Power Steering pump clearance, GM v6

[RamblerRob]

Hey guys,
Just looking to get a bit of advice on how much clearance I should plan for between my Power steering pump/pulley and the power steering box.

PS pump clearance.JPG

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This pic is my 'first guess' mock up position. Drive train moved 4" (+/-) back from the 'stock' location on the chassis. As you can see there is zero clearance. The transfer case mounts allow for about 1/4 inch of rearwards movement but there is a superfluous metal tab on the frame rail that will need to be cut off and would allow the pulley to turn freely without contacting the PS pump, but it will be still tight, and I'm not sure how tight is too tight.

Thoughts?

[red90]

I would give an inch clearance to everything. The engine can move around a fair bit.

[radio_05]

Obviously; how much space or clearance will be needed to replace the pulley and belt in future? Use that much clearance.

[RamblerRob]

Good point, I'd considered leaving space to get the belt on and off, hadn't thought about changing out the pulley.
I'm also reconsidering looking into moving the pump to a higher position on the engine but I can't seem to find solid information about whats needed to make a go of it.
There is a bracket set up for LS engines that places it high on the drivers side in a position that makes me think it would clear the PS box and I might not need to move the transfer case mounts at all.. But I can't find anything like that for the v6. Google isn't much help as it just spits out page after page of online store links and no information :(

[BOlson]

Well looks like you could slip a playing card around that stuff so you should be good...... Like others have stated, 3/4" or more would be better
Look for different brackets in the hot rod world that will make the packaging easier ( the 4.3 Chevrolet and the 350 V8 share very similar block layouts ) also brackets from vans are usually a tighter package than trucks or S10s