![1963 ford thunderbird power steering pump 1963 ford thunderbird power steering pump](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/GNoAAOSwGuJfIIf-/s-l640.jpg)
![1963 ford thunderbird power steering pump 1963 ford thunderbird power steering pump](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dmrpecOgvWY/W8Tnzv1MZ1I/AAAAAAAFUt8/tBLqFOjGVT030Dl2lkyRzwGVJBVFlrEOgCLcBGAs/s1600/s-l1600.jpg)
The belt was actually being tensioned by a 1/4 bolt wedged between the bracket and the water pump housing. Credit to Bubba though, he did upgrade it to an 8.8, just for added safety I expect.
![1963 ford thunderbird power steering pump 1963 ford thunderbird power steering pump](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/3VkAAOSw32lYuQSN/s-l400.jpg)
The spacer was missing, and in addition the adjustment clamping force was being supplied by M10 bolt just jammed in the hole for the lower slot. Thank you both, you were right on the money. As Tom says, it's near impossible to bend the cast adjustment bracket. Sometimes the spacer has been replaced with a couple of washers that don't aren't thick enough to reproduce the clearance produced by the original spacer which measures about 1/2" deep. Without that spacer, the bracket will be cocked towards the engine, causing misalignment of the pump pulley. My guess is that your car may be missing the 1/2" spacer located behind the bracket on the adjustment bolt. However, a carefully placed 1x2 board is what I used to pry on the pump. Here's what some other members have said about tightening the belt: The top bolt is the pivot point and the lower bolt is in the tension slot. I have replaced the stock bolts with hex cap screws for easier tightening. I installed a 17380, in this case written as 38017, or 13A0965, 965/25.4=38" which is 1/2" shorter effective length which gave me more room for adjustment.Īs for your bracket being bent, isn't it a solid piece of cast iron like this? It would be awful hard to bend without breaking. Looking at the industry standard number, 980 is in millimeters, so the belt is 980mm/25.4mm/inch=38.5". So looking at the Dayco # the belt is 17/32" or 0.53" top width and 38.5" effective length. It should be a Dayco 17385 sometimes written by other manufacturers as 38517,Gates 9385,Napa 25-9385, or industry #13A980. The power steering belt is waaay too slack.Ĭheck your belt size first. The car originally had A/C, but that is long gone. My first priority is to get the power steering belt tensioned. I've just built myself what Brits call a "Special" but wanted something like the Thunderbird to use as a more practical classic. I'm hoping that my pump will bolt in, and that with a non A/C belt I'll be able to tension it properly. I've ordered up a bracket for a non A/C car, and it is on its way. The bracket also looks as if it has been bent backwards, as the pulley is not aligned with the crank. I can't see any way to swing the pump on the bracket, or swing the bracket on the block. The power steering belt is waaay too slack.
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I like the car, and it is pretty sound, but it has a couple of issues I'll need to work on. It is a '63, and I've bought it to use it. I'm still grinning every time I catch sight of it in the driveway. I've spent years looking at them and thinking "that's a nice looking car". Always refer to a professional to verify correct fitment for your vehicle.Great forum, I lurked for while before I took the plunge, bought my first Thunderbird, and signed on. The data has been provided by our suppliers and manufacturers and may contain errors or incorrect data. The Vehicle Fitment Guide is to be used as a general reference.