Power steering reservoir

boilermaster · Saturday at 4:14 PM

First thread in a long time.
1971 fb 351 power steering
My power steering pump reservoir comes very close to my shock tower near the return hose.
Thru extensive searches, I have determined that I have the correct brackets and spacer.
I also found that there are at least two pump reservoirs a short (which is on my junker pump, dents in reservoir) and a long (which I have on my engine now.
I would like to know the correct part # for the reservoir and are the short and long reservoir interchangeable?
if they are interchangeable, how does one accomplish this, (is there an internal spacer (possibly threaded? ) like the retainer nut and hose locating nut?.
my old pump is HBA-CF.
This additional 3/16'' clearance would be a great help
Currently using #9510 belt with ac (small diameter) water pump pulley .560'' spacer at the cylinder head.
West coast classic cougars has some reservoirs (used) and they list an OEM part # but do not say how deep the reservoir is.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Boilermaster

Don C · Saturday at 7:50 PM

HBA-CF isn't shown in my parts catalog, nor StangerSite's pump decoder:
https://www.stangerssite.com/FP_IDchart.html
nor the Fordification site:
https://www.fordification.com/mpc/sec30/sec36-1/sec36-1_12.htm
There are several different reservoirs for the different pump codes in the parts catalog, but no idea what the differences are, diameter, depth, dipstick location, or ???

giantpune · Saturday at 7:57 PM

Do you have a picture of the one that's in your car? Is it possible that running a shorter v-belt will bring the pump in closer to the engine and away from the shock tower?

boilermaster · Saturday at 8:55 PM

giantpune,
been there and done that. longer belt actually makes the situation marginally better.
like I stated there is a solid 3/16'' difference the two reservoirs in depth.
I could possibly gain a little by clocking the reservoir to the pump, but rather not go there before I find the right part.
a small possibility that some of this exists because my block has been decked and heads shaved some too.
I found that out because of the alternator bracket was not a good fit, when I tightened the long 7/16'' bolt the 5/16'' bolts at the water pump did not line up, tried 3 different brackets and the same result each time, finally got the dremel out.
This would have the same result at the ps pump, putting the threaded boss in the cylinder head a little lower and outboard.
I guess for now my plan is to call Classic cougars and see if he will take a measurement of the reservoir/s he has.
Kind of surprised more owners of 7173's have not run into this issue (how many still have an oem pump reservoir ?
I have less than 3/8'' clearance from the res to the shock tower.
Boilermaster

boilermaster · Saturday at 9:32 PM

Don C,
looks like I have homework, Thank you.
Boilermaster

72MustangSprint · 2024-12-22T08:48:26-0500

I have a spare p/s pump with pulley that came off a parts car that I’d sell . $50 plus shipping

Stanglover · 2024-12-22T09:25:54-0500

I did a lengthy thread on my pumps problems.
What seems a bit strange here is that I have now done 3 rebuilds on 71 Mustang pumps and all have been identical size wise. I'm not sure how the reservoir can be shorter and still fit the internal canister. Also, the pump bracket fits tight to the back end of the reservoir.
I think perhaps you have a pump from a different year or car model.
I hope I'm reading your post correctly. While not the best pic, but is pic #3 where your problem is? ( ignore arrow in pic #2)

boilermaster · 2024-12-22T11:39:07-0500

OK,
First off after researching Don c's information, I do in fact have HBA-CN, which should be D1ZZ-3A-697-A that WCC has.
When I measure the two reservoir's I get 3.862" from the lip flange to square at the rear of the reservoir.
On the replacement pump from Rockauto, I get 4.000" or a difference of .138"
If we look at 72mustangsprin's img. 1367 the place where I have the clearance issue is in the return hose pipe, right where the little strap is spot welded to the reservoir.
the clearance there is only .193" or 3/16''.
If we do a little math, with the shorter reservoir that should give me .331'' or 5/16'' a big improvement.
Stanglover, do you recall, when reinstalling the reservoir, is there anything that (clocks) the reservoir in position , or can it be rotated slightly ? that would also give additional clearance.
Boilermaster

Stanglover · 2024-12-22T13:53:20-0500

boilermaster said:
Stanglover, do you recall, when reinstalling the reservoir, is there anything that (clocks) the reservoir in position , or can it be rotated slightly ? that would also give additional clearance.
Boilermaster

Not really. The reservoir can move somewhat, but I place the fill tube as vertical as I can.
I'll go freeze my a$$ off in the shed and measure the spare can I have. Stay tuned!
EDIT:
The can I have is pretty beat up, measures between 3.900" and 3.930" from the lip to the back. There seems to be quite a variation between them.

boilermaster · 2024-12-22T14:45:51-0500

Stanglover, good to know.
Where your fill tube looks ever so little biased to the passenger side, mine tends to be biased just a little to the drivers side.
Belt tension and length would have a lot to do with the fill tube finally rests.
Boilermaster

Stanglover · 2024-12-22T15:18:25-0500

boilermaster said:
Stanglover, good to know.
Where your fill tube looks ever so little biased to the passenger side, mine tends to be biased just a little to the drivers side.
Belt tension and length would have a lot to do with the fill tube finally rests.
Boilermaster

That is true.

Power steering reservoir

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