Power steering pump for the Judges

[Tory S.]

I have an all original '75 with the original power steering pump. The TIM&JG says very little about the pump - no number, no date code. So should I find someone to rebuild mine, or put it on the shelf and buy a newly rebuildt one using my pulley, belt guard and cap. Can or do the judges see a difference for points?

Thanks,
Tory

[Edward J.]

Re: Power steering pump for the Judges

Tory, Its always better to rebuild your pump,that way your sure to have the right pump, GM had a few different reseiviors and dip sticks . the pump its self was pretty much the same until the metric fastners came in around 1980.

I would try paragon corvette for the rebuilding.

[Michael W.]

Re: Power steering pump for the Judges

One distinguishing feature called out in earlier guides is a stamped sheet metal belt guard that I suppose lessens damage from an errant drive belt. I'm not sure if there other GM products that would have used the same pump without the guard.

I believe also the shape of the lower part of the fluid reservoir may vary as Edward stated.

[Rich C.]

Re: Power steering pump for the Judges

I would have yours rebuilt! I have several pumps (all gm, but not apparently not all vette) and the 'resovoir' portion and the return nipples vary in direction and length. I would imagine most replacements are a 'one size fits all'. Or buy a replacement pump and swap guts into your resorvoir!

[Tory S.]

Re: Power steering pump for the Judges

OK, rebuild the original it is. Can never go wrong with an original part. Edward suggested Paragon; great idea. Anyone else I shoud consider for a correct rebuild?

[Rich C.]

Re: Power steering pump for the Judges

I've never seen anyone advertising this service. Again you could always buy a rebuilt pump and swap guts to your reservoir. Simply remove the two studs from back of can and out comes the pump, all in one piece, nothing else to disassemble or lose, no puller or special tools required. Easy peazy! I would imagine that's all paragon would do.

[Paul B.]

Re: Power steering pump for the Judges

...have you owned your car long enough to be sure YOU even have the original pump??? I think 74/'75 was a transition year where the '74(I'll have to double check mine)had the rounded neck up near the cap and the '75(sold mine two yrs ago)had the "squared off" reservoir. I also thought somewhere in this time frame they did away with that little belt guard. I know for sure my '74 did have it, whereas my '75 did not(but that doesn't mean someone could have removed it prior to my ownership).

[Tory S.]

Re: Power steering pump for the Judges

Paul,
Yep, I've owned it from the day I special ordered it in March and took delivery on April 14, 1975 at Van Chevrolet! Anywhay, my '75, build April 6th, has the squared off "ham can" resevoir and the belt guard. My understanding is the bottleneck resevoir was used in '74 and ham can from '75 on. Perhaps some early '75s used up the last of the bottleneck pump inventory. Not sure when the belt guards went away.

Tory

[Joe L.]

Re: Power steering pump for the Judges

Paul,
Yep, I've owned it from the day I special ordered it in March and took delivery on April 14, 1975 at Van Chevrolet! Anywhay, my '75, build April 6th, has the squared off "ham can" resevoir and the belt guard. My understanding is the bottleneck resevoir was used in '74 and ham can from '75 on. Perhaps some early '75s used up the last of the bottleneck pump inventory. Not sure when the belt guards went away.

Tory

Paul and Tory------


Yes, 1974 used the round reservoir with welded-on ovoid-shaped filler tube. All 1963-74 Corvettes used this style power steering pump reservoir.

1975-82 used the "tear-drop" shaped reservoir which used a VERY short, round filler tube.

The pump shafts are also different. 1963-74 used shafts with a tapered pulley mount and a threaded end for a special lock nut. 1975-82 used a non-tapered shaft with a pressed on pulley. No retaining nut was used.

GM says that the belt guard was used until early 1977, then dropped. Whether this was actually what occurred, I do not know.

[Robert C.]

Re: Power steering pump for the Judges

Joe,

This resevoir was on a 1979, note the stamps. Not sure if they are date stamps.

My problem is the return line nipple. It kinda wraps under the pump.

Ever see this ? Car is a late '79 build (Sept. 79)

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[Terry M.]

Re: Power steering pump for the Judges

I have seen references to date codes for power steering pumps in Chevrolet parts books, but finding the codes on installed pumps as the cars are judged has been beyond our skills so far. No location nor code explanation has been given in those parts references I have seen. It should be noted the above photos are of the reservoir and not the pump.

[Jim S.]

Re: Power steering pump for the Judges

Here is a scan of the 1975 Corvette Power Steering Pump Assembly 7818044. The only real visible identifier is the label on the side of the reservoir. Any date codes 000XX0 stamped on the side of the reservoir can would probably be covered by the pump mounting brackets. The reservoir return spout on this drawing is generic. The pump drawing was generic for 20 or more power steering pumps. So studs on the back of the reservoir would be generic as well.


Jim

[Robert C.]

Re: Power steering pump for the Judges

Thanks Terry & Jim.........BTW, I did look for this on your website before I asked.

Very cool to save this for us Jim, we all apppreciate your work.

Bob

[Robert C.]

Re: Power steering pump for the Judges

I did rebuild this one - I made the assumption it was correct and really didn't pay any attention the hoses when I pulled it apart since they were all aftermarket crap and leaking all over the place.

Now that it's staring me in the face (and everything is clean), the return hose nipple sure didn't look right.

With the nipple bent under the pump, the return hose is sitting on top of the control arm bolt and - needless to say, I think it would cause a leak some day. Which is why I started to look into the case and restored / aftermarket pumps.

Whether this is original - no idea at this point. The "testing date" stamp would indicate a 1976 test date. Whether GM made a boatload of pumps and the nipple I have is correct - not sure.

As it sits, I ended up re-configuring the return nipple.

I'll post some pics showing how it was sitting in the car and what I ended up doing.

[Robert C.]

Re: Power steering pump for the Judges

hose assembly with return line off P/S pump pointing to the front of the car.

with the line attached, the return hose was sitting on the control arm.

The next 2 pictures show the line how I bent it and how it was.......again, not sure if this pump was ever swapped. I guess I would defer to the judges for '79's that have seen more than I have

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