I'm at the end of my LT header install and it has been pretty easy. Unbolted motor mounts and the drivers side slid in the bottom, the pass side from the top, bolted them in and done. I can't believe the biggest pain in my behind is replacing the power steering pump. I can't get the hard line off. I did a search and came up with the answer that the pump needs to be persuaded over the alternator bracket. My question is what exactly does persuaded mean? Can I yank it over the top of the bracket with out worry that the line will kink? How high can it go? And when I replaced it does the line bend back when the pump is shoved back in?

 

It's a bitch. What I do is unbolt it from the accessory bracket first, then while i have some wiggle room, I used an open ended wrench to slowly but surely undo the hard line. I have done it twice, both times was a PITA.

 

I tried to do that but the line is really tight and probably has never been off. I just don't have enough wiggle room to break it loose.

 

What might help would be to undo the pressure line at the rack to give you more room to maneuver the pump in to a better position.

 

Ok thanks, I'll try that

 

to get "that little bit" of extra room for an open ended wrench (16mm if I remember correctly).

I did it while it was still firmly bolted to the block. Biggest PITA nut I've done on the car.

 

True!

Yes, it IS a 16mm hex. Sears sells both "stubby" box/open end combination wrenches, as well as "crowsfoot" wrenches that will do the job.

In case you haven't gotten there yet, the pump is attached to the bracket with 2 10mm hex bolts. You access the bolts by going through the holes in the front of the drive pulley.