check power stearing fluid?
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Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Austin Tx
check power stearing fluid?
It seemed like a simple task untill I tried. My car is a 1976 model with the L48 engine and 4 speed manual transmission. It has power brakes and stearing and A/C. I guess you guys know that the power stearing dip stick is just below the alternator bracket and cannot be removed (I can't anyway). So I stuck a screw driver in and it came out wet so I guess its ok. Is their a trick to this?
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Novelty OH
same thing
same thing on my 77' l48. I used the screwdriver method as well. I tried bending things a fair amount and every angle... I'm afraid I'll destroy the cap/dispstick assembly if I bend it any further!
I'm ready to grind the alternator bracket down some to gain clearance there.
-Matt
I'm ready to grind the alternator bracket down some to gain clearance there.
-Matt
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Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I have to pull mine out at an angle as well. I don't know why they couldn't have made the neck on the reservoir shorter. Sure would have helped.
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Team Owner
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From: Huntersville NC
Depends on your accessories. I was amazed at how difficult such a simple task can be! If you ever have occasion to remove your alternator, don't miss the opportunity to check your p/s fluid! 
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,861
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From: New Zealand
Originally Posted by tom102
I put a shorter power steering belt on mine and no more problem.
..........funny that I was just checking mine today and I didn't have any problems.........course mine is a '71 and the bracket setup is unique to my year............I know the belts on mine were all wrong when I bought it.....I also know that the reservoir is attached to the pump and the reservoir moves with it when you adjust the pump to tighten the belt......
....there's not a lot of adjustment in the pump/reservoir, but I think a shorter (or correct) belt should do the trick...........at any rate, there's something weird going on because you have to be able to remove the cap
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From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Originally Posted by scb
It seemed like a simple task untill I tried. My car is a 1976 model with the L48 engine and 4 speed manual transmission. It has power brakes and stearing and A/C. I guess you guys know that the power stearing dip stick is just below the alternator bracket and cannot be removed (I can't anyway). So I stuck a screw driver in and it came out wet so I guess its ok. Is their a trick to this?
Get a slightly longer PS belt which will allow the cap to come out w/ some finesse.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Austin Tx
Thanks for the replys. I will check out a different length belt. But what an *** am I when it come to spelling. Sorry but I have never been any good at it. Thanks to mrvette for a good joke. There is a famous stear that lives in my town named Bevo. power steering, power steering ect.
Race Director
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From: A 12/8 man in a 4/4 world
I was going to recomend checking belt length.
even then with all the twisting and angleing most of the fluid has dipped off the scale.
I use my index finger. it is soft and plyable. works good too!
even then with all the twisting and angleing most of the fluid has dipped off the scale.
I use my index finger. it is soft and plyable. works good too!
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 690
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From: near Memphis TN
Originally Posted by JoieDeVivre
I was going to recomend checking belt length.
even then with all the twisting and angleing most of the fluid has dipped off the scale.
I use my index finger. it is soft and plyable. works good too!
even then with all the twisting and angleing most of the fluid has dipped off the scale.
I use my index finger. it is soft and plyable. works good too!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
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Originally Posted by Ganey
Get a slightly longer PS belt which will allow the cap to come out w/ some finesse.
I dunno why some of you guys are saying get a shorter belt.
A longer belt is what you want. A shorter one will move the reservoir farther under the bracket. It's a common problem that a lot of us have dealt with.
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: North Canton Ohio
The problem on my 75 L48 wasn't the belt or alternator location, it was the alternator bracket. There was no way to pull the cap off without interference from the bracket. When I did the head swap and completely new dual exhaust, I bought a ram's horn exhaust manifold from an older Vette that had the alternator mount on it. This solved the power steering cap access problem (the reservoir was nearly dry when I actually got to it), and gave me a place to mount the alternator without having to drill into the new heads.