Power Steering Pulley

1. 60

   Beelzedadposted 14 years ago

   Hey Earnest! Can you help me out here?
   
   In my 1966 Mustang, there is an added power steering assembly that is held on by a large bracket mounted to the engine. These do not appear in my Haynes or Ford Shop Manuals for some reason.
   
   I can see that the pulley of the power steering assembly is not at a 90 degree angle to the engine pulley. As well, there seems to be a slight 'wobble' in this pulley and it causes the belt to squeal at higher revs or when I've been out driving in hotter weather.
   
   Is there a way to move and shim the pulley so that it aligns to the main engine pulley and stops wobbling?
   
   

   replyreport
   1. 47

      sandeep odedaraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Friend,
      U must try to find a simirar pulley form junk dealer.its little hard to find but not impossibale.i can't help U any more without seeing problem.

      replyreport
2. 71

   earnestshubposted 14 years ago

   Is the pulley an "idler pulley?" In other words does it just tension the belt?
   If so it will be a standard ford one that you will see on most fords with power steering of the same era.
   
   I would pick one up from the wreckers, or if it has a removable bearing, knock it out and replace it from a bearing place, using the old one as a sample. It will be cheap either way.
   
   Quite a lot of your car uses standard ford sedan parts, such as front end components like ball joints, bearings etc.
   In Australia the ford mustang, Falcon and Fairlane share most parts.
   I hope this helps, if not we'll talk more.

   replyreport
3. 60

   Beelzedadposted 14 years ago

   
   
   Here's a pic of a similar setup to mine.
   
   Note that the shaft and pulley of power steering unit. The pulley itself sits a little too far forward leaving it out of alignment with the engine pulley. Can I loosen to tap the pulley closer to the unit so it does line up? Or, do I need to replace the whole bearing as you suggested?

   replyreport
   1. 71

      earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Now I see what you mean! The power steering pump is what I am looking at. It does not have an idler at the top as some have.
      
      Here is what I would do.
      See if the belt is too tight, or a bolt is loose, or the front bearing collapsed in the steering pump (unlikely)This will tell you if it is being pulled out of line by the tension of the belt; Check for any marks that indicate that the pulley has moved out on the pump shaft thus causing the problem of alignment.
      
      Remove the belt by loosening the bolt at the top and the one in the slot at the bottom front of the power steering pump.
      Hand spin the steering pump by turning the pulley. It should move smoothly and turn easily.
      
      After checking if you find nothing, then the problem is that the mounting bracket is bent. It can be straightened with a carefully placed lever against the engine block and a large adjustable wrench closed on the adjustment arm on the bracket. I can see you have enough adjustment to re tension the belt. Let me know how you go.

      replyreport
4. 60

   Beelzedadposted 14 years ago

   I had not suspected that the mounting bracket could be bent, but you may have a very good point there. That bracket is pretty solid and doesn't appear that it can be straightened back into shape with just a lever and some muscle, but I'll give it a try.
   
   Thanks!

   replyreport
   1. 71

      earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      The bracket is as strong as hell, yet I have seen bent ones, and straightened them.
      Process of elimination. If the pump is OK, the bracket is bent.
      
      You will find straightening it very hard if you do not have enough leverage. The engine block is the only thing strong enough to lever against.
      
      Come to think of it, I would rip the old one off and get one from a wreckers. Compare it with the old one to ensure the used one isn't bent.
      
      As I said, you are right, it is as hard as hell to straighten.
      You need to leave the pump on the bracket by the way, as otherwise after you bend it, the bolts wont line up back and front, so it will not remount.
      
      edit:
      One last check. Ensure the mounting at the rear has not been left loose at some time and the hole elongated where it mounts.
      
      Is that the small Windsor motor I am seeing?

      replyreport
      1. 60

         Beelzedadposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Good point, I was thinking about that when I looked at it yesterday after reading your post. If I can get one from the wreckers and it looks like mine is bent, I might just replace it altogether rather than trying to bend the original.
         
         
         
         Another good point, didn't check that either.
         
         
         
         It's a 289 with the original Autolite 4 barrel carb.

         replyreport
5. 68

   Mishaposted 14 years ago

   Could it be just a wrong pulley for the model? With a different offset?

   replyreport
   1. 60

      Beelzedadposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Not sure, I've had it for just over 10 years now and bought it just shortly after it had undergone a restoration. The guy who owned it put $22K into it and still didn't get everything done. It's about 95% done. When I bought it, I didn't notice this problem, so I may have inadvertently bent the bracket. The power steering pump has been painted flat black and has no markings are labels on it.

      replyreport
6. 60

   Beelzedadposted 13 years ago

   Hi Earny, good news!
   
   I had to purchase a good size wrecking bar, one that would fit under the engine hood but still give me enough length to apply good leverage. I bent the bracket back so that that the power pump pulley lined up to almost 90 degrees to the engine pulley. I used a large hammer to tap the pulley back into alignment as well, added the new belts and started it up, worked like a charm. The new belts are quiet and running very well, will go for a nice cruise today in the sun.
   
   Thanks for the advice buddy, much appreciated. I owe you a case of Fosters, large cans.

   replyreport
   1. 71

      earnestshubposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      It had to be the bracket, no other options left. Pulley alignment was eliminated by the runout.
      
      I knew you would get it with a decent lever, the metal is strong and tempered but can be moved as you discovered.
      
      I love that little 289. I tore the "big six" out of an F100 work horse and dropped one of them in. It was much improved.
      
      I used the tiny original 289 Windsor carby on it, as they rev and pull well with the stock camshaft fitted.

      replyreport
      1. 60

         Beelzedadposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         It was great, took it out for a nice cruise and it ran beautifully, purrs like a cat at about 70mph. As well, it felt like there was a vibration from the offset pulley before but now it rides really smooth.

         replyreport