52HardTop
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 1777
Age: 70
Loc: North Haven, Connecticut
Reg: 05-09-04
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10-22-14 04:21 PM - Post#2492869
Hello guys, I know it's been a very long time since I've posted or contributed. I still visit nightly as I always have. I see a lot of newbes asking questions and they are always well taken care of. So, tonight I am coming back as a newbe and have a question that I'd like to submit. Now, Rob, Gene, Bill and I'm sure there are others who will probably know so I come to the true experts for the answer. I've been involved with a post on a facebook group of 49 to 54 guys. The question of when power steering became available has become a hot topic. It's become an interesting post with opinions and "expert" info from a lot of guys. The opinions are all over the place! I know there is no better place than here for the correct answer. My shop manual for 49 to 53 has an illustration showing what may be at least a 52 with the tall side mounts for the motor mounts with a power steering and pump installed. Section 9-11 fig 18 bottom of page. The section also states how power steering was available as an option for all passenger cars. Was it introduced in 1953? Was it only a dealer installed option at first? Was it also installed on the earlier 49 to 52 cars if the owners wished it to be? Thanks for your help fellows and I hope this topic becomes as interesting here as it has become over there.
Dominic
2011 Camaro SS 426 HP, Red Jewel Tint. Killer!
52 Bel Air a traditional 50s Ride.
51 Convertible a 60s Ride.
51 1/2 Ton pickup soon to be a little of both..
1999 C-5 Corvette Convertible. Mid Life Fun..
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 rrausch
"19th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 15194
Loc: L.A, Cal. & St. Louis...
Reg: 04-07-03
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10-22-14 09:39 PM - Post#2492937
In response to 52HardTop
From looking at lots of parts cars and running cars over the years I have come to believe the first year for P.S. was 1953. I bought an early '53 in 1968 and it had the factory P.S. in it. That is the P.S. unit I now have in my 210 convertible. For '54 small internal changes were made to the P.S. gear, and a major change was made to the casting--to the way it was mounted on the frame. CT member Jalapeno is an expert on these old P.S. units and will have better info.
For some years here on CT there was a debate as to whether P.S. was offered on manual-trans cars. Then pictures began to be discovered of original 3-speed cars with P.S. I saved this picture from the Internet which shows the 3-speed shift box on what looks like a pretty original P.S. system.
As to whether GM built any '52's with P.S., I doubt it. But who knows for sure?
1953 210 Convertible, 261 with dual Carter YF 966S carbs, P.S., Remote Bendix P.B. Booster.
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rrausch
"19th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 15194
Loc: L.A, Cal. & St. Louis...
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10-22-14 09:45 PM - Post#2492938
In response to rrausch
There were several changes from the '53 units to the '54 units besides the P.S. gear. in '53 GM used a special P.S. specific driver's side inner fender, but I believe sometime in '54 all cars--manual and P.S. got the P.S. inner fender. Same for the P.S. specific driver's side motormount I believe--for '53 only P.S. cars got them, but I think all cars got them in '54. One can appreciate the problems that would have occurred had a '53 P.S. car gotten the wrong motormount tower.
As to the P.S. horn button I am of the opinion that early '53 P.S. cars did not get them. I don't recall seeing or saving a P.S. horn button on my early '53 Bel Air with P.S., but it is possible I just didn't value it and lost it--I removed that P.S. system in the 1990's before the Internet, and wasn't aware of how rare all the P.S. specific parts were.
1953 210 Convertible, 261 with dual Carter YF 966S carbs, P.S., Remote Bendix P.B. Booster.
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rrausch
"19th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 15194
Loc: L.A, Cal. & St. Louis...
Reg: 04-07-03
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10-22-14 09:50 PM - Post#2492939
In response to rrausch
Here is an NOS 1953 driver's side inner fender for manual steering cars:
Here is an inner fender that came off of a '53 equipped with P.S.--note how much larger the opening is for the steering gear. It fits the P.S. unit. I have seen '54 inner fenders from manual steering cars that had the same size cut-out for the steering gear--that's why I believe GM put them on all cars in '54. It would make sense to avoid problems down the assembly line in the case that a P.S. car got a manual inner fender.
