Muzikp's Sometimes Driveable Build

Got ready for a pick n pull trip this morning to see what I could turn up for a power steering bracket.



The website said there was a 1970 Buick Electra at the yard and I thought that might be a good candidate. The Electra had no motor in it, but I did find a 70's era V6 El Camino with a power steering pump, pulley and bracket so I grabbed it.

This is the bracket which also held the alternator.



Here's the pump with the front half of the bracket and pulley I need.



I didn't need the pump but I couldn't get the bracket off with the pulley on there, and I need the pulley. So I bought the whole thing, pulled the pulley at home and returned the pump.

Pulley puller



Pulley and front bracket



And I walked past a Dodge Durango that had a power steering cooler that was easily accessible so I thought why not. Very dirty but should clean up nice.



Put the bracket in the vice and cut the ears off that hold the alternator and did a little test fit.





Not bad but didn't like how high the bracket was sticking up so I cut it shorter.



It's only attached with one bolt right now. The hole for the second bolt doesn't line up very well so I need to drill a new one.

I'm actually thinking of making a bracket that attaches it to the hole where the long bolt is sticking out in the last picture. I'll probably weld a top on the bracket that has an arm attached to reach the hole. Maybe the arm will have a slot to make for easy tensioning of the belt. I can probably use the curved parts I cut off that used to hold the alternator.

The guy I bought the pump from said it has a PSC super pump in it. Sounds good but I don't really know anything about them.

 

Always love a productive U-pull-it day.

 

Any day at the pick n pull is a good day. I just like walking the isles, always worth the price of admission.

 

Yeh I get it now. That was actually my first time ever going to one. It was really hard to stay focused.

 

junk yards are the most fascinating places on earth, look in the glove box or under the seat, weird voyeurism?!

 

I was gutting a pinto for a circle track car once. Found a gallon size freezer bag full of pot in the drivers side rear fender well behind the interior trim panel.

 

I was 12. I gave it to my dad.... lol

 

Steering almost has the power.

I made a slot for the bottom bolt so I could have more adjustment to tension the belt.



Then welded a top on and painted it.



Cleaned up and painted all the other parts



And bolted it all together



Made a bracket for the cooler



And it fits next to the radiator like so



Got the pressure side attached at the box





But I need to custom bend the other end and cut and flare it to get it in the back of the box.

 

YES!!!!!



I wanted to get this done today so badly I think the only thing I ate was a handful of Cheez-its and 2 cups of coffee.

Belt alignment is good



Goes into the box and clears the body above without issue



The return is plumbed into the cooler



QUESTION

Do you think it's a problem that the top of the cooler is higher than the cap of the pump?

 

Good thing I'm not a dentist



You can probably tell I got some of that Calyx minty manifold rub. That stuff is awesome.

Before



After





Got some new gaskets as well, I think I can scratch thru the exhaust line with another 20 minutes of work

 

Congrats on getting everything hooked up! It feels so good to mark things off a checklist.

The cooler being higher than the pump shouldn't be an issue. The only problem *might* be with bleeding the air out of the lines, but honestly, the speed at which the fluid flows through lines, it should have no problem overpowering an air bubble. It's on the return side, so it shouldn't matter anyway.

 

Looks like good progress. Maybe i missed it but what are you using for a steering shaft?

 

Dunno, the one that was in there already. I got super lucky and it had the correct splines and shape to match the new steering box. I had to shift my steering column slightly to the left to get the shaft to clear the manifold. But it all worked out really well.

 

Very beautiful work, bravo. Why don't you wear these new gloves for mechanic, a young guy told me that it is very good to work with them.
I bought these gloves and effectively I feel well what I touch, which is mandatory to repair a car. And hands are clean and no harm.
Before, mainly when I was not able to see, touching with bare hands was useful. With these gloves it is a good feeling.
Maybe it is a progress ?

 

Nice work, i enjoy following the build

 

Lucky is right. I didn't know there were any manual boxes that had the same input splines as the power boxes.

 

What are they called... Gloves???

I don't know why but I have never liked wearing gloves, I probably should follow your advice and wear them. In my defense the instructions said to rub the paste in with your finger, guess I got a little carried away

 

Thanks, I'm hoping my 4th or 5th Jeep turns out half as good as your grey/red one. It's one of my favorite builds ever.

 

That's 2 young people working in mechanic, cars, motorcycles, who use these gloves and they look at me like if I was a prehistoric man, flintstone guy.
So I tried and it is good feeling. Hands clean.
By the way for garden activities I wear leather gloves, mostly for woodwork, and farmers never.