Is there an official factory "printed" list of options for a 1953? I have the build sheet for my sedan but wonder if there is a list of what it could have had. Something other than the firewall tag which I have on the car and the authenticity manual.
Max, take a look at pages 35 thru 39 of this listing.
This listing is made available by the Raritan River Region
Lots of options could have come on a 53 Cadillac.....
http://www.rrrclc.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/CLC-Color-Database-2017-03-20.pdf
Mike
thanks just what I was looking for
Max and Mike,
That is a terrific resource, one that I've often used. The authors of that project deserve an enormous "thank you" from all CLC members!
John Emerson'
1952 Cadillac sedan 6219X
I am by no means an expert on 53's, but a couple of years ago when I was seriously looking for a project 53 Eldo, I was told it was very important to make sure the engine had the "added" - accessory vacuum pump - they were often stolen, and very difficult to find/replace. See pic..
I had not found any mention in the literature of this vacuum pump.
The reason the pump was important was that the cars were notorious for losing vacuum going up hills under power - but weren't all cars of that time - like poor vacuum wiper function.
Would someone with more knowledge/experience chime in to help sort this out.
Have fun,
Steve B.
PS
I'm still looking - help if you can!
The 53 Eldorado's were fitted with the accessory vacuum pump because of the special curved windshield they had. The engineers thought that the extra vacuum assist would help the wipers negotiate those curves better. They were not fitted on the other Cadillac models. All others used the vacuum pump section of the fuel pump for vacuum assist. (doesn't help much). I would bet that the Eldo's with the accessory vacuum pump, together with the vacuum pump section on the fuel pump wasn't much help either under acceleration.