66 L79 Power Steering Pump and Pulley Info Needed

[Nick Mesich]

I am looking to add the original Power Steering System onto a 1966 L79 Vert and looking at the JG the Pump used a Cast pulley. All photos I have of Power Steering Pumps are with a Stamped Steel Pulley.

Can someone please post or send me a picture of the correct pump and cast pulley?

What years were this Pump and Pulley unit used on the Corvette?

Were these used on other cars other than the Corvette?

Is the Cast pulley readily available?

Thanks in advance for all your assistance.

[Scott Marzahl]

Re: 66 L79 Power Steering Pump and Pulley Info Nee

Check out the Paragon catalog for a picture of the cast pulley.

http://www.corvette-paragon.com

[Joe L.]

Re: 66 L79 Power Steering Pump and Pulley Info Nee

Nick-----

I believe that your application did use the cast iron pulley. Generally, if your application uses only a 2 groove crankshaft pulley, then the "drop down" style cast iron power steering pump pulley is used. If an "add-on" crankshaft pulley is used for power steering (forming a THIRD groove), then the "pancake"-style, stamped steel pulley is used. Only 1 cast iron pulley was ever used for Corvette small blocks during the 1965-74 period. That pulley was GM #3834720 which is a single groove pulley. It was also used on 1963-64 passenger cars with SHP 409 and is SERVICE for 61-62 passenger cars with SHP 348 or 409. You won't find many of these cars languishing in salvage yards to serve as donors.

The GM #3834720 pulley was discontinued several years ago. However, I believe that it's available in reproduction. It's not cheap, though.

[Nick Mesich]

Re: 66 L79 Power Steering Pump and Pulley Info Nee

Thanks Joe and Scott,

That's what I thought. Nothing comes easy with these cars.

I really appreciate the info. and speed of response.

I will check the Driveline for availability of one of these Cast pulleys.

Is the Pump the same regardless of application of Cast or Stamped pulley?

One more thing, is the original Pump cap plastic or steel?

Thanks again,

Nick

[Joe L.]

Re: 66 L79 Power Steering Pump and Pulley Info Nee

Nick-----

The pump is the same regardless of pulley utilized. However, the 63-66 pumps were slightly different than those used for 67-74. The primary difference was the use of a different shaft and seal than later. There may have been minor differences in the configuration of the resevoir, too. The differences in the shaft and seal are virtually non-discernable when the pump is mounted in the car. The stamped steel and cast iron pump pullies previously described will fit any 63-74 pump.

The resevoir cap used on all 1966 p/s pumps was stamped steel and not plastic. It's functionally interchangeable with the later plastic cap, though.