Procharger-Power Steering- Small Block Chevy

[buns]

After years of planning I finally broke down and ordered a Procharger P-1SC for my 1966 Corvette.

I didn't order a power steering relocation kit at the time as I wanted to see if my original style Saginaw pump would work. Well, it's just too big to fit between the block and the upper control arm. Keep in mind that the center line of the Corvette engine mounts are 12" behind the centerline of the upper control arm cross shaft. Most engines of that era have the motor mounts on center with the cross shaft.

So it appears that Procharger has two different power steering relocation kits. The "remote" and the "compact". They both use the same pump, but are mounted differently.

The "remote" kit seems to hug the block closely and uses an idler pulley for belt tensioning. I scanned a pic from the owners manual, please excuse the poor quality, I could not find a pic on their website.




The "compact" kit seems to stick the pump out away from the block, but uses a different system for belt tensioning, which is not explained. Another crummy pic ( squint your eyes to make it better).





So, basically, I am looking for comments as to which one I should choose , and why they have two kits. They also recomend two pumps, the NAPA # 20-704 (straight inlet) and the JACO ( or JAYCO from the website) # 20-875 ( angled inlet ). I went to NAPA online, and they have never heard of either of these part numbers. A search for JACO came up empty handed, a search for JAYCO sent me to a company that builds travel trailers. It appears that the only difference between these two pumps is angled or straight inlet, yet in the pictures they both appear the same. Are they talking about the inlet from the remote reservoir?

Last, ( for now)...my Corvette ( as all did from '63 to '82 ) has power assist ( a manual steering box with a ram that is driven by the pump ) as opposed to an integral power steering box. I was just wondering if there was any difference in the pressure and volume of fluid between these two systems.

Any and all comments would be appreciated. Stay tuned as I try to figure out how to get this muther under the hood ( 'Bumpouts' are not an option.)

[Blown353]

Concerning ATI's brackets: They are both junk.

The compact kit has way too much flex in it leading to belt squeal every time you load the steering (such as low speed parking.)

The remote kit's bracket is fine from a flex perspective-- it's plenty stiff. However the backside idler will explode the v-belt every 500 miles or so. V-belts weren't meant to bend backwards. The reverse bend fatigues the inside of the belt causing it to split and chunk and eventually it explodes. ATI's standard A/C & alternator bracket also uses a V-belt and backside idler and suffers from the same malady of exploding belts.

I started with their "remote" kit and after blowing up 2 belts in 1000 miles I made my own. I used ATI's aluminum standoffs but cut a new plate that swiveled for belt tension (doing away with the idler) and used a turnbuckle to tension the pump.

If you look here I have a picture of my bracket:
http://home.comcast.net/~procharged6.../psbracket.jpg

I got the rod ends and turnbuckle portion from McMaster-Carr. I think I have about $20 total in the bracket and it's worked great for 10K miles now on the same belt.

If you want I can send you a to-scale CAD file of the bracket which you can make the plate with. It has a fairly narrow range of adjustment due to block and power steering box clearance so you have to find the proper size belt. I think the belt I'm using is 23" but I'd have to check my records.

As far as what pump to use, it's just a standard GM Type II pump. Street and Performance, KRC (cream of the crop), and many others sell these pumps. I think I got mine from Street & Performance for $100 or so.

[HILROD]

I am running an old school, full size, saginaw pump. I got the remote filler housing off E-bay but the application is from a 80's to mid 90's G-van. As a side benifit it also has dual returns as it came from a hydroboost application. I also run hydroboost, so it worked for me. The brackets are from what I assume is the same application. The pulley is the only oddball, as I needed to run the v-belt in the outer-most groove in from of the 12 rib. I had to use a standard pulley on backwards. This is the only belt that likes to stay on!

[buns]

Thanks for the feedback, it is much appreciated. I went to the KRC website and they seem to specialize in this kind of thing. They have a kit which includes pump, pulley, remote reservoir and mounting bracket for about $250.00. I don't know if I will be able to use the bracket 'as is'. They are probably designed to run off the second groove on a short water pump setup, but I am only guessing. I will shoot off an e-mail to them and keep you posted. But, anyone else, please don't hesitate to respond, all comments are appreciated.

A picture of the KRC setup:



And another:

[buns]

I talked to the tech guy at KRC, and found that that their power steering system is designed to run off the second pulley of a short water pump system. Distance from the centerline of the pully to the mounting surface on the block is 3.85". On my Procharger crank pulley the distance is 3.25".

So, my plan is to build a bracket to offset the KRC bracket to the right side of the block, and back .6". He also suggested I use their aluminum pump, not the cheaper cast iron one. That's O.K. I love polishing aluminum!

The aluminum pump kit is about $300, which really is not that much more than buying the Procharger bracket and pulley, plus a pump and a reservoir. I will let you know how it works out.

[thedugan]

I just got my Procharger kit and it has the Power Steering brackets which I will not be using. If your looking for the brackets let me know.

[buns]

Thanks for the offer, but I ended up getting the kit from KRC and fabricating my own adapter bracket. I will post pics when I get it all finished.

Perhaps someone else could use it?

[Procharmo]

I currently run a P600B 8 rib set-up purchased back in 94. Back then procharger suggested I use thier 8 rib power sterring pully on my saginsaw pump. I spcced the pump away from the block till it was in line wit the eight rib. It's run like that with a 295 pulley for 14 yrs and never thrown belt and reved to 6500 rpm. I wore out the idler/tensioner about 5 years ago . Its all still on the car today.

Now I need to modify my new F1R bracketry to leave the pump with its 8 rib or go the relocation route. Anyone ever run a set up like this. Its on a 355 chevy, 1977 Camaro. Alternator and water pump on v belt. No A/C.

[[email protected]]

I am looking into buying a ati super charger It seams there are alot of add ons from just the kit. What exactly I am going to get myself into. I am using a small block chev. Is it really worth the suprise of have too keep going back to the shop to by an end less list of stuff. Can some one help with an idea of what to look out for?

[Procharmo]

15 years ago this was the solultion I came up with prior to the Procharger relocation kits.





The power steering bracket is on top of the P600B bracket and an 8 rib pulley is attached to it. This set up has run trouble free to 6500 rpm.

Question is will this work with a 8 rib F1C bracket and head unit?? Procharger techs can't help, I've sent them these photos and they rallied round their workstation as this was unprecedented for them!!!

[Procharmo]

Finally, ordered Prochargers P/S pulley and Bracket along with Jegs polished GM Type II pump. Couldn't work out how align the pump with the existing V-belt groove on my 8 rib crank.
Called Procharger after a week of head scratching. Tech told me I had the old crank (1993) and needed the new version with a V belt in front for the water pump/alternator and one behind the 8 rib for the P/S!!!!
Ordered new crank pulley, P/S alignment OK but cannot get P/S to sit under Procharger bracket with enough clearance or stop the front of the P/S pulley hub fouling the 8 rib belt.
Turned bracket upside down and drilled new mounting hole. With 1" of adjustment belt sizing is crucial but at last. I now have power steering installed.
Procharger Crank pulley front V-belt is 1/2" in front of the water pump and alternator pulleys!!!!!! Got online with Jegs ordered long water pump 2 groove and alternator 2 groove pulleys hoping that the front grooves would align to the Procharger crank. Alternator seems like it will fit, water pump has second groove closer to the block.
Tried to space out the pulley on the water pump flange, pulley is not touching center shaft and not enough thread on the flange bolts. Looked at water pump spacers but did not want to buy new alternator brackets. Thinking of trying short water pump pulley on long water pump flange as a last resort. Any comments welcome!!!!!!!!!!

[HILROD]

I used the newer lower pulley and use the innermost belt to run the waterpump and Alt, the one outside the blower belt to run the P.S. I'd take a pic, but it is so packed in, you can't see anything. This is with a short water pump.

[buns]

Procharmo...When I got my P1SC kit it came with new alternator and water pump pulleys that are designed specifically to run off the front groove of the supplied crankshaft pulley. If you got the updated crank pulley and are using a long water pump, I think these would work for you.


Water pump pulley. 1.5" from front of pulley to centerline of belt.






Alternator pulley.

[big_G]

On my D1SC powered '68 'Vette, I modded the factory p.s. brackets to move the pump in line with the inner crank groove. Used the '68 cast pulley. Then I relieved the bottom of the s/c mount plate to clear the p.s. cap. I am running the complete pump with reservoir. No pics....can't see sh*t when the 'Charger is installed.

[big_G]

Wait..I found one, mock-up pic. before relieving the s/c brackets.

[Procharmo]

Thanks for the comments guys, especially buns and Big G. I'm not sure why Procharger didn't let me know that they supplied new pulleys. I've been trying to get a Mr Gasket 2 groove alternator pulley to fit, as well as using all manner of spacers to get the water pump pulley to line up.

I'll call Procharger. Again!!!! This evening.
Thanks Guys.

[sik68]

Althought I dont have a procharger, Maybe you can make my Unisteer setup work since Big-G has a similar positioning:





Turnbuckle to provide adjustability:



I have since swapped out to a double-groove pulley to run a belt dedicated to the PS pump, but with your alternator on the passenger side maybe you don't need to.

More info in my buildup thread in my signature.

[buns]

Thanks for the comments guys, especially buns and Big G. I'm not sure why Procharger didn't let me know that they supplied new pulleys. I've been trying to get a Mr Gasket 2 groove alternator pulley to fit, as well as using all manner of spacers to get the water pump pulley to line up.

I'll call Procharger. Again!!!! This evening.
Thanks Guys.

I found the part numbers for the pulleys for future referance:


Crank pulley.................DC005A-001
Water pump pulley........DP0081-001
Alternator pulley...........DP0081-002

[Procharmo]

Thanks for all the input. I have gone with a Mr gasket dual V groove alternator pulley and spacers on a Spectre long water pump pulley. No issues so far. Only revved to 5000rpm though!
Had to drill new mounting holes for the Procharger P/S bracket to clear the F series bracket.

[URL=http://g.imageshack.us/img355/269dx8.jpg/1/][IMG]http://img355.imageshack.us/img355/269dx8.jpg/1/