1968_Post

Any input on routing the positive battery cable in a 1968 442 with headers? Maybe I'm being a little reactionary, but running it between the header tubes seems a little risky. How have some of you approached this?

Jeff

allyolds68

Why don't you run it over the valve cover and down the back like the four speeds cables are run

Mine isn't quite right because the cable is a couple inches too short:

oldcutlass

Or, over the fender well to the firewall and then down to the starter.

1968_Post

Thanks Mike & Eric... I was considering both of those routes. less stuff in the way if I go down the valve cover. Back down the fender well is the other, but there's more stuff in the way on that route.

Mike, if I'm not careful, I might actually have this thing finished this month... progress has been slow. I think old age has finally caught up with me.

allyolds68

Jeff,


Any progress is good.


I should really replace my cable because it loops under the z-bar anyway and rubs. It was an auto trans cable from a 350 car that I slapped in there. I did a lot of things incorrectly to get it going five years ago and I've slowly been fixing all my half-assed installations. This spring I put a real clutch in (Centerforce), added the Jeep Grand Cherokee Steering Box, put rear air bags in, aligned the passenger window (finally), and installed the faux core top plate I made years ago. Next year I'll repaint the hideous, incorrect bronze engine, install a nice set of polished aluminum valve covers I have, and generally clean up the mess in the engine bay.


Little by little........

1968_Post

I've been fighting back issues all summer and that plus the hot, hot days we've had since May have kept the progress to a crawl. The biggest issue I'm still having is the alignment of the power steering pump. I don't know if I have mismatched brackets or what, but the alignment just ain't right. Sooner or later, I'll figure it out.

allyolds68

This may be a stupid question but do you have the correct spacers behind the pump brackets?

1968_Post

pully alignment.JPG

ps misalignment3.JPGAs far as I can tell, yes. I started with a 1972 350 bracket setup. I then went thru the parts catalog and looked up whatever was different for a 455, which was the bottom link that goes to the block approximately below cylinder one. The pump seems to be canted back towards the firewall on the left side. I've tried a smaller space on the lower timing cover screw, washers at the top of the timing cover to space the bracket forward and a washer between the lower spacer and bracket, all to no avail. I've put everything back to normal now and removed the washers from behind the brackets. I also DO have the spacer between the bracket and pump. I'm thinking I may have to start over with the "H" and "C" brackets with all pertinent spacers.

allyolds68

Is this stud installed?


In 68 there's only one power steering pump configuration.


I used a 72 350 non-air bracket set for my car and everything lined up. I don't know what differences there may have been in 72 for A/C

RetroRanger

didnt see it in your pic apologies if its shown I cant see all the pics but do you have the spacer shown at the red arrow ?

1968_Post

Yes, it's there. I tried to take better pics but they came out too dark. It almost seems that the main mounting bracket is bent. I need to do a little more research on what I have. I thought I had everything sourced to the same year and engine, but maybe I missed something up.

RetroRanger

also i think you have an extra washer on the top stud and a extra nut on the bottom stud circled in pic

1968_Post

That was an earlier pic. I removed the washers from behind the top bolt. The nut on the bottom is part of the stud. Wrong stud?

1968_Post

Mike, both spacers are there. Whether they're the right ones, well...

RetroRanger

i just checked an old pic that looks right w the nut behind the spacer

there is a sticky w the spacer sizes listed I ll see if i can find it

RetroRanger

here

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...p-spacers.html

1968_Post

Thanks Retro... I'm pulling it off and reassessing what I've got.

allyolds68

That's an excellent reference thread