problem with belts lining up sbc

my 383 project is making me really cuss and yell right now. I went to the junkyard to get some power steering brackets and i got a new pump too, i painted them up real pretty and when i got all the stuff installed, the pulley on the power steering pump looks kinda tilted a little bit more when compared to the other pulleys and it is offset about 1/2 inch or so when you look at it in line with the crank and water pump pulleys from the side. can i use it the way it is or do i have to get new brackets? im worried about short belt life or maybe the belt always slipping off the pulley. anyone know if there is an acceptable amount of uneven spacing?

also, is it normal for there to be some slop in the steering pump shaft that lets it slide in and out just enough to be noticed, maybe a 32nd of an inch or something?

Is it the same pully that came off the old pump

You can't run it that way, you'll either throw belts or wear out the power steering pump due to the misalignment.

When you got the junkyard parts, could you have possibly missed out on getting a spacer that should have gone with the pump bracket? If the pump is back (towards the rear of the car) from the rest of the belts, you could build the bracket out with some washers behind it.

Just a thought, this has worked for me before.

Bob

it appears that if i were to be able to pry it, it would swing into line, as in the center of the pulley is lined up with the other pulleys and the top is in a little and the bottom is out a little. i have the spacers from the junkyard truck, so i think ill go back to the junkyard and make sure that the pulley lines up on another bracket before i take if off and try it on mine instead of doing all that painting for a crappy lineup.

also, is it normal for the shaft coming out of the pump to have a little slop in it. it slides in and out just enough to be noticeable. i want to be sure so i can get another pump if this one, "re-man from china," turns out to be like every other chinese made thing on the planet... a polished turd.

oh yeah the pulley i used is the original pulley for the truck

some would say "just pry the sob into place" but i dont want to possibly mess up the threads in my new aluminum AFR heads, that would suck ass!!!

Some of the water pumps use studs with nuts welded to them with a lock washer behind them. Then the pump fits on a stud and you use a washer and lock nut. I think your problem is in this area and I've found it trying to use a bolt and lock washer and noticed the same problem. I went back to the junk yard and looked at one on the car that was this way. I found some of these types of studs laying on the ground. The owner gave me these as I bought some other items. This solved my problem you can use washers as spacers and a longer bolt. Use a straight edge to level the pulley. I had a Citation company car and I fixed it this way. I don't like to sling belts on the road and I doubt if you do either.

well, i tinkered with it last night and i got the pulley to be level with the others but it isnt in line. it is offset about 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch in front of the other pulleys, so im gonna pull the pulley off and put washers between the pump face and the bracket to move it back until it is flush. ill probably have to swap the 2 groove pulley that it has for when it used to have an A/C compressor with a single groove pulley because the 2 groove will probably hit against one of the 4 bolts after the pump is spaced back since there is already barely any clearance. ill let you guys know if it works out

Normally the washers are between the mounting bracket and the engine so the pulley is in position with the pump. If the pump shaft is two long washers won't work. Normally the pulleys aren't under another pulley. Are you sure your mounting it in the proper location. A two groove pulley should be the same spot on the inside space as a single groove pulley. According to my understanding double check what your doing. I may not completely understand your post.

well, i used spacers between the pump and the bracket and that solved my problem. i did end up having to switch to a 1 groove pulley, since the pump being pushed back that far would have forced the wider 2 groove pulley to rub against the bolt heads that hold the pump to the bracket, since the pump moved back but the bracket stayed in the same spot, naturally drawing the pulley closer to the bracket as the pump was moved away on the other side. it seems pretty good now and i threw a belt on there and it doesnt look too bad at all

That's good hopefully the belt will stay on.

lol if it doesnt ill just say f-it since im just needing to start the motor not drive the truck, so if push comes to shove ill let it break in without the power steering pump turning. it seems pretty straight and is only "off" if you are trying to see a problem :-)