54 Power Steering Setup

51hornet · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 1:35 pm Post subject: 54 Power Steering Setup

Let the bidding wars begin.

cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotor....m14.l1318

Dave53-7C · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:55 pm Post subject: Re: 54 Power Steering Setup

Gee whiz Wilber, I need to chain my hood shut and throw on the padlocks. My PS pump, pulleys, harmonic balancer and piston are black. The fact that my car has been restored, and the original owner had PS installed in 1954, may have something to do with it. I have the bill for the install back in 54 and believe it cost him around $200.00. As the story goes, the original owner didn't want to trade in a 1 year old car just to get PS. He also wanted the power brakes, so he bought a Bendix Hydra-Vac kit but never had it installed. I may install that if/when I feel the urge to throw myself through the windshield. LOL

51hornet · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 1:08 am Post subject: Re: 54 Power Steering Setup

Its at $310 and reserve not met. Last one of these I saw went for $1200.

Dave53-7C · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 11:09 am Post subject: Re: 54 Power Steering Setup

It's up to $400.00 now. Man, we need to start reproducing these.

51hornet · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 11:47 am Post subject: Re: 54 Power Steering Setup

I know a guy who bought a setup for $500 then spent $500 to have it rebuilt. Not really that bad if you want power steering that is factory.

Dave53-7C · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 5:54 pm Post subject: Re: 54 Power Steering Setup

It's a simple and effective system. I feel it's way more reliable than the old Ford power piston systems. Those suckers had skimpy hoses under the car that were subject to failure from kicked up road debris. I had that system on my 70 Mach 1 and even at 40k miles, it's operation was sloppy and the piston seals were leak prone. As old as it is, the Hudson/Vicker system is a good design.

51hornet · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 1:50 am Post subject: Re: 54 Power Steering Setup

This is a swb setup so hopefully people realize the ram is not use for their cars without some mod work.

Dave53-7C · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 11:23 am Post subject: Re: 54 Power Steering Setup

I'd say you're right. Although the ram appears to be quite long, the pitman arm is different than mine.

51hornet · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 12:02 pm Post subject: Re: 54 Power Steering Setup

Ram might be slightly short as well I will have to look in my guide to rebuilding this and see if its listing two rams.

51hornet · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 12:09 pm Post subject: Re: 54 Power Steering Setup

Very funny, I am looking at the Hudson power steering guide and that does not look like a Hudson ram. The connection is completely different. Now this may be that my doc only shows the LWB version and this is the SWB version which has a totally different ram configuration.

51hornet · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 12:14 pm Post subject: Re: 54 Power Steering Setup

Note how the pitman connection is on the end of the ram on this one....The ebay one its mid body....

Dave53-7C · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 7:09 pm Post subject: Re: 54 Power Steering Setup

I'll have to take a look at mine and get back to you. It appears that the spooler valves are different. Do you have the 53-54 manual supplement?

Dave53-7C · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 8:11 pm Post subject: Re: 54 Power Steering Setup

It's magic I tell ya!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=02EdWLwPkZQ

51hornet · Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 2:15 am Post subject: Re: 54 Power Steering Setup

Yes I have the 53-54 manual supplement I am aghast you had to ask...Yes looking in the supplement I find this ram its listed for 4D and 5D cars. Looks just like the eBay ad so there is a LWB ram and a SWB ram. Good thing to know when looking for parts.

Dave53-7C · Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 11:13 am Post subject: Re: 54 Power Steering Setup

I didn't want to ass u me what you had, even though I know you are the keeper of everything Hudson. Laughing

You're right, two different set-ups were used. Mine, of course, is different than the one on eBay. It's like the pic on page 13-11, long drag link with pitman arm ball housing at one end.