Also for you P.S. hounds, notice the flat steel band on the P.S. inner fender--that is what GM used to hold the flexible fresh air tube in place.
1953 210 Convertible, 261 with dual Carter YF 966S carbs, P.S., Remote Bendix P.B. Booster.
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rrausch
"19th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 15194
Loc: L.A, Cal. & St. Louis...
Reg: 04-07-03
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10-22-14 09:52 PM - Post#2492940
In response to rrausch
As to whether P.S. was a dealer-installed option in 1952, my guess would be no. There was just too much to install. But Gene would know for sure. He worked (and eventually managed) a busy parts dept. at a Chevy dealer about that time.
However it makes sense that GM would have had a '52 test mule or two or three fitted with P.S. After all the '52 front suspension and engine would have been the same as '53, and they certainly tested the P.S. in cars before they offered it to the public.
1953 210 Convertible, 261 with dual Carter YF 966S carbs, P.S., Remote Bendix P.B. Booster.
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2blu52
Deceased Member RIP
Posts: 19549
Loc: Montana
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10-23-14 05:34 AM - Post#2492968
In response to rrausch
As to whether P.S. was a dealer-installed option in 1952, my guess would be no. There was just too much to install. But Gene would know for sure. He worked (and eventually managed) a busy parts dept. at a Chevy dealer about that time.
However it makes sense that GM would have had a '52 test mule or two or three fitted with P.S. After all the '52 front suspension and engine would have been the same as '53, and they certainly tested the P.S. in cars before they offered it to the public.
Any 52 equipped with PS and used as a test bed would most likely never have been seen by the public most likely met with the crusher. 
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tommy49
"10th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 3616
Loc: Kaleva, Michigan
Reg: 09-28-12
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10-23-14 05:56 AM - Post#2492969
In response to 2blu52
As to whether P.S. was a dealer-installed option in 1952, my guess would be no. There was just too much to install. But Gene would know for sure. He worked (and eventually managed) a busy parts dept. at a Chevy dealer about that time.
However it makes sense that GM would have had a '52 test mule or two or three fitted with P.S. After all the '52 front suspension and engine would have been the same as '53, and they certainly tested the P.S. in cars before they offered it to the public.
Any 52 equipped with PS and used as a test bed would most likely never have been seen by the public most likely met with the crusher.
I built test mules for a living and they indeed go to the crusher. Some mules are torn down to take parts for engineering analysis before the crusher. Imagine building a loaded Cadillac or Corvette, knowing, in the end, it's just going to be crushed. A job building scrap!! 
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Richard Martin
Dedicated Enthusiast
Posts: 5568
Loc: Davis Islands, Florida
Reg: 06-12-03
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10-23-14 06:25 AM - Post#2492975
In response to 52HardTop
Using the brochure website:
www.oldcarbrochures.com you can look at the 1953 brochure that advertises the new for 1953 power steering. There is also a small brochure fold-out for the power steering. The 1953 Chevrolet Heritage website shows the optional power steering RPO code is 324.
Richard
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old51sedan
Contributor
Posts: 833
Loc: Michigan
Reg: 10-11-09
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10-23-14 06:46 AM - Post#2492980
In response to 52HardTop
This is all very interesting. I have been playing with these old chevies from 51-54 since high school and never remember seeing one back then with PS. We grew up in a small town with only one dealership (Chevrolet) so most of us drove chevies and us kids always knew every car that went through that dealership. I'm thinking the percentage of cars back then with PS was pretty small.
1951 styleline 2dr deluxe
Original 51 plate, Dealer Tag, Documents
58,000 original miles, second owner
1954 PG 235, rear axle, Power Steering
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rrausch
"19th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 15194
Loc: L.A, Cal. & St. Louis...
Reg: 04-07-03
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10-23-14 07:27 AM - Post#2492991
In response to old51sedan
I had never heard of one either Dom until '68 when I bought the '53 Bel Air 4-door that I drove for a couple of years. It was a PG equipped car. And until the Internet that's the ONLY one I ever saw. Thanks to my Stepdad, who dragged it down into the woods after it died, I had it in 1996 when I pulled the P.S. stuff. Without him it would have been lost. And no thanks to my brother who tried on multiple occasions to give the '53 away! But no one would go down there and haul it off. The car collected a lot of bullet holes, but when I removed the P.S. unit it was in excellent shape.
1953 210 Convertible, 261 with dual Carter YF 966S carbs, P.S., Remote Bendix P.B. Booster.
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raycow
DECEASED
Posts: 27999
Loc: San Francisco, CA
Reg: 11-26-02
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10-23-14 10:46 AM - Post#2493043
In response to rrausch
In 52, PS was offered on Buick, Olds and Cad only, not on Chev or Pont. I have a 52 Buick with PS, and while the gear is similar in design to the Chev, it has too many detail differences to be a practical swap.
Ray
| Those who choose an automatic transmission want transportation. Those who choose a manual transmission want to drive. |
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rrausch
"19th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 15194
Loc: L.A, Cal. & St. Louis...
Reg: 04-07-03
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10-23-14 02:33 PM - Post#2493086
In response to raycow
When I was looking to get my P.S. unit rebuilt I took it to an early Caddy specialist but he didn't want to touch it.
1953 210 Convertible, 261 with dual Carter YF 966S carbs, P.S., Remote Bendix P.B. Booster.
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 whiskey1954
"7th Year" Gold Supporting Member
Posts: 909
Loc: central north carolina
Reg: 12-07-08
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10-23-14 05:28 PM - Post#2493134
In response to rrausch
Offered on the 53 with power steering there was not a horn button designation until 54 which had power steering in gold lettering on the button itself and might I add a very hard item to find!!!
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52HardTop
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 1777
Age: 70
Loc: North Haven, Connecticut
Reg: 05-09-04
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10-23-14 05:38 PM - Post#2493139
In response to rrausch
Gentlemen, I thank you all for your input. This is an interesting topic for something which seems so common today. Rob, that image fig. 18 in the shop manual does show the power steering set up in a standard transmission car. There is no mistaking the shifter linkage on the column. Despite all the info presented here, it seems I've also learned another tidbit from you guys! Never heard of a test mule before! Now I have...
Thanks again guys,
Dominic
2011 Camaro SS 426 HP, Red Jewel Tint. Killer!
52 Bel Air a traditional 50s Ride.
51 Convertible a 60s Ride.
51 1/2 Ton pickup soon to be a little of both..
1999 C-5 Corvette Convertible. Mid Life Fun..
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rrausch
"19th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 15194
Loc: L.A, Cal. & St. Louis...
Reg: 04-07-03
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10-23-14 07:11 PM - Post#2493173
In response to whiskey1954
Offered on the 53 with power steering there was not a horn button designation until 54 which had power steering in gold lettering on the button itself and might I add a very hard item to find!!!
The black one is the original horn button on my convertible. Old Bill must have been quite a guy--there were also 7 notches carved into the steering wheel!
The P.S. horn button I got on ebay in 2006 for $30. I have forgotten exactly what the problem with the listing was--the seller knew what it was, but for some reason it wasn't listed very well, and I was the only bidder.
1953 210 Convertible, 261 with dual Carter YF 966S carbs, P.S., Remote Bendix P.B. Booster.
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old51sedan
Contributor
Posts: 833
Loc: Michigan
Reg: 10-11-09
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10-24-14 06:21 AM - Post#2493244
In response to rrausch
I installed the 54 PS on my 51 and installed a refurbished butterfly wheel. I believe next summer I will have a 54 wheel done so that I can have the factory 54 turn signals and I can install the correct PS horn button. It's been in my dresser drawer for years, it's nice looking and it's time it was put on the 51 as long as the rest of the PS is on it.
1951 styleline 2dr deluxe
Original 51 plate, Dealer Tag, Documents
58,000 original miles, second owner
1954 PG 235, rear axle, Power Steering
Fenton Headers With Smitys |
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