[RacnJsn95]

I'm in the process of putting all the accessories onto the engine of my 68, getting it ready for a Chevelle and Elcamino picknic next weekend. I've come to some strange problem. With the alt bracket on the car, I can't get the power steering cap off! Check it out...

I've got the correct brackets (according to the catalogs I've looked at), and I even bought one of those skinny universal chrome Mr.Gasket alt arms thinking that would work, but I got the same result... Somethings strange here... Anyone know what could be wrong? thanks!

 

[dirtrocker]

Your PS looks swung way too tight compared to my car.Maybe U need a longer belt?

 

[EddieC67ss]

Is that the right pump? Do you need the one that has a seperate resevoir.

 

[dirtrocker]

Maybe this will help (if U have a small block), if U have a BB please disregard.

 

[Bill Rose]

Ed is correct. You have the wrong pump on the engine. With the pump directly under the alt, they used a remote reservoir so fluid could be added easier. The correct pump has no cap to interfere with the alt bracket...

 

[JWA]

Actually Bill, I think you guys are mistaking his setup for BB when it is a SB. The pic from Dirtrocker shows the a setup that should work. That is if the longer belt doesn't work. Here is a pic from a stocker or 2 on Ebay:

 

[JWA]

Did you get the third pulley? The more I look at your pics the more it looks like your pump isn't far enough out from the block.

 

[RacnJsn95]

Yes, it is a small block. Yeah, Jeff, I did get the third pulley, and the belt lines up fine. That fist pic you posted looks like what I'm experiencing. Dirt rocker, where did you get that alt arm? That looks like that would cure my problem.

 

[dirtrocker]

My stuff is all pieced together......car was a mess when I got it. The best I can tell it is a factory 65 piece.

DO U have the numbers on the belts ya have? I'll check mine tomorrow.


Another thought, maybe someone else can chime in with more knowledge. Isn't there a longer lower cradle for the pump........for the bigger balancer. Could this be the problem?

 

[Marci]

Why don't you put the alternator on the other side?

My '72 has the alt on the pass side. I have a/c too

 

[DZAUTO]

The problem has already been touched on. If you have all the correct factory PS parts, then the problem is the belt. Proper belt length for the 68 is critical. We have a VIRGIN 68 SB with PS in our family (my youngest son) and this is what will make the difference in whether you can or can not get the cap on/off. Because a PS pump belt is soooooooooooooooooo short, just 1/2in difference in the belt size will create the problem that you have (also, if the belt is just 1/2in too long, you will not be able to adjust it enough to fully tighten the belt). We actually prefer the shorter belt on my son's car, so what we did was VERY carefully and neatly, trim a notch in the upper alt adjusting bracket so that we could get the PS pump cap on/off.

 

[RacnJsn95]

Why don't you put the alternator on the other side?

My '72 has the alt on the pass side. I have a/c too

Because they were on the drivers side back then. I don't want to hack into the wiring to move the regulator, and everything else too.

so what we did was VERY carefully and neatly, trim a notch in the upper alt adjusting bracket so that we could get the PS pump cap on/off.

That's what I was thinking of doing. The belt they gave me was what the napa book called for, so I assume its right. Thanks for the replies guys!

 

[DZAUTO]

You should be able to return the belt to NAPA for one that is just a tiny bit longer.