Car: 94 LT1 Coupe. Engine is modified and heads are worked... Runs higher rpm's than stock LT1. Headers, Hot Cam, Crane Roller Rockers etc...

Problem: About a month ago I noticed my serpentine belt was fraying badly on the front edge. I suspected a bad power steering pump as I was getting some leakage under the car. I ordered a new pump from Turn One.

When I started disassembling things I noticed that the power steering pump was loose. The two bolts holding it to the accessory bracket were stripped out (mechanic had placed vinyl tape on the threads to get it to bite!!?) so the pump had a lot of play for obvious reasons. The old pump appears to be in good working order so the leak is from someplace else. The new Turn One pump is going on anyway.

I ordered a new Generator/AC Compressor and Power Steering Pump Bracket, Tensioner Assembly, and a new Idler Pulley to go with the new Turn One Power Steering Pump.

I started reassembling things tonight and noticed that I am missing a few parts according to my Helms manual. (I carefully layed out the parts on the work bench that I took off so they were not on the car when I started my work)

Missing items are:

According to Helms Section 3B-9 Figure 5
1.) Idler Shield
2.) Power Steering Bracket.
3.) Rear Inner Support Brace aka Generator Mounting Brace (fig. 2 Section 6D3-4)
4.) Outer Support Brace
5.) Rear Support Brace

My car has a set of Hooker Super Comp headers so Items 4 & 5 cannot be used on my car. At least not that I can see. (Revision: I did a forum search and found what some others have done to use items 4&5 using the original manifiold stud.)

Question: How important/vital are the others? I would assume that the most important are items 1, 2 and 3. Probably 100% necessary. Is there any "Hot Rodder" reasoning behind leaving some of these off?

My poor car was not in good hands before me and went through one botched engine transplant with the previous owner. Most recently the engine was rebuilt by a highly reputable builder. However he does not put the motors in. The guy that placed the engine in my car turned out to be less than good and threw things together and either things were missing from previous owner or my mechanic left them off!?!

Anyone else have fun with this type of situation??

BTW: Avoid Gary Traywick, a mechanic in Columbus, Georgia reputed to be a corvette expert. Not a detailed mechanic, with poorly staffed shop and not enough time to take care of vettes. He will not stand behind his work or that of his employees. Just stay away from the guy...

 

Going to order it all and try to put it all on the car. This is the only way I see to firm this thing up if I am running higher rpm's. I don't need this thing comings apart a 6000-6500 rpm's!

To the newer guys. This is a good reason to buy the shop manuals from Helms. When your car comes back from the mechanic you can eyeball it and makes sure a bad mechanic didn't get into a rush and omit a few parts... All of us know this feeling. Putting a project back together and saying "Why the Hell do I have this extra bolt?" If it is your car you figure it out. A bad mechanics just throws it out figuring that whatever problem it causes down the line he will get paid to fix anyway! *#@% hacks!