I've got my restoration almost complete and am working on the engine. The powersteering pump for my 68 seems too tight to the alternator and there is no adjustment. Can anyone help me with this?
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj78/curiouschris/P6290873.jpg



http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj78/curiouschris/P6290877.jpg

since you have headers you will need a spacer for the adjusting bracket that mounts to the head.

Thanks. Do you mean the bracket that mounts the ps? If you mean the bolt that goes into the first header bolt hole then I already did that. There just doesn't seem to be enough room between the inner well and the alternator.

. There just doesn't seem to be enough room between the inner well and the alternator.

I don't understand your meaning. The alternator is hitting the inner fender? The P/S pump is hitting the bottom of the alternator? What is hitting what, and what exactly is the problem?:confused::confused::confused:
BillL

There is only about an inch space between the inner and the ps pump when you push the pump all the way up so that it hits the alternator(see pic) I do have more room to move the pump toward the alternator but the alternator cant move any further toward the head. And that ihch is with the alternator pushed all the way forward on the bracket(toward the head) so that there is no more adjustment for it on the alternator bracket.(see pic) Does that make better sense?

So the problem would be; that I would have to split that inch between the alternator and the ps pump for both of their tension adjustments. That doesn't seem enough room for adjustment for tension. I mean even if I shimmed the bracket for the ps pump more. the width of the ps pump and alternator when put together is still only about an inch short of the total distance you have to work with between the inner the and furthest adjustment of the alternator. ??????? I hope that explains it.

I still don't know what you mean by "the inner and the ps pump". The inner what???

One thing that is wrong is that the top alternator bracket goes behind the ear on the alternator, not in front of it. The bolt goes through the slot in the bracket and into the threaded hole in the alternator.
It appears that you're using the truck style power steering pump. It may be that you need a different cradle (lower bracket) for the P/S pump that would drop it lower, or that the truck pump cover is taller and won't let the pump move under the alternator. I've yet to do one of these conversions, so I don't know what kind of problems it creates.
You do know that the alternator and the P/S each have their own belt and pulley? I.E. one belt doesn't run over both components. The alternator belt goes over the rear crank pulley, the water pump and the alternator. If you have A/C, it's belt goes over the next pulley towards the front on the crank, over the water pump and A/C compressor. The P/S belt goes on last, to the front crank pulley and to the P/S pump. I've emailed you a bunch of pics of the original set up on my car for you to compare, hope that helps.
BillL

With headers, you will need to go to your local parts store who sells parts from the "help" section and buy a alternator bottom spacer for a 69-72 BBC.Then remove the TOP P/S bracket.Get a 18 tooth hacksaw and cut a 1" piece from the spacer,Put that piece between the header and the top bracket with a 1" longer header bolt.This will allow you to have a longer slot to ajust the P/S.That's what I did and it worked for me.

Bill,

Sorry. "inner: The inner fender well.

The distance between how far the alternator will adjust toward the head: from there to the inner fender well will never change. Lets call that distance "A" When you put the alternator and the ps pump side by side touching you have "X" amount of distance. distance "X". From the front of the car looking into the engine bay, distance "X:" would be from the outer left side of the alternator to the right most side of the power steering pump. Distance "X" appears to be an inch short of the distance "A" regardless of how you space it, set it up, stick it in there. Check out the first picture and look at the left most edge of the ps pump. it's about an inch from the inner fender well. it cant move any more toward the alternator(even though it have room on the bracket) because it hits the alternator which is already as far forward toward the head.

And you don't think that I have the correct pump? I was told that this pump is correct for 68 and I double checked on ebay for other 68's. Please tell me I have the correct pump.

OK, I think I understand what you're saying now. The top pic shows the P/S pump at it's maximum outside adjustment and you're not hitting the inner fender. The pump can't move any further towards the fender, so you're OK there.
If the problem is that you can't move the pump in towards the alternator, then you possibly have the wrong cradle (lower bracket) or pump. The pump isn't for a '68 car. Look at the location and the direction of the return line fitting on your pump and the (correct) one in this pic. See how yours is pointing up and over the pressure fitting while the other is pointing down and to the right and is more towards the top of the cover?
As I said, I don't have any experience with the truck-style pumps and brackets, so that may be your problem. You need to find out what part of the pump is hitting so it can't move back. If it's the pump cover hitting the lower alternator bracket or the alternator, you may be able to gently dent the cover for clearance. You can also remove the cover and use an acetelyne torch to heat and remove the return line fitting and braze it back in a more correct position so the return line from the steering box will fit easier.
BillL

Ok. you got what I'm talking about now. yes. its that the pump can't move/adjust toward the alternator cause it's hitting the alternator which is at its outer most adjustment on the bracket and also that the alternator cant move toward the ps pump cause the pump is at its outer most adjustment on the bracket. Even if I could get them to adjiust on the bracket. There would only be an inch total to split between the two. Ok. now, how do I get the correct pump? where?

First, let's see if we can get the alternator to adjust. DIsconnect the battery, take the bolts out of the alternator brackets, and mount the alternator so the top bracket goes to the back side of the alternator, not the front side. See if this allows the alternator to move freely throughout it's range.
Next, remove the P/S adjusting bracket from the header and the pump and see if that lets the pump move all the way. If it does, then you'll probably need to space the adjuster bracket further away from the header with a longer spacer. Keep me updated.

I guess you can call the resto places and have them look at the pics in this thread to see if their pumps are correct or hit the wrecking yards. The parts books show that the pump, brace, and bracket are all '68 Chevelle only, with different numbers for the '66~'67 cars, so pickings in the junk yard will be pretty slim, I imagine.
BillL

Glad I checked in today as I am at this point of finish work ...THANKS Bill ..and others ...:thumbsup:
Should be on the road in a month or so ....:hurray::hurray::hurray: