PS Pump Belt Guard?

[Mike G.]

Car is 1965 300hp w/ A/C & power steering. My favorite supplier shows a belt guard being used on the PS pump for A/C cars. But...I can't find an AIM call-out in either the A/C or PS option sections that substantiates.

Appreciate any input - TIA!

[Joe L.]

Re: PS Pump Belt Guard?

Car is 1965 300hp w/ A/C & power steering. My favorite supplier shows a belt guard being used on the PS pump for A/C cars. But...I can't find an AIM call-out in either the A/C or PS option sections that substantiates.

Appreciate any input - TIA!

Mike----


I think that the belt guard, GM #3860458, was essentially "stillborn" for 65-66. The belt guard was to be used for 65-66 Corvettes with C-60 AND 62 amp alternators. The 62 amp alternator was of a different configuration than the 37-61 amp units. Although the 62 amp units were used on some other Chevrolet cars with C-60 during the period, they were not used on Corvettes. So, I don't think the belt guard got used, either.

A different but similar belt guard, GM #3890478, was supposed to have been used on all 1967-69 small blocks. However, I'm not sure that all cars actually got this guard.

[Mike M.]

Re: PS Pump Belt Guard?

Aggreed, Joe, even the three original 300/PG I have owned had the PS pump guard.
HaND

[Mike M.]

Re: PS Pump Belt Guard?

Sorry, brain fade,
all '67's one with A/C, 2 without.
HaND

[Mike G.]

Supporting AIM Entry

Thanks Joe & Mike. My AIM does show the 3860458 guard on sheet 6 of N40, showing the L79 pulley arrangement. The guard, item 8, is called out for C60 usage. BUT, the notation "cancelled" is handwritten in.

My theory is that the designer was concerned over the alternator belt interference with the PS pump on A/C cars, due to the L79's higher performance. Hence the guard was designed in as a safeguard.
Evidently, the clearance was later declared to be sufficient, prompting the cancellation of the guard for 1965.

[Joe L.]

Re: Supporting AIM Entry

Thanks Joe & Mike. My AIM does show the 3860458 guard on sheet 6 of N40, showing the L79 pulley arrangement. The guard, item 8, is called out for C60 usage. BUT, the notation "cancelled" is handwritten in.

My theory is that the designer was concerned over the alternator belt interference with the PS pump on A/C cars, due to the L79's higher performance. Hence the guard was designed in as a safeguard.
Evidently, the clearance was later declared to be sufficient, prompting the cancellation of the guard for 1965.

Mike----


I expect the reason it is shown as "canceled" is because the use of the 62 amp alternator for Corvettes was also canceled. When the latter occurred, it simultaneously resulted in the lack of requirement for the guard.

[Ned T.]

Re: Supporting AIM Entry

I'm putting my power steering pump on now and I can't find a belt guard in any of the piles of parts boxes I have. I'm looking at the AIM N40 A2. It shows the guard is used for L71, L46 on view C. I have an L68 and would like to know if I should install a guard? I'm not the best at the AIM so please bear with me.

[Joe L.]

Re: Supporting AIM Entry

I'm putting my power steering pump on now and I can't find a belt guard in any of the piles of parts boxes I have. I'm looking at the AIM N40 A2. It shows the guard is used for L71, L46 on view C. I have an L68 and would like to know if I should install a guard? I'm not the best at the AIM so please bear with me.

Ned-----


L-71 and L-68 used exactly the same belt configuration, so I cannot see why the use of the belt guard would have been used for one and not the other despite what it says in the AIM. However, I don't think the belt guard was installed on most, if any, of these applications. On an L-71, L-68, or L-36 with N-40 there is no belt which is oriented anywhere near the location of the belt guard so I cannot see what purpose the guard would serve. Somebody at St. Louis might have figured that out, too.