'54 power steering, hydraulic switch?

Richard E.
Richard E. Senior Contributor
edited November -1 in HUDSON
Although I have never seen one, I am told that there exists a switch for '54 Hudson power steering that turns it on and off? I am also told that these were a dealer item used to demonstrate how the PS worked. I have installed '54 PS on my '50C6 and I am interested in finding one of these switches, does anyone have one that they want to part with????

Comments

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    I dont have one but have indeed seen one on a 54 Hudson. The car was at the pittsburg national meet on display. It was supposed to be a demonstrator that showed the differance with/without power assist.
    Roger
  • lostmind
    lostmind Expert Adviser
    I can verify that. I owned a 54 Hornet sedan that was a dealer demo.
    It had the switch that controled a solenoid. It would shut off the flow of fluid
    Not sure which line it was in , I believe the pressure line.
    It didn't seem to make any extra pressure on the pump.
    Not sure how it functioned ,but it did.
    The bad part of this "Demo" was they ordered it with 4.55
    gears to show the great accelleration,highway speeds were
    about 65 mph.
    Roy
  • dave s
    dave s Senior Contributor, Moderator
    edited February 2012
    It was our 1951 Hornet convertible at Pittsburgh National. Here is only picture I have on my laptop that shows the switch. I installed a 1954 demo p/s unit that had the switch and it does work.



    Tallent R wrote:
    I dont have one but have indeed seen one on a 54 Hudson. The car was at the pittsburg national meet on display. It was supposed to be a demonstrator that showed the differance with/without power assist.
    Roger
  • Richard E.
    Richard E. Senior Contributor
    So Dave,

    How does this switch work? Do you think that I could duplicate one?
  • lostmind
    lostmind Expert Adviser
    That is different than what I had on my 54 Hornet "demo"
    The one I had was mounted on Driver side inner fender.
    Looked like a solenoid type block. I recall it had
    some type of lable saying what it was.
    I wonder if it's listed in parts catalog?
    I would guess other makers had this also in the same time period.
    It was definnitly from Hudson ,for demo purpases.
    I bought the car and all the Old stock parts from the
    dealer after he switched to Edsel.
    Roy
  • dave s
    dave s Senior Contributor, Moderator
    edited February 2012
    Hudson power steering was not a true power steering, as we know today, but a steering assist. The "switch" is a solenoid valve that is powered from a toggle switch. Two different manufacturers made systems for Hudson, Bendix and Saginaw. The switch is actually an inline solenoid valve on the output line of pump, that opens and closed to allow fluid into system, i.e. no fluid, no steering assist. It should not be hard to duplicate. Check online, Solenoid Solutions or Grainger probably have a solenoid valve that will work. You just need to find solenoid valve that will opperate with 6 volts.
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