New power steering pump hitting strut tower

[sdstang]

I'm putting together the front of my engine and spent most of the day on the power steering pump install. when i tried to adjust it it would hit the strut tower. I talked to one of the guys on the site and he had 1/4 clearence. I had an old one and after some trial and error it seems that the housing on the cardone was 3/16 taller then the one I had. I messed up the cardone pump when i tried to take it apart so so i could put that pump in my original housing. Now i need to get a new pump to use with my housing.

Anyone else ever run into this?

Is swaping out the pump in the housing much of an issue?

One step forward, two steps back!

 

[rocket366]

I got a rebuilt pump from the Zone (351c) and

there is not much clearance to the tower about 3/8in

Perhaps a shorter belt will help the old belt

may have stretched

 

[Don C]

Perhaps a shorter belt will help the old belt

may have stretched

+1

Try a shorter belt, I don't have any clearance problems with mine.

 

[mustang7173]

sdstang,

Here is the FMC Master Catalog for the 1971 -1972 Belts for the 351C 2/B. 351C, 4/B, CJ and Boss 351. This can serve as a reference to finding the right length belt.

1971 Mustang

1972 Mustang

Source: Ford Master Catalog, May 1975

mustang7173

 

[sdstang]

its not really the belt. when i tightin the pump down it hits the strut tower as the cardone bump goes back 1/4 inch further then my stock pump. what really sucks is the i sanded down the new pump and repainted it as the paint it comes with it flakes off. Il going to see if i can find another manufacturer or rebuild mine.

 

[mustang7173]

sdstang,

Can you post us some pictures?

mustang7173

 

[sdstang]

sdstang,

Can you post us some pictures?

mustang7173

No, i have both pumps disassembled. i might try one other auto parts place and will take pics if that doesnt work.

 

[mustang7173]

sdstang,

Man, I hate you are having a time with the P/S. When I had my Saginaw P/S box rebuilt, I bought a brand new P/S from RockAuto. I installed and so far have had no problems.

Lets us know your progress there.

mustang7173

 

[jeff8877]

I am wondering if you have the brackets installed correctly...when I tighten mine down it does not move like you describe and if it is flexing towards tower may be an indication that bracket is twisting and not installed right??

 

[OMS]

Did you remember the spacer on the bolt?

There are 2 brackets 1 for a/c and 1 for non- a/c cars

There are also 2 different spacers

 

[sdstang]

Did you remember the spacer on the bolt?

There are 2 brackets 1 for a/c and 1 for non- a/c cars

There are also 2 different spacers

Don,

I didn't have spacers when I dismentaled mine?

Now that I look closely at the assembly diagram I can see a spacer but it shows for W/O AC.

I have AC. Are you sure I still need a spacer?

-Jim


Here is a view of my old pump. It looks like I might have had just a slight degree of clearence. With the new pump I make contact with the Tower.

 

[rocket366]

not sure if this helps

My 351 car had A/C but removed by PO.

I have about a 3/4 in spacer between the bracket and the head

without which it would hit the shock tower.

You NEED to check the belt alignment from the crank pulley

to the PS pulley with a straightedge to confirm.

Paul

 

[RacerX]

Are your motor mounts in good shape? not collapsed or moved ? That would possibly cause the engine to shift closer to the shock tower.

 

[mustang7173]

sdstang,

The spacer is only required when the A/C option was not installed. It is might close though. Is that the part number of the belt in the picture?

mustang7173

 

[sdstang]

Are your motor mounts in good shape? not collapsed or moved ? That would possibly cause the engine to shift closer to the shock tower.

My motor mounts seem ok. The on in the pic it still most likely a remane and possible a different case as well. I put togeter one with a new pump and will fit it here shortly. Can anyone tell me what kind of clearence the have?

 

[OMS]

Did you remember the spacer on the bolt?

There are 2 brackets 1 for a/c and 1 for non- a/c cars

There are also 2 different spacers

Don,

I didn't have spacers when I dismentaled mine?

Now that I look closely at the assembly diagram I can see a spacer but it shows for W/O AC.

I have AC. Are you sure I still need a spacer?

-Jim


Here is a view of my old pump. It looks like I might have had just a slight degree of clearence. With the new pump I make contact with the Tower.

Jim if the belt lines up good you do not need a spacer

 

[sdstang]

I bought another cardone pump only, installed it i'm my old housing, then notices a defect in the high pressure side compression surface. The hose wont seal. Waiting for a new pump. What a pain!!

-Jim

 

[sdstang]

So here is what I learned. The reman Cardone pump had a newly manufactured housing. This housing was 3/16 longer then a stock one. This in of itself shown be ok because the pump should slide deeper inside the housing. This wasnt the case with mine so when the nut was tightened on the back the housing indented in to hit the back of the pump. This left the over all lenght of the pump longer by 1/4 of an inch. I went to another Napa that had reused older housings(dented) and they all measured the same as my stock pump. I ended up buying one with an old housing and ofcouse need to detail it by filling small imperfections and painting. Hopefully it will work in a few months when i hit startup. The manager at Napa said to bring it back anytime given all the trouble i had.

 

[sdstang]

After detailing my pump i installed the pulley. I noticed that the was some in and out play of the shaft that i didnt feel on the last one(still might have been there). Can someone check thiers to see if the feel the same play? With the quality issues im having im concerned about something in the pump messing up my $400 quick turn steering box rebuild. does anyone know how far Cardone goes to rebuild thier pumps?

Thanks for everyones help.