Best donor car for a steering pump?

I am installing a MII setup with power steering. Can anyone tell me the best donor car to pull the an attached reservoir pump set up. My engine and trans is a 350/350 combo. I really don't want to fork out $450 for a new pump bracket and pulley...

 

Kind of depends on what else is on the engine. Does it use a short or long water pump? what are you using for pulleys? and the other brackets? pictures help....

 

here are some pics. i think its a short shaft but Im guessing

 

If you are running a short water pump, 1968 or earlier GM product. Pretty much any one. If you are running a longer one, 1969 or later.

You will need to shim the pump spring, or run a flow valve to lower the pressure for the rack. The Saginaw "ham-can" power steering pump pressure and flow is too high for the MII rack.

Like: http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Mustang-II-Power-Steering-Flow-Valve-for-GM-Pump-2-GPM,5852.html

You may need the companion flare adapter too, depending on what lines you are running.

 

Looks like a long pump.

Grab the power steering from any 73 up gm V8, before they went to serpentine.

Another cost savings, buy the ford hose and the chevy hose, take them to a hose shop and have them spliced.

Rich

 

Use a t-bird rack and m2 tie rod ends.

The t-bird rack will work with the gm pump just fine.

Rich

 

It also kind of depends on which rack you are using. The Thunderbird rack is compatible with a GM pump and not adapters where as the pinto/mustang rack is not.

 

Interesting ... I have a manual Mustang II rack in my car now. I want to change it to power (I am also running a SBC). What year T-bird rack should we look for and does it just bolt right in, in place of the Mustang manual or a special/different brackets needed?

 

Last time I had power steering, I bought a used circle track pump and bracket with a remote reservoir. It worked out pretty slick. Notice, I had to make aluminum spacers against the block for the long water pump.

 

As mentioned, the stock power steering pump from most 69-up cars and 73-up trucks will fit. You need to make sure the water pump is the correct year for the steering pump brackets, as they changed the mounting method a couple times over the years. Pretty much anything from 73-86 should work.

 

remember that trucks used the short pump until 1972.

Looks like squirrel already mentioned that.

 

That is a Saginaw TC pump. It can be found in several late model GM vehicles, with a remote reservoir. It also can be found on late(er)-model Jeep Cherokees with an attached reservoir. It has GM metric o-ring fittings, but there are adapters.

The circle-track guys love them. From a race supplier, they usually will have an adapter fitting to AN flare on them.

 

thanks guys. that's a big help.

 

Stock pump for your engine with a flow reducer to smooth out Mustang R&P response.

 

Mustang II also offered power ***ist, IIRC 1988 T-bird plus or minus a year or two bolts in.

 

can you fit a finger between back of water pump and timing gear cover? Yes = long, No = short