Project TV 2M8O

I would take the belt off and in the center of the pulley is a spot for a hex drive. I put a hex (don't remember the size) on the end of a drill and run it. Have someone "slowly" turn the steering wheel. You should feel on the drill end the pump working (have the front end up when doing this). In some cases depending on the torque of your drill turning the wheel might even stop the drill (so hold on tight)

OK guys, I'm trying to devise a way I can watch/cycle/fill the power steering system solo because I'm tired of waiting on help that just seems to push my project farther and farther behind. What I'm envisioning (and correct me if my thinking is incorrect) is.....  temporarily replace the return line from the cooler and the return inlet on the pump with a clear piece of hose to monitor the fluid flow and fluid state (foamy/fluid) and also to insert a clear piece of clear tubing tightly into the pump fill tube with a reservoir on top to monitor fluid level.

I think your method will work, but I have kind of always followed John's method above for P/S.  Fill, cycle it back and forth and go.  I have never had an issue using this method.  But in your case, maybe the pump is bad, so the clear hose may help to see if it is actually pumping fluid.  When you cycle the wheels back and forth you should hear the pump working. 

It sure looks like it can be installed incorrectly in the reservoir.My camera is terrible. Sorry about that.

Looks right to me. Sucks that you have o deal with it. Do you have a spare pump you could try? I am no expert by any means but would try a small camera in the filler tube first rather than a clear hose on the return. Did you build the pump? Not sure if the pump housing assemble can be installed 180 degrees from where is should be or not. Hard to tell in this pic.

You could put a cap on the return fitting on the reservoir and extend the hose enough to put an end in a can. Remove the coil wire and use a remote starter switch to bump the engine a couple of turns. If the pump is working, you will know pretty quickly.

idk those pumps are pretty simple... i rebuilt my original one $12 kit from car quest, then i ground down the square tab to gain more clearance for belt adjustment with my billet bracket (not good as i ground through an oil passage there welded it back up but it always seeped!!! thought it was the reservoir o ring!!!) just turned it in for a core for another rebuilt unit

Has to be something simple with lots of pain involved. Lol

That would make that pump scream. I am betting on the pump being no good. 

Tough when you are dealing with a problem that has more than one unknown component for sure. The pump is probably the only one you can troubleshoot at all but it might get messy. I would plug/deadhead the pressure port or line and try to turn the pump by hand or with an angle drive drill or whatever you have clearance for. The pump should really stop/resist your efforts if working. Perhaps the bypass valve is faulty, giving you some fluid flow, but no pressure for assist?

From what I've read in all the possible suggestions I've gotten, I'm leaning towards the issue being with the pump because it's not making ANY noises that it should if there's a restriction elsewhere. Pretty sure I followed the rebuild directions to the letter but I could have misinterpreted something it said to do. gonna pull it off and try again tomorrow......

And good luck. 

Good luck Joe, hopefully it's just something small inside the pump.  I don't suppose you have a working old pump to swap out?

Well after pulling everything of the driver side of the engine to get the power steering pump out...

Parts store has the pump in stock, get it done.  😉