Need Help! (PS belt related)

[By-Tor]

Where are the bolts that loosen the PS pump so I can tighten the belt?


Edit: For my '78 Regal.

 

[chrisgarrett]

If it's like the 87 pump, feel thru the holes in the pulley at the 12 and 6 oclock position. They should be 10mm. Don't know what the ps pump has to do with belt tension though.

 

[By-Tor]

Nope no holes in the pulley for bolts, that's was the first place I looked.

 

[Gary Wells]

Sure that you have the correct belt?

 

[Just a Six??]

Since its a 78 with probably a V-8 there must be a bolt that would allow you to adjust the belt. Maybe its on the alt like my friends 350 Camaro??

 

[gsgns4me]

Working off memory, there is probably one nut on the back side. Probably 2 (maybe 3) bolts on the front side, one long, one short. You will more than likely need contortionist skills to get them all.

 

[By-Tor]

The car has the 3.8 Turbo.
I have taken a look and I have found four different bolts that part of the whole assembly(The pump and the brackets that attach to the block). I just can't figure out which bolts are for what!

 

[chrisgarrett]

Go to one of the suppliers that have pictures of ps pumps like Giant Auto. From the looks of the pics, the bolts at 10 and 5 oclock hold the pump on.

 

[ericmccann]

It's a fixed device - no adjustment

Where are the bolts that loosen the PS pump so I can tighten the belt?


Edit: For my '78 Regal.

I owned a 1979 Regal Turbo, just went through all of my pictures and OLD videotapes of the engine and the power steering pump is a fixed device. No adjustment is available on that particular component. The PS pump shares a belt with the fan, water pump and alternator. The alternator IS adjustable (on the top of the mounting bracket itself) and is what provides the slack in the belt tension for the fan, water pump, and of course, the alternator.

The fan and crank pulley also provide the tension for the A/C pulley, where the only adjustable component on that bracket is the A/C compressor. It's a dual-pully system on these motors. THEN, the alternator pulley is a DUAL pulley design to also power the Emissions Air Pump.

Eric McCann
Germantown, WI

 

[chrisgarrett]

I owned a 1979 Regal Turbo, just went through all of my pictures and OLD videotapes of the engine and the power steering pump is a fixed device. No adjustment is available on that particular component. The PS pump shares a belt with the fan, water pump and alternator. The alternator IS adjustable (on the top of the mounting bracket itself) and is what provides the slack in the belt tension for the fan, water pump, and of course, the alternator.

The fan and crank pulley also provide the tension for the A/C pulley, where the only adjustable component on that bracket is the A/C compressor. It's a dual-pully system on these motors. THEN, the alternator pulley is a DUAL pulley design to also power the Emissions Air Pump.

Eric McCann
Germantown, WI

That makes more sense.

 

[By-Tor]

Ok I ran outside real quick and took a look under the hood.
Right now I'm running only two belts and the belt that drives the PS drives no other thing. The belt for the PS comes off the lower Harmonic Balance(I think that's what its called.) and goes to the PS pulley. I don't see how PS could be connected to anything else.

 

[ericmccann]

Interesting. Maybe it's an option thing. ?

But, check your alternator... Is it a dual pulley design?

I'll try to post my videos.... These are old school 8mm tapes so it may take me a while to convert them....

Later..

Eric

 

[By-Tor]

There are two big pulleys in the center, one comes off the crank and the other comes off the water pump. The belt that runs the alt also runs with the water pump and that is also connected to the crank pulley. I wish I had a camera right now, it would make this easier.

 

[chrisgarrett]

Okay, I just looked it up. You do indeed adjust/remove the ps belt by "loosening th pump mounts and pushing it toward the engine." If there's only 4 bolts turn them. Start with the ones at 10 and 5.

 

[By-Tor]

Thanks Chris and you too Eric.
Btw, where did you find the info?

 

[chrisgarrett]

I have a Haynes 1974 thru 1987 Buick repair manuel. Because it covers so many years, it doesn't give specifics on ps bolts.

 

[chrisgarrett]

Maybe I was looking at the wrong side. The bolts could be at 2 and 8.

 

[By-Tor]

I have that same book, there never help you when you need it.

Btw, don't let those books get wet! They hold a lot of water.

 

[By-Tor]

That is a helpful picture!
I knew of the upper one because I can see it, but that back one....
Now I see that, looks like a belt is gonna get tightened!

 

[turbofish38]

That's some screwed up info there. Okay I've been under the hood of many a carb turbo Buick with old style V-belts. The PS is adjustable.Look at the front side. One bolt on the pivot to the cylinder head needs to be loosened. There are 2 bolts that sit in the slide part of the pump mounting bracket. Loosen those. On the back side of the pump is a nut. Loosen it. Adjust away and tighten everything back up.