Power steering question: 1956 + 454 + trans am clip

[jds319]

So here's my situation:

1956 Chevy with a 1979 Trans Am front clip and a 1977 454 BBC with long water pump.

Problem: I have an early 1970's BBC power steering pump + brackets + pulley, but the outlet lines to the steering box run the opposite direction as the power steering pump that came off of the 1979 Trans Am. I cannot use the Trans Am power steering pump on the big block because the brackets don't match up.

Any ideas? What have other people running BBC's and Firebird / Camaro front clips using for their power steering pumps / pressure lines?

Does this make sense? I don't feel like I'm explaining my problem very well. HELP!!

[mr48chev]

First, does the "early" big block power steering pump you have match up to the engine and long water pump?

The basic pump was the same for years but the differences are in the reservoir and the outlet valve on the high pressure side. Reservoirs are model specific and often don't fit different engines or even different models with the same engine.

Set the pumps side by side on the bench and take a look at the dffferences and similarities. You should see that the outlet valves (fittings) are in the same spot on both pumps and the location of the bolts that hold the reservoir should be in the same spots.

You might get away with swapping the reservoirs from pump to pump. It is an easy job and you mainly have to make sure that the O rings are all in the right spots when you put it back together.

You may have to mix and match pressure hoses to make things work and you may have to swap out the pressure outlet valves (fittings) from pump to pump so that the hose will connect to the pump.

[jds319]

mr48chev,

First, thanks so much for your thoughtful reply ... you're a lifesaver.

The early pump I have (pictured on the right below in first pic; on the left in the second) does bolt up to my engine and long water pump. Bolts up great. The only problem is that the hard line (return line) is bent towards the engine on the early BBC pump, and the one from the Trans Am (picture on the left below in the first pic; right in the second) dumps out away from the engine.





The bolting holes for the top bracket are in the same places; on the original Trans Am pump, however, there is a spacer between the pump and the bracket on one of the mounting holes. My big block bracket won't mate to it without some non-stock spacing adjustments. Doing that I'm afraid will shift my pulley / water pump mount alignment. That's why I'm afraid that switching the reservoirs won't help me, but please correct me if I'm wrong.
Ideally, I'd have the BBC pump (the one with brackets attached) with the hard line going in the direction of the stock Trans Am pump (no brackets as seen in the picture).

Any more thoughts?? Is there any way I can bend / modify the hard line outlet on the big block pump?

[jds319]

May have diagnosed the problem. Dad thinks the outlet on the BBC pump was damaged and bent the wrong way. AutoZone is bringing in a replacement part to match the motor tomorrow, so i hope to have an answer then. Fingers crossed.

[solidaxel]

A. Make the pump fit the engine and water pump

B. Work on the high pressure line, it may be that you try different GM high pressure hoses with the right bends, or have one made up to fit your application

C. get the return line to fit, may mean changing the resovier and "O" rings

Keep at it you will get it to work.......... these damn hot rods!!!!!!!!!!