Redneck Engineering

[79gmcsierragrande]

I started off trying to install a power steering pump and man did it turn into an ordeal. I ended up replacing the water pump, all the hoses, belts, bolts, brackets, you name it. The PO thought he was a mechanic but everything he touched on that truck has been all f-ed up. At some point someone put headers on the truck and when they did they made this f-ed up bracket to hold the ps pump to the block and mounted it with the header bolt (just one). The last owner told me that “he” pulled the ps pump off his 76 Silverado and put it on this truck, when he did he left out a few bolts (like the bolt that the pump pivots on, on the back side) and the pump was in crooked. Any was 1 full day, 5 trips to Napa, $190, and lots of fabricating later I’ve got a new power steering pump. Don’t get me wrong I like working on my truck I just can’t stand redneck engineering.





When I first bought the truck the clutch pedal would pop back hard after you pushed it to a certain point and then pop out hard making the tires chirp when you let it out. The guy told me he tried everything to figure out why it did that and gave up (he was proud that he was the only one that could drive it though). It turned out it was two loose bolts on the pedal, tightened those and it’s worked great ever since.

[79gmcsierragrande]

BTW, does anyone have a picture of what that bracket is suposed to look like? I have something drawn up to stoot on the water jet on monday, I just want to see what the stock one looks like.

[79gmcsierragrande]

A lot better now, I’ll make that bracket tomorrow. No one has a picture of how the ps pump is mounted on the swing side?





Anyways this was my other project this weekend http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=308744.

[spr85gmc]

im doing mine tomorrow leaking like crazy btw i dont need a pully right?

[79gmcsierragrande]

Originally Posted by spr85gmc

im doing mine tomorrow leaking like crazy btw i dont need a pully right?

No you don't need a new pulley but you will need a pulley puller and a lot of patience or a lot of Beer. I took mine down to Napa because they gave me the wrong pump the first time; they swapped the pulley for me for free. BTW Napa has been batting around 600 on getting me the right part I’m getting a little tiered of taking parts back to them.




Here’s the bracket I made for it.

[joe231]

dunno if this will help

[Pyrotechnic]

http://www.alangrovecomponents.com/Power_Steering.htm

I ordered the 402L brackets and that was the best $70 I ever spent. It only uses the 2 lower holes in the front of the block and the boss on the water pump, no exhaust holes needed and I would venture to say it's more rigid than the factory brackets. Also much easier to set belt tension. They also look MUCH cleaner than factory brackets.

The only catch is that you would have to specify a replacement pump that has 2 mounting bosses in rear instead of one.

[joe231]

that looks sweet

[Pyrotechnic]

Nice solution !

[79gmcsierragrande]

Hey Joe231 I never said thank you for the pics, looks like a diferent set up but I appreciate it anyways.

[joe231]

no problem
what did you cut your bracket out with? Looks top notch!

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

Wow yea I know what you mean about redneck engineering man. I say if your going to fix something might as well do it right the first time. I like your bracket you cut out to fix the PS pump dilemma.

[Slonaker]

My truck was like yours to some extent. The PO left bolts out of stuff, installed parts wrong, stripped out bolts and nuts, etc. It was a mess. That stuf fdrives me crazy.

Slonaker

[spudz]

looks good..! good work!

[79gmcsierragrande]

We have a water jet at my work I cut it on there. I have a side biz doing drafting work and I also run the water jet when the regular guy is on vacation so I can cut just about any thing I want and don’t have to wait for some one to do it for me, it’s nice. The boss just charges me for half the run time cost (which is just above his cost) and material at cost.



Oh I ran into the PO today and I told him how f-ed up the truck was all he said is its better you then me. He insisted that he put the pump on there right, once again showing he had no idea what he was doing. I was talking to another guy that I work with that bought a different car from him and he said the same thing, the car left him stranded in the middle of BFU.

[87 STEPPER]

Nice repair!

But i dont understand why didin't you just go to a junk yard and get the whole stock set up off a truck?

Also how do you guy's work on an engine that filthy? I know your truck's aren't show trucks but C'on man have some "pride in your ride" and clean the old gal up plus she will run better clean! and the next time you work on her you won't spend a week digging crud out of your skin & finger nails.

[joe231]

87 Stepper
don't know if you intended it as such, but....
the last of your post makes you sound like a pompous ass...

[Walts_restoration]

so far on ps brackets, at least for the nonair trucks, the 73-76, 77-78, and 79+newer are different. I dont have many 80's trucks so i dont compare to them, this makse the ac bracket different too, but the pump bracket is the same regardless of ac or nonac per style/years of bracket used

the bracket you made on the waterjet is cool!! wanna make one for my 80 camaro??? hahaha.

[79gmcsierragrande]

The local junk yard has two lots one here and one in Delta (45 min away), all the 73-87 trucks are in Delta and picked clean. The engine is dirty because of a power steering leak and now that it’s fixed I’ll clean the engine.


Walts Restoration, I’d like to help you but the boss made it very clear that the discount I get is for my personal stuff only. I can find out what it would cost at shop rate if you like.

[Walts_restoration]

lol, would work well when i go to put my headers on. I dont really need it, just, one of those things lol.

did you want pics of the nonac bracket setup? i just converting my 79 camaro to nonac, form ac to nonac you need a spacer on the pump pivot, and the nonac bracket.

[Lated]

Your old bracket looks better than mine. Piece of angle iron, couple lug nuts, couple bolts, and a fugly notch cut with a torch. If you look close you can see the nut used as a spacer (behind the bolt holding the pump to the cylinder head) to correct the alignment from the crappy bracket. I have no idea what the hydraulic lines to the steering box are off of, but they sure don't look right. I guess mine is at least in line with the crank pulley. Just out of curiosity, does the hole in the frame in front of my engine mount mean my engine is in the I6 location?

[flamingbig10]

my dad used a factory a/c braket, cut it down, and welded it and used a spacer

before

[edge]

the gm p/s brackets are a cluster ****
yours look real good!
you designed & made it yourself good job!

[spudz]

Originally Posted by 87 STEPPER

Nice repair!

But i don't understand why didn't you just go to a junk yard and get the whole stock set up off a truck?

Because he has the talent to make his own parts....

Originally Posted by 87 STEPPER

Also how do you guy's work on an engine that filthy? I know your truck's aren't show trucks .

Thats right.....its a truck..... I am sure his truck, just like a lot here, gets USED as a TRUCK... I think that if he wanted criticism on the cleanliness of his engine compartment...he would of asked...That is just like someone coming up to your truck and saying...hey, look at that nice polished tune port and nice black paint....why did you cheep out on those wheels....shoulda put some 22s on it....come on....show a little pride in your ride...