"How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise — HET Club Open forum https://openforum.hetclub.org/ Sun, 15 Mar 2026 20:16:29 +0000 en "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise — HET Club Open forum Stepdown 4 dr rear door glass https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/369134/stepdown-4-dr-rear-door-glass Wed, 11 Mar 2026 10:29:05 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise kamzack 369134@/discussions I'm Stumped, trying to remove door glass from passenger side rear door. I've removed door cards regulator but can't find the combination to removing da glass. I'm sure it's an easy process, I haven't found it. I loaned my body manual an don't want have to buy another. Would appreciate some guidance, please.

Kim

]]> 37 Terraplane Front Spring Shackles https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/369095/37-terraplane-front-spring-shackles Wed, 03 Dec 2025 21:58:14 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise DRHiebert 369095@/discussions I took the front axle off my 37 Terraplane. It appears the springs have been off the car before, a really long time ago, and may have been reassembled incorrectly. Each side has a short shackle and a long one, the long ones having a left hand thread on one side. The short ones have a right hand thread on both sides. The driver's side had the short shackle at the front, and the long one at the rear, the passenger side was the opposite. Was that correct? Or should each side be the same, and if so, short to front, or rear?

]]> 1949 Super....cant get rear vent window out...help ? https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/369109/1949-super-cant-get-rear-vent-window-out-help Sat, 31 Jan 2026 18:52:24 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise airbrushguy 369109@/discussions Don't want to ruin original rear vent window rubber seal. I can't seem to get the glass out of frame. Is there an easy way to get the whole frame and glass out without ruining the seal ?

Thanks in advance...

]]> Hornet piston ring installer https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/369106/hornet-piston-ring-installer Tue, 20 Jan 2026 17:01:53 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise Courtesy Man 369106@/discussions Time to install pistons with rings into the cylinders - installation "clamps" are harder to use on flatheads with pocket recess for valves - that is no flat deck all around like on overhead valve engines. I have the usual spring steel clamping device but reluctant to use it. What advice do you have ? Gert

]]> Hornet timing chain alignment https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/369098/hornet-timing-chain-alignment Mon, 15 Dec 2025 17:45:12 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise Courtesy Man 369098@/discussions Next up on the Hornet engine rebuild is aligning the crank and cam gears to install the timing chain correctly - each gear - cam and crank have a 0 mark to coincide with marks on the chain - how do I align those? The crank gear I can install the big bolt and turn with socket but how to turn the gear on cam? Strap wrench? Gert

]]> Hornet crank Hydro to standard modification https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/369097/hornet-crank-hydro-to-standard-modification Sun, 07 Dec 2025 00:57:34 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise Courtesy Man 369097@/discussions Hi can the crank end be modified from Hydromatic to standard transmission? Considering putting Hornet engine in 1948 Convertible - frames not drilled with Hydro motor mount crossmember untill 1951 - the crank I have I believe it is for Hydro. Seems to me if I remember correctly that standard transmission cars had ball bearings retainer placed in flywheel and Hydro had crank drilled for trans. input shaft. Has anyone done this? I would like to use Hydro crank (machined) and rebuilt Hornet engine in my 1948 Hudson. Gert

]]> Can Distributor be 180 deg out? https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/368967/can-distributor-be-180-deg-out Thu, 29 May 2025 19:43:11 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise hastypacer 368967@/discussions Hi all. I have a question:

My recently rebuilt '53 262 refuses to start. I have good blue spark to my points and to my plugs; getting good fuel to the intake manifold but no ignition. So I checked TDC with NO. 1 Piston and found the points aiming at 180 deg to my former mark on my distributor cap. I remember installing my distributor to the cam has the slot a little off center requiring just one proper position for the dist shaft. Is it possible my distributor could be 180 deg out? My rebuilder could have set the cam chain for firing at NO. 6 TDC?


Can I just set the distributor to fire in the new order as observed, or do I open my timing case and reroute the chain.

I am including pics showing the position of my flywheel and the position of the points (pointing opposite to my pre-rebuild setting.) I don't know if this position is universal for step-down engines, but it is 180 deg. out from my usual as I marked everything before tear-down.


Any ideas or experience is greatly appreciated; someone else may have had a similar situation.



]]> Repairing the hydraulic bumber jack https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/369086/repairing-the-hydraulic-bumber-jack Sun, 16 Nov 2025 13:27:31 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise tinsled 369086@/discussions I was fortunate to get the original Hudson bumber jack (less the handle) with my 1954 Hornet.

Only the jack will not move, looks like the little piston which is probably supposed to pump the oil to the big lifting piston is stuck. I am able to move the main rod of the lifting piston up-down when the valve in the foot is screwed open, but the little piston (pointed by arrow in the photo) is frozen... Also the bleeding screw (?) in the foot is frozen. Which way to take the jack apart for service without breaking any parts?


]]> weather master for 39 cars https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/369082/weather-master-for-39-cars Tue, 11 Nov 2025 22:07:28 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise Val 369082@/discussions Does anyone here have any idea how the weather master for the 1939 cars is installed? I know it is a one year only design. And that in itself makes it a rare item I believe. any ideas are welcome I have pictures if needed

]]> Trunk latch and seat belts and rear wheels https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/369065/trunk-latch-and-seat-belts-and-rear-wheels Mon, 13 Oct 2025 14:19:43 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise dgeist 369065@/discussions Proud owner of a 1953 Hornet, whose trunk won't latch. Any advice? The bar at the other end is extended upward as far as it will go. It seems that the latch on the trunk itself (pictured) might be recessed too far. Not sure what to do - nothing bent or broken has been identified.

Second question: I want to install lap belts and have read previous postings in the forum. This seems pretty straightforward to drill 2 holes and install a plate and bolts. Has anyone done this and is it a simple as it appears?

Finally: the stepdown design makes 2/3 of the rear wheels inaccessible. How do you access the lugs (and the valve stem) on the rear wheels.

Many thanks from a newbie.

]]> Parcel shelf cover removal 1939 Hudson Six https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/369060/parcel-shelf-cover-removal-1939-hudson-six Sun, 05 Oct 2025 15:59:11 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise Val 369060@/discussions I have decided to go with the 3rd brake light option as well as putting red LED bulbs in my taillight housing of my 39 Six. I will add the 3rd brake light to the rear windows. So, to run the wiring into the trunk how would I get the Parcel Shelf cover off? Could I simply tale a small screwdriver and pry around the edges? Or maybe just remove the backing panel in the trunk? Any and all suggestions welcomed and much appreciated!!


Vic

]]> 46 Hudson fuel gauge ohms reