got the car. The fan pulley is shimmed with washers, now I can do it right with correct spacers. UGH!!!!
I'll see if I can find a crank pulley part number.
While you're there get the pulley number from the forwardmost pulley on the water pump also. I tried zooming in on your water pump pulleys and I cannot see very clearly.... are those pulleys mating flatly against each other or not?
Originally Posted by kodpkd
Interesting what you find... I just looked at my water pump pulley. It isn't aligned with the balancer pulley. It is a bit to far back. I just ordered fan pulley spacers. It has been this way since I got the car. The fan pulley is shimmed with washers, now I can do it right with correct spacers. UGH!!!!
I'll see if I can find a crank pulley part number.
Last edited by carriljc; Aug 29, 2019 at 01:41 PM.
While you're there get the pulley number from the forwardmost pulley on the water pump also. I tried zooming in on your water pump pulleys and I cannot see very clearly.... are those pulleys mating flatly against each other or not?
I'll need to take the pump pulley off. I will get the number off of it. I took a pic of the lower pulley,,,, no numbers on it that I can see. Here is a pic of the shorter column and rag joint installed.
I'm thinking you should not be needing spacers. With the pulley part numbers we should have all the info necessary to get you lined up unless you got some oddball PS pump. Note that my PS belt goes to the center crankshaft pulley (is front pulley if the 3rd add-on pulley is not attached) only, and does not go around the water pump pulley.... I mention that just to let you know that it doesn't squeal.
Originally Posted by kodpkd
Interesting what you find... I just looked at my water pump pulley. It isn't aligned with the balancer pulley. It is a bit to far back. I just ordered fan pulley spacers. It has been this way since I got the car. The fan pulley is shimmed with washers, now I can do it right with correct spacers. UGH!!!!
I'll see if I can find a crank pulley part number.
Last edited by carriljc; Aug 30, 2019 at 10:53 AM.
That was my next thought, to go directly from the steering pump to the crank pulley. BUT,,,, I don't have triple pulleys and the second belt running the water pump is a good safety backup in case the single water pump belt breaks. I think a shim on the water pump pulley and a cast iron pump pulley will do the trick. Kind of frustrating, I have a pulley on order and can't get any shipping date. So I am forced to just wait. I can't see any part numbers on the crank pulley.
It's all good to go around the water pump. I'm a bit lost as to what pulley your ordered, but below is the one that is on my car and an image from the assembly manual. The only reason I have the forward-most pulleys on mine is to run the A/C ..... before that I was running with the PS as shown and did not have the forward-most pulleys installed. (From all I can find the 1968 L79 could not be had with a/c and ps).
Do you have an assembly manual?
Note that my PS belt goes to the center crankshaft pulley
The varied belt alignment options on our cars is interesting. On my '73, the power steering belt goes to the front, AC belt is inside (Vintage Air w/Sanden compressor) and then alternator belt is like yours. My belts don't squeal either but the AC belt hits the lower radiator hose shield after it loosens up a bit so I have to tighten it every so often. If I don't, the belt eventually wears from hitting the shield and breaks. It would easier to change if mine were like yours. I'm planning a swap to a serpentine system over the winter.
I have the top water pump pulley #3848904 CS I'm pretty sure I have the 327/350 crank pulley 3858533. I ordered the single cast iron pulley for my steering pump, #3834720. It is correct for 68 327ci 350hp high performance.
Yah. Mine is "custom" (fancy word for jury-rigged) since from all I can see you could not get the 68 L79 with PS AND a/c... when I added a/c it was a pain and I actually ran the generic PS pulley mounted backwards for a while until I decided to modify the a/c mount to move it forward and use the forward-most "smog" pulleys. I have a pair of plastic tye-wraps around my lower radiator hose in case the belt gets loose and decides to hit the hose.... it really hasn't but I'm just paranoid.
If I was to do it nowadays I would probably just swap to 80s-90s C4 serpentine system since they seem readily available and quite cheap compared to buying all these individual pulleys which have become ridiculously expensive for what they are.
Originally Posted by DC3
The varied belt alignment options on our cars is interesting. On my '73, the power steering belt goes to the front, AC belt is inside (Vintage Air w/Sanden compressor) and then alternator belt is like yours. My belts don't squeal either but the AC belt hits the lower radiator hose shield after it loosens up a bit so I have to tighten it every so often. If I don't, the belt eventually wears from hitting the shield and breaks. It would easier to change if mine were like yours. I'm planning a swap to a serpentine system over the winter.
If you have pulleys 3848904 water pump and 3858533 crankshaft, then I'm suspecting they should align without shims..... Anyway, when you get the 3834720 hopefully it all lines up... otherwise will probably have to eyeball those part numbers...and it looks like you have to remove the pulleys to verify anyway.
Originally Posted by kodpkd
I have the top water pump pulley #3848904 CS I'm pretty sure I have the 327/350 crank pulley 3858533. I ordered the single cast iron pulley for my steering pump, #3834720. It is correct for 68 327ci 350hp high performance.
Last edited by carriljc; Aug 31, 2019 at 11:52 AM.
Reason: fix part numbers
Borgeson power steering
