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'54 power steering, hydraulic switch?
  • Richard E.Richard E.
    Posts: 767Platinum Member
    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????
  • Tallent RTallent R
    Posts: 1,575Platinum Member
    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
    Retired Tech.
  • lostmindlostmind
    Posts: 516Gold Member
    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 sdave s
    Posts: 1,178Moderator
    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.

    [attachment=13360]ps.jpg[/attachment]

    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
    ps.jpg
    442 x 305 - 15K
  • Richard E.Richard E.
    Posts: 767Platinum Member
    So Dave,

    How does this switch work? Do you think that I could duplicate one?
  • lostmindlostmind
    Posts: 516Gold Member
    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 sdave s
    Posts: 1,178Moderator
    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.