350 Magnum Power Steering Tip

[VeroWing]

Been taking my refurbished 1989 24' Grady out for short runs trying to tweak engine and determine the best prop to use. Engine is a low hour 1997-98 carbed 350 Magnum. Last trip out power steering pump starting making noise and when I stopped and looked at it, found it had a lot of in & out free play, plus serpentine pulley was spinning on shaft. Checked prices for Mercruiser replacement power steering pump and was shocked to see prices in the $300-$400+ price range. Did some online research and found that others have use automotive type pumps with no problems, but I couldn't lock down a part #. Ended up pulling my pump, then separated pump from reservoir, and took it to NAPA. Good friendly guys there spent some time matching up 1/2 dozen pumps until we hit on a remanufactured one that exactly the same, and included all O-rings and directions to install back into reservoir and engine. It was listed for a 1982 Monte Carlo 5/0/305, and NAPA part # is 81-1212. it was only $44. The Mercruiser pulley is serpentine and 4 3/4" across, and NAPA did not have one of those, so I ended up checking a couple other parts places and eventually found one at Advanced Auto that was 5 1/4"-5 1'2", which I found out afterwards was exactly what Mercruiser had superseded their original to. That was only $17.50 and was same thickness and set the same on pump shaft as original did. Advanced pulley part # is 300201. Lastly, original serpentine belt was now too tight because of larger pulley, and after a couple tries, found the right fit for this setup back at NAPA, and that part # is 25-060850, and it was $40. So it turns out, for a little over $100 I now have a remanned pump, new pulley, and new serpentine belt, and motor is up and running just fine.

Posting this because if anyone having power steering pump issues, maybe this can save them some substantial money and time! Happy boating!

 

[alldodge]

Issue you may run into, the difference between the marine PS pump and the Auto pump is the amount of pressure the pump produces. The pressure is controlled by the high pressure fitting which screws into the back after the pump is placed in the housing. Then the PS line is screwed into it. If you did not keep the original fitting, your pump will work but will not have the same pressure, and therefore it will be harder to steer at higher rpms

 

[VeroWing]

Issue you may run into, the difference between the marine PS pump and the Auto pump is the amount of pressure the pump produces. The pressure is controlled by the high pressure fitting which screws into the back after the pump is placed in the housing. Then the PS line is screwed into it. If you did not keep the original fitting, your pump will work but will not have the same pressure, and therefore it will be harder to steer at higher rpms

Glad you brought that up, because I was advised of that and did install the fitting from the original pump. I forgot to include that info in my writeup.