Need help routing PS feed line from remote reservoir to pump on 302 EFI engine

[shackf16]

Hey guys, I'm struggling to finish up the plumbing for my vacuum to hydroboost conversion. I have all the high pressure lines sorted, and need to order one more fitting for the return lines from the hydroboost unit and the rack itself. My problem is in the feed line from the remote reservoir to the pump. I have the NorthRaceCars Vintage Air A/C system which has the compressor mounted to the driver's side head on a custom L bracket. I have a stock Fox era Mustang PS pump but I'm using an Escort housing to allow for remote reservoir usage. (The "standard" Mustang internal reservoir pump won't fit due to the filler neck conflicting with the A/C bracket.) Attached are pictures of my problem. I did have a local welding outfit remake the bracket giving me 1 inch greater height above the PS pump, but I'm finding that is still pretty tight.

A buddy recommended cutting the existing barb fitting down to about 1/2 inch tall and getting an ABS 90° fitting with the correct 5/8 inch inner diameter and bonding it on to allow for the tight radius turn that I need. My questions are: 1. Is that safe to do? 2. Where do I find such a thing? I have searched Amazon, Grainger, Home Depot/Lowes, and tons of other random Google search responses but have come up empty every time. Hopefully someone here can point me in the right direction that isn't "replace it with the GM pump". I've got too much time and $$$ in the existing setup. Is there a different casing that fits this PS pump that has a different feed line setup that would allow for easier routing.

Help!!! (And many thanks!!!)
Shack

[CraigS]

Any chance you could clock the pump 120deg to the right? Or use this?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/5-8-X-5-8-16-16mm-Brass-Elbow-90-Degree-Hose-Barb-Fitting-Union-Fuel-Joiner-/322686319908

[phileas_fogg]

Since the connection between the reservoir and the pump is low pressure, you could just use a 90* elbow of (power steering fluid safe) rubber hose & a hose clamp, just like if you were connecting a heater hose.


John

[shackf16]

Craig, is it possible to rotate the pump 120° and still have everything work? (The pump wouldn't cavitate or anything?) I'd have to cut a new slot for the raised part of the pump to fit, but that could be a relatively easy fix.

Rotating the pump about 30°-45° would be a more elegant solution but would require 3 new holes plus a slot for the pump. Not sure how good that would end up looking either. I guess the good news is that I actually have 2 of those mounting brackets since I bought one years ago (moved twice since then) and thought I lost it so I picked up a second. I'll check in with a few local machine shops about having that done. In the meantime, any other suggestions from the community on how to resolve this?

John, the space below the A/C compressor bracket is still too tight for any of the rubber hoses I have found. I just went through the selection at my local auto parts store and they didn't have any "extra tight" 90° bends. The top of the hose touches the bottom edge of the A/C bracket and will almost certainly wear a hole in it quickly. That's why I was looking for an ABS type option that I could bond to the existing inlet after cutting it a little shorter. I'm worried about simply cutting the inlet nipple shorter (and losing the barbed fitting) and then putting a standard rubber hose on it. That might allow for the hose to clear the A/C bracket, but am I asking for leaks?

[CraigS]

You have a point there about cavitation. I said 120 deg just because you have 3 bolts so that would be easy, but yeah, maybe not a good idea. These might work.
http://www.hps-siliconehoses.com/hps-16mm-90-degree-elbow-coupler-silicone-hose-black.html
http://www.hps-siliconehoses.com/hps-silicone-180-degree-u-bend-elbow-coupler-hose.html