Power steering pulley problem

[dukeenfield]

Hi,I am trying to fit power steering on my 1986 350i and have come across this problem.I have fitting mk5 cortina power steering rack and fitted Rover SD1 Vitesse power steering pump.The problem is the pulley on the rover pump comes to close to top of steering rack,the pump has about a 5 1/2 inch dia pulley on and I would need to fit a very small pulley to make it clear.I just wondered if any body else have had this problem and how had got round it.Also if i managed to fit very small pulley on pump,would it make pump spin to fast.

[350matt]

how small is 'very small' ? As the pump could probably handle being spun a little faster say 15% and can you grind any material from the rack housing? A few mm is all thats required. also look at slotting holes on the bracket to raise the pump up a bit and or a shorter/longer belt to allow the pump to be swung away from the rack?

Matt

[wedg1e]

My guess is that you're not using the modified TVR bracket to mount the pump? On my 390SE the pump sits very high up on the left side of the engine.
That pulley diameter sounds about right.

Ian

[pistolar]

Dear Duckeenfield,
I have a 400se with the same set up. Basically the pump is mounted low down on the engine using a standard rover mounting bracket BUT what TVR have done is drill another set of holes in the bracket below the existing holes ( the holes actually brake into each other ). With this set up you get approx 10mm clearance. My other 400se which is an earlier car has the pump mounted high up on a specially made bracket, with the pump driven off the water pump.

[dukeenfield]

Hi,Thanks for your help,i think you right about mounting bracket,so what i have done is to lower the fixing
holes by an inch (moving bracket up) and then going to weld extra bits on for the other holes,hopefully this should do it,thanks Ken.