Thoughts on PS Pump Reservoir Restoration?

[Keith M.]

While waiting for a tool to help remove rivets on my heater box, thought I would tackle the PS pump rebuild...it would appear to be original pump. Attached are pix of the reservoir and would welcome input on a few points.

Dents - there are dents on either side with one side being much worse. Guessing these were inflicted when Bubba attempted to install and tighten a new belt and wedged some sort of pry bar against the pump. I had thought to perhaps bang them out with a small wood block from the inside as best I could. Then upon examining the one side that is worse I got to thinking I could be risking creating a crack in the housing which would render it useless....or at least require some sort of repair. Any thoughts on this? Downside to leaving as is...as far as i know would be purely aesthetics.

Refinish - I am undecided on how/if to refinish the reservoir. Goal for my car is to have it look like a 50 year old car in good shape....not perfect nor a kit car nor catalog car and have zero interest in points nor prizes. Sooo...a minimalist option would be take some fine steel wool and Kroil to the rusty parts and call it good. My other option would be to give the reservoir a deep Evaporust bath with heat which will take care of all the rust and remove most if not all the paint....then repaint it. Thoughts or suggestions? Note what appear to be paint runs in one pic. from original finishing or a Bubba repaint?

Thanks in advance!
Keith

[Mark E.]

Re: Thoughts on PS Pump Reservoir Restoration?

Ask musclecaraircleaners.com if they can repair the housing. They perform miracles straightening air cleaner metal, maybe they will consider this project.

I took my PS pump to a local rebuilder and had them go through the guts and seals. Cost was reasonable.

You might also talk with Lonestar Caliper. They rebuild and sell Corvette PS pumps.

[Joe L.]

Re: Thoughts on PS Pump Reservoir Restoration?

While waiting for a tool to help remove rivets on my heater box, thought I would tackle the PS pump rebuild...it would appear to be original pump. Attached are pix of the reservoir and would welcome input on a few points.

Dents - there are dents on either side with one side being much worse. Guessing these were inflicted when Bubba attempted to install and tighten a new belt and wedged some sort of pry bar against the pump. I had thought to perhaps bang them out with a small wood block from the inside as best I could. Then upon examining the one side that is worse I got to thinking I could be risking creating a crack in the housing which would render it useless....or at least require some sort of repair. Any thoughts on this? Downside to leaving as is...as far as i know would be purely aesthetics.

Refinish - I am undecided on how/if to refinish the reservoir. Goal for my car is to have it look like a 50 year old car in good shape....not perfect nor a kit car nor catalog car and have zero interest in points nor prizes. Sooo...a minimalist option would be take some fine steel wool and Kroil to the rusty parts and call it good. My other option would be to give the reservoir a deep Evaporust bath with heat which will take care of all the rust and remove most if not all the paint....then repaint it. Thoughts or suggestions? Note what appear to be paint runs in one pic. from original finishing or a Bubba repaint?

Thanks in advance!
Keith

Keith-----


Did the pump internals include a fluid filter?

[Keith M.]

Re: Thoughts on PS Pump Reservoir Restoration?

Joe, Nope. Not that I am aware of. Am using a rebuild kit that I believe I got from Zip. Nothing more than replacement O rings and shaft seal. First one I have opened but I see no wear or other things that cause me concern. Cap is consistent markings with original per TIM&JG. Why did you ask about filter? Where would it be if there were one? Over one of the ports?

[Joe L.]

Re: Thoughts on PS Pump Reservoir Restoration?

Joe, Nope. Not that I am aware of. Am using a rebuild kit that I believe I got from Zip. Nothing more than replacement O rings and shaft seal. First one I have opened but I see no wear or other things that cause me concern. Cap is consistent markings with original per TIM&JG. Why did you ask about filter? Where would it be if there were one? Over one of the ports?

Keith-----


1963-73 Corvette power steering pumps were supposed to be equipped with an internal filter and element. Chevelles with 396 and some Chevy IIs were also supposed to be equipped with this filter as well as Chevrolet and GMC trucks. I believe the filter was attached to the inside of the reservoir. I have an NOS example of the filter and several NOS examples of the filter element which was replaceable but I just don't feel like going out and finding them right now. Maybe later. The filter was discontinued without supercession in 1981 and the element discontinued without supercession in 1982.

[Keith M.]

Re: Thoughts on PS Pump Reservoir Restoration?

Turns out that indeed my pump has a filter...and what is called a filter cage. see attached picture.

[Bill M.]

Re: Thoughts on PS Pump Reservoir Restoration?

Keith I would tap out the dents myself rebuild paint and install back in the car. It will look great. There are probably not to many originals out there without some kind of dent.

[Owen L.]

Re: Thoughts on PS Pump Reservoir Restoration?

Dents - there are dents on either side with one side being much worse. ... Downside to leaving as is...as far as i know would be purely aesthetics.

I think at the very least, you should tap out the dents enough to straighten the sealing flange. In your pics, you can see how the dents have distorted both the circular shape and the sealing walls of the reservoir.

[Joe L.]

Re: Thoughts on PS Pump Reservoir Restoration?

Turns out that indeed my pump has a filter...and what is called a filter cage. see attached picture.

Keith------


Good. Now I don't need to dig mine out to post photos.