Power steering pump alignment

[KULTULZ]

SOMEONE here has left their reverb on too loud again ...

 

[dmsfrr]

The 55/57 BIRD 3652 and 3C511 (see ILL) are dedicated BIRD.
Where did you find your brackets and how did you know they were BIRD?

The first thing I did was look at a neighbors 'survivor' '57 Bird with power steering, then started looked closer at other club members T-Birds.
The B5SZ-3C511 bracket for '55/'57 T-Birds has a wider flat top as part of the casting. The others only have a narrow ridge. The Bird part is also shorter, left to right, than the 'car' versions, approx 6 inches long vs. almost 8 inches. And the 2 bolt holes on the 'car' cast piece to attach the PS 'flat plate bracket' are also lower and at a different angle.

I found the two T-Bird brackets (B5SZ-3C511 & 3652) on ebay, from a seller not charging 'an arm and a leg'. I look for parts from sellers who don't know the parts fit a T-Bird and aren't marked up.

The (3652) perpendicular steadying bracket back to the front exhaust manifold bolt was on the car when I got it, but it didn't fit because a previous owner had 'modified' it to line up with the incorrect 3C511 bracket on the car that bolts to the water pump.

The flat plate the PS pump bolts onto may or may not be the same for Birds or 'cars' I don't know. When the one I had fit and lined up I stopped worrying about it.

 

[Patrick brophy]

Sorry about the delay,had a few medical issues to attend to yesterday, and did not have time for much else.
I did send off an email to Tim at Hill,s late yesterday, I am awaiting his response.

A little more information. The casting number on the bracket ECD_33559.
The harmonic balancer pulley is new,as is the water pump.
The generator pulley aligns just fine.

I do not know how to cross the casting number with part numbers you fellows have provided, but that might shed some light on a few things n
If i can figure out how to insert photos like you guys do I will send a few.

 

[KULTULZ]

HOUSTON ... WE HAVE A PROBLEM​

It seems the 1955-1957 BIRD does take spacer(s) (QTY 3) . It is described in the MPC as 354193-S FLAT WASHER 13/32". Usually, that measurement is of the cap screw shank size but in this case must be the spacer thickness.

So that is how ENGINEERING designed the mounting and spacing for pulley alignment (in addition to dedicated mounting brackets).

Below is ILL -

Parts Source - https://www.npdlink.com/1955-1957-thunderbird/steering/power-steering-brackets

NOTE - There are three of these spacers used on the BIRD PS install. Look @ ILL closely in prevous posts on this thread.

 

[Patrick brophy]

An update to the alignment issue.
First ,sorry about the delay in responding. Don't get old ,too many medical appointments.

I have had several emails with Tim from Hill's Restoration. He was most helpful. He did contact the builder of the system.

His response was,

Use the spacers between the cast bracket and the flat bracket on the pump. They epoxy the spacers in place on the 3C511 cast bracket and they get sandwiched in place between the brackets.
If you pull the pump pulley forward with your fingers (they have a lot of front to back play)and the spacers between the brackets are in place you should be dead on.

When I did so, I was able to pull the pulley on the pump out even where it matched the pulley on the engine.
The builder said if it was still not correct ,he could send another pulley with a deeper offset, but I should be OK.

That took care of my issue. I had no idea that there would be any play in the shaft ,Thanks for all the help.

 

[Sid]

I just went through the same issue on a 55 Ford I am converting to P/S. The pulley that came with the kit set the P/S pulley too far forward. The bracket I needed was an EBY. I think the one that came with the kit was a ECG. Then there is the ECD. I think it is the shorter also.

 

[KULTULZ]

The first thing I did was look at a neighbors 'survivor' '57 Bird with power steering, then started looked closer at other club members T-Birds.

I forgot to THANK YOU for the info ...

That helps a lot since you were in the trenches.

 

[dmsfrr]

I forgot to THANK YOU for the info ...
That helps a lot since you were in the trenches.

You're welcome.
The photos & info was from a few years back, before we got this red '55 running. The hard part was finding the pictures again after having my old laptop die.

 

[KULTULZ]

The hard part was finding the pictures again after having my old laptop die.

I know the feeling. I have had several crash with important info ...

 

[KULTULZ]

An update to the alignment issue.

First ,sorry about the delay in responding. Don't get old ,too many medical appointments.

I have had several emails with Tim from Hill's Restoration. He was most helpful. He did contact the builder of the system.

His response was,

THANK YOU for the update.

 

[Mr Clean]

I'm currently waiting on a power steering kit from Hill's Thunderbird for my 55 Thunderbird. Thanks for all the information and pictures of the Thunderbird power steering system. It will be very helpful when I install my kit.

 

[Patrick brophy]

Would anyone have a photo of the correct power steering line route from the slave cylinder on up to the pump?

 

[dmsfrr]

This may be pretty close? The first photo is in a '55 that came to me with lots of mis-matched parts under the hood. But the PS setup is close enough now that I've left it alone and it's working well.

Photo two, the bottom of the PS reservoir in a '57 Bird.

If there are any other PS equipped Baby Birds near you try giving them a look.

 

[Patrick brophy]

Thanks dmsfrr, I do appreciate it.