57 Water Pump

[jeremy9146]

This might seem like a stupid question.  I've gotten a 57 running that was sitting about forty years.  The car did not have a water pump on it.  I now need to purchase a pump.  I've been told that water pumps for 1957 are specific for 57 only.  Seems odd to me.  Please let me know if that really is the case.  Thanks Jeremy

[cadman49]

jeremy;its not a stupid question.  cadillac,in their infinite wisdom decided to put the lower output of the water pump on the pass side  (right side). if you look down to the crossmember,you will see the indention stamped in is for the radiator hose to get to the radiator. 57 ONLY!! who knows why. the 57 was an experement car. first year of the x-frame,ball joints,adjust.points-thru cap,afb carb,,and a few other things--you'll find them. a little hint;you need to shim the motor mounts about 1/4" inch if youre having trouble getting belts off of crank pulley.new mounts wont help that much,as they are the same as the old mounts? as youre looking for a 57 pump,be aware of the price sharks.pumps are rare but obtainable. i have a 57 cpe. and i love the uniqueness and mystery of this (one year only car)?? p.s they have a vacuum pump in the oil pan! think about that for a while!!!         good luck  richard

[Mike Simmons 938]

Jeremy- it also fits the 58 Eldo Brougham!!, so you are in rare company. I have two pumps, one which is rusty but spins so I think it's a rebuildable core. The other is NOS, purchased from ( and correctly painted by) a CLC member who originally thought it would fit his 1960 ( or thereabouts) car. NOT. Anyway, I bought it from him since I thought I  needed a pass-side outlet for the 60 engine I was putting in my 40 sedan. Fit fine on the engine, but-couldn't see the timing marks, and the 60 pulley ,which I had to use, hit the pump housing and I had no room on the shaft to add a spacer. So-took it off and replaced the 40 Cad radiator with an aluminum one with a driver's side outlet.
So, It's for sale at my original cost plus S&H. Still should be a lot less than any commercial seller or rebuilder. eMail me at argonaut2002@comcast.net.  Also, the shortness of the shaft seems to mean it is for non-air conditioned cars- I GUESS. An AC multi-sheeve pulley might not get enough support.

Mike Simmons 938

[Smcttc]

If you have a 57 do you also have instructions to installing seatbelt ?

[Walter Youshock]

Ron,

The original seatbelts were attached to the seat rail with heavy crimped cables.  Since the seat itself is attached to the floor of the car with 8 bolts, anything more than a 20 mph kiss would probably rupture your spleen.  A lady from my town died this way from a minor fender bender back in the early '60's because she had her seatbelt on.  Not sure if the seat itself broke loose from the car or it was just the way the car was hit.