1950s 1954 Cadillac Power Steering Box

[Davidcamper]

I am in the process of installing a 1952 caddy power steering in my 51. I understand now why GM stopped retrofitting these in 53. Not too difficult but not so straight forward. Even though the 52 box fits right in a 51, you have to move the horn contact to the steering column, ( I'm using the 52 column as it's easier)you also have to move the front brake line as well as move the oil filter housing. So far, the most difficult part was obtaining the correct hoses. I will post pictures when completed. Also prior to getting my hands on a 52 steering box, I had bought a 54 and rebuilt it. It however did not fit. It did bolt right up to the frame but the hose connections did not clear the frame. So I have the 54 steering box posted on the popular auction site. Keep you all posted.

[Davidcamper]

Breaking down to rebuild 1952 power steering unit. Seals failed and grease mixed with steering fluid. Very common.

[Davidcamper]

My original 1951 manual steering box I rebuilt.

[Davidcamper]

1952 power steering: New bearings, o-rings and seals. Going back together.

[Davidcamper]

Reinstalling the horn contact that is now on the column shaft for 1952 where in 1951 it was on the manual steering box shaft. GM mechanics had to make this retrofit for 1951 cars that were brought in for power steering upgrade. Brake lines had to be moved and the windshield washer bottle had to be moved.GM got tired of this retrofitting and stopped offering this 1951 retrofit and sent out bulletins that it was not feasible to do this any longer. Also it was hurting 1952 sales.

[Davidcamper]

Examples of a 1951 power steering retrofit. One can see the oil filter housing has been relocated. Windshield Washer bottle is either gone or moved to firewall. 1952 power steering pump and brackets added. One of the pics have added the 1952 4 barrel manifold with batwing breather. The yellow painted firewall is a 1953.

[Davidcamper]

Ready to install power steering. This is a 1952 Cadillac power steering box. In 1953, slight modifications were made.

[Davidcamper]

There are two types of 1952 power steering pumps. The first one GM used had a short neck for the pulley. (No air conditioning) and added a water pump and crank pulley with 2 grooves. The second one, which came out once owners started adding air conditioning to their 1951s, had a long neck where the pulley goes. It aligns the pump belt for the add on water pump and crank pulley now with 3 grooves. (Generator, ac, power steering pumps). Someone wrote 54 on the pic of the blue pump but it's actually a 52. The pic of the black pump is a 53. Hope this helps someone some day.

[Davidcamper]

Here is a pic of the 1952 power steering when pulled from the donor car.

[Davidcamper]

Ok before I forget............ when adding the power steering pump bracket there are 2 water pump bolts that need changing. Original bolts are 3/8"-16x2-1/8". Two will need replacing with 3/8"-16x2-3/4". This takes the bracket thickness into account. This bracket bolts to the water pump, manifold bolt and header bolt. Oil filter gets relocated.

[Davidcamper]

Ready to install in my 51 Caddy. Waiting for the fall weather at this point as I install myself. Soon, I will post rebuilding pics of pump as well as pics of new pulleys required.

[Davidcamper]

These pics will help you to see how the horn contact is now on the column where as the original 1951s are on the manual steering box. The hole above the horn contact in the column is for the rubber grommet and blinker wires to exit out of. It's best to rob the 52 column and use it but keep the original 51 steering wheel, blinker control and trans shifter.

[Davidcamper]

Ok..........very important...... when taking the 1952 power steering unit from the donor car also get the 2 belt groove pulleys and brackets....... You are going to need them.

[Davidcamper]

More pix of power steering rebuild. Kind of eye opening for me is as a young man I had and kept a very clean garage, now in my old age I realize my garage is now a cluttered mess and can't find half of my Kent Moore specialty tools. Oh well, such is life itself.

[Davidcamper]

1952 Cadillac power steering bracket

[Davidcamper]

1953 Cadillac power steering bracket

[Davidcamper]

1952 Cadillac power steering pulley (top)
1953 Cadillac power steering pulley

[Davidcamper]

1952-1954 Cadillac power steering hoses, high and low (return)

[Davidcamper]

1952 Cadillac steering column floor pan gasket

[Davidcamper]

New blue is a late 1952, 1953, 1954 Cadillac power steering pump. Dull, older blue is a 1952 Cadillac power steering pump. You can see the shaft is shorter and the back side is different. In 1955 Vickers went to a "ribbed" pump body to help dissipate heat. The rebuild kit is also different between the 2 pumps.