1969 Power steering pump pulley question

[Andrew S.]

I am replacing the power steering pump on my 1969 Corvette Convertible. It's the L46 350/350 4 Speed, No A/C. My question is about the pulley.
The NCRS judging manual states all the small blocks had a stamped steel pulley and big blocks had the cast iron with spokes.
After looking at several catalogs of parts, it seems they are all selling the "small block" pulleys as stamped steel for with A/C and the cast iron/spoke for the non-A/C cars like mine. I have a stamped steel one now with the part number on it, but don't want to use it if it is incorrect for my non-A/C car.
Which would be correct? And does the judging manual need to be more detailed and specific? Thanks for any input and info!

[Joe L.]

Re: 1969 Power steering pump pulley question

I am replacing the power steering pump on my 1969 Corvette Convertible. It's the L46 350/350 4 Speed, No A/C. My question is about the pulley.
The NCRS judging manual states all the small blocks had a stamped steel pulley and big blocks had the cast iron with spokes.
After looking at several catalogs of parts, it seems they are all selling the "small block" pulleys as stamped steel for with A/C and the cast iron/spoke for the non-A/C cars like mine. I have a stamped steel one now with the part number on it, but don't want to use it if it is incorrect for my non-A/C car.
Which would be correct? And does the judging manual need to be more detailed and specific? Thanks for any input and info!

Andrew------


Your application requires a single groove, cast iron power steering pump pulley of GM #3834720. It's GM discontinued but should be available used or reproduction. The stamped steel pulley cannot be used for your application as there's no way you'll get proper pulley alignment using it.

By the way, big blocks also do use a cast iron pulley but it's a completely different pulley with 2 grooves.

[Andrew S.]

Re: 1969 Power steering pump pulley question

That's what I thought. I wish the Judging manual was a little more specific about the applications. Thanks for your help Joe!

[Gary B.]

Re: 1969 Power steering pump pulley question

The new 68-69 TIMJG repeats what was in the old manual. We'll need to fix that.
I have a 68 350hp in my garage, it has power steering. I'll look at the pulley in the morning for you.
Gary Bosselman

[Gary B.]

Re: 1969 Power steering pump pulley question

The pulley on this car is a cast 3-spoke pulley. See Picture.

Gary B

[Joe L.]

Re: 1969 Power steering pump pulley question

The pulley on this car is a cast 3-spoke pulley. See Picture.

Gary B

Gary------


That's the GM #3834720 and exactly what the car should have.

[Andrew S.]

Re: 1969 Power steering pump pulley question

Thanks Gary! I can easily order one from a parts catalog. I guess someone changed mine a long time ago with one they had laying around. Seems that type of thing happens often and when you go to restore something all the wrong parts become more obvious. I'm glad I could point out some info that should be changed or updated in the judging manual to possibly help some future restorers out. That's what this is all about, right?
Thanks again!!

[Gary B.]

Re: 1969 Power steering pump pulley question

Absolutely. If we have published something in the TIM&JG that is not correct, we need to correct it. If we need to add more information, I'll work on gathering that so we add it. I think they call it "Continuous Improvement". We just keep picking away at it.
Glad to help.
Gary B

[Joe L.]

Re: 1969 Power steering pump pulley question

Thanks Gary! I can easily order one from a parts catalog. I guess someone changed mine a long time ago with one they had laying around. Seems that type of thing happens often and when you go to restore something all the wrong parts become more obvious. I'm glad I could point out some info that should be changed or updated in the judging manual to possibly help some future restorers out. That's what this is all about, right?
Thanks again!!

Andrew------


I think I'd recommend looking further into what engine this car really has or whether it has an original L-46 pulley set. The stamped steel and cast iron pump pulleys are not interchangeable. If your currently installed pump pulley is a GM #3770509, that pulley cannot be used with the remainder of the pulley set originally used for 1969 L-46. Using the 3770509 with an original pulley set will result in no drive pulley aligning with the power steering pump pulley (or, even coming close to aligning). So, if your current stamped steel pulley does align with the balancer and/or water pump pulleys, then those pulleys are not original to the engine, assuming it's an original L-46.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1969 Power steering pump pulley question

Absolutely. If we have published something in the TIM&JG that is not correct, we need to correct it. If we need to add more information, I'll work on gathering that so we add it. I think they call it "Continuous Improvement". We just keep picking away at it.
Glad to help.
Gary B

Gary------

I reviewed this section of the manual when it was in development. I do not recall it being anything but accurate. However, I'll re-review it when I get home.