Power steering pump for the Judges

[Robert C.]

Re: Power steering pump for the Judges

Jim,

Can you take a look at the picture I posted. Ever see a return line like this on a '75-'79 Corvette pump ?

Bob

[Jim S.]

Re: Power steering pump for the Judges

Bob,
Although I have owned several C3s through the years, I really don't have any documentation as to the angle of the return spout on the pump reservoir. The AIM sheets would tend to agree with your pictures. Unfortunately, the generic pump assembly drawings do not show the actual spout.
Jim

[Joe L.]

Re: Power steering pump for the Judges

Jim,

Can you take a look at the picture I posted. Ever see a return line like this on a '75-'79 Corvette pump ?

Bob

Bob-----


The "teardrop"-shaped power steering pump reservoirs were used on most GM cars, including Corvette, beginning in 1975. The basic reservoir configuration was the same for all but there were at least several part numbers which reflected minor, chassis-specific requirements, primarily involving the configuration of the return hose nipple.

For 1975-82 Corvettes I can find that only 2 reservoirs were used. 1975-76 used reservoir GM #7818166. 1977-82 used reservoir GM #7826770. I don't think that the return nipple was a feature that differed between these two reservoirs and I don't think that return nipple configuration was as you have pictured. So, I presume the one you show was used for some other chassis, Chevrolet or otherwise.

[Jim S.]

Re: Power steering pump for the Judges

We called the "teardrop" shaped reservoir the "ham can" design.

I am going to try and obtain copies of the 7818166 and 7826770 reservoir drawings. Hopefully they will be seperate drawings showing the spout shape and orientation. Otherwise, they may be on a charted drawing that will not be very helpful.

Charted drawings saved a lot of drawing time but required going back to detail subassembly drawings to really understand the design. When you are working with 40 year old drawings, this becomes very tedious. And with today's high pressure work environment, I don't like to ask people to spend a lot of time seeking those old drawings.

[Robert C.]

Re: Power steering pump for the Judges

Thanks Joe & Jim,

I ended up bending the nipple at a 60 degree bend. When it was bent at 90 degrees, all we did was hit the control arm cross shaft bolt.

As always, thanks for your insight.......

Bob

[Jim S.]

Re: Power steering pump for the Judges

The C2/C3 pump reservoir has been difficult to decipher. Here is a scan of a reservoir in the 1974-76 time frame. Service reservoirs changed part numbers through the years and I do not have the facilities to figure out what numbers and what years.



I am pretty sure that the pump service part numbers are either 7818044 or possibly 26134879. Also the service reservoir part numbers are 7818166 or 7818117. If Joe Lucia can determine if these numbers are good, and what model year Corvettes they serviced, it would be a great help. I am sure that the pump part numbers would only be good through 1979 since the pumps had metric fasteners after that point. I would assume that the reservoir numbers would be good through 1982 since they were unaffected by the change to metric. Jim

[Joe L.]

Re: Power steering pump for the Judges

The C2/C3 pump reservoir has been difficult to decipher. Here is a scan of a reservoir in the 1974-76 time frame. Service reservoirs changed part numbers through the years and I do not have the facilities to figure out what numbers and what years.




I am pretty sure that the pump service part numbers are either 7818044 or possibly 26134879. Also the service reservoir part numbers are 7818166 or 7818117. If Joe Lucia can determine if these numbers are good, and what model year Corvettes they serviced, it would be a great help. I am sure that the pump part numbers would only be good through 1979 since the pumps had metric fasteners after that point. I would assume that the reservoir numbers would be good through 1982 since they were unaffected by the change to metric. Jim

Jim-----

The configuration of the return nipple in the diagram is exactly what I would expect for 1975-82 Corvette power steering pump reservoirs.

GM #7818044 was the part number, both PRODUCTION and SERVICE, for 1975-79 power steering PUMPS. I can find no record of GM #26134879.
The 1980-82 pumps were as follows:

1980----GM #7833299

1981----GM #7837233

1982----GM #7839822


The 1975-76 reservoir was GM #7818166. The 1977-82 reservoir was GM #7826770. The latter also replaced the 7818166 for 1975-76 SERVICE in August, 1976.

I can find no record of GM #7818167.

[Robert C.]

Re: Power steering pump for the Judges

Jim & Joe, thanks for taking the time to document this for us, everyone appreciates it !

Bob

[Jim S.]

Re: Power steering pump for the Judges

I am still trying to sort this stuff out. One big problem is that service reservoirs were sometime (all times) painted which made them a new part number from the bare metal reservoirs that were attached to the pump housing and the whole assembly painted. Next big problem (for me) is that from around 1970 Saginaw went to charted drawings. So all the components were charted. So there was a generic pump and reservoir picture with hundreds of possible combinations of part numbers that could make up unique pumps for each application. All the components are refered to by part number, not pictures on the chart.

In many cases Saginaw would use a later part number part to make up a special service pump so they could standardize. This was good from a manufacturing and service standpoint, but a real b*tch when trying to figure out exactly what was shipped out the door to the car/truck assembly plant.

After many, many revisions to the charted pump assembly drawing, many times the chart was "revised and redrawn" and all the previous revisions were archived. So the latest chart may not provide any indication as to past revisions.

This is a real headache. I suspect that the return hose spout has remained fairly close to the 32 degree bent pipe that is just about on the centerline of the reservoir from around 1963 through 1982. Even the big block pumps used the same reservoir.