Hello all,

223,000 miles 1985 C30 Crewcab straightside 350 VIN M THM400 Hydroboost 2-belt pulley on power-steering pump and factory power-steering cooler. It has decided to start leaking profusely from the reservoir of the power-steering pump. I can happily swap it out, but while I'm here:

The reservoir and cap placement on these is horrible. Easiest way to it is left-handed reaching through belts and goo and burn your knuckles etc.

I'm wondering if anyone here has swapped to a remote-reservoir version? I'd prefer something totally stock except reservoir placement. I'm thinking perhaps some other platform with a 350 used a remote reservoir?

Thanks!

I can't think of any, and a quick search only reveals aftermarket solutions.
Besides how 'wonderful' of a design, I might add after a 250K miles miles, I found another flaw. I experienced water in the fluid after washing the engine, even if I covered and sealed the cap in plastic. I always ran the A/C compressor belt tight (still V-belts on an LG4 in a B-body) on this car because of the annoying characteristics of the R4 A/C compressor. This flexes the PS pump brackets and wears a hole in the PS reservoir, without any significant loss of fluid. I've seen the marks on the back of a lot of V8 pumps. I replaced the reservoir and have rubber behind it now for a cushion.

Thanks for checking! I'm thinking aftermarket too, the concern I have is that it is heavy duty enough for my truck. This being a C30 with a 350 means it has a hydroboost brake booster. I know lots of pumps bolt up to a 350, I just don't want to get one that was designed with a Nova in mind, put it on my truck, and have it fail early because it'* light duty somehow.

I guess that brings a question for anyone who wants to answer: Is a PS pump a PS pump? Like: Do they put the same pump as mine in a Caprice or Camaro, K5, 305, 4.3, 400 etc. just with different pulley and a smaller PS cooler? . . . or are they significantly different?

Wow, I've seen the bit of wear on some, but never seen a hole. Fortunately, mine has about an eighth of an inch clearance there so I've not worried about it on mine.

Update:

After a bunch of searching, I have discovered this:



Credit for finding: https://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/members/tbitoy.html

Thread: Saginaw pump ID. Remote Reservoir can - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

This is from a 1981-1984 Renault Fuego. Yes, really. Looking at the application listing, I see no other models at:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/a...7989/overview/

When I get back to my truck, I'm going to see if there is clearance for the rear-facing return nipple. I'll also see if there are any other complications related to the hydroboost. I know there are two return lines, one from the steering gear and one from the hydroboost. My intent right now is that I can return both of them to a reservoir with two return nipples.

A couple of questions:

Do all Saginaw pumps fit all reservoirs?

Do they all have the same bolt pattern and shaft dimensions (depth, position, etc.)?

Looking on the interweb it appears that they are indeed that interchangeable, with differences being pressure output for different applications in cars versus trucks etc.

What do y'all think?

Yeah that won't work. So then I got the wild idea to look at a PS pump for the 7.4l version of my truck:



Voila'! Looks perfect. Hiding right in front of me. I'd prefer one return path feeds through the remote reservoir but I'm sure GM figured out that it all gets mixed together eventually.

If anyone is still watching, I'm still curious for thoughts on:

These things are pretty reliable, I've only ever changed a couple of them. Those were like for like with the reservoir included. I've never swapped pumps and reservoirs etc. like the race-car and customizer guys seem to do all the time according to the interwebs.

Thanks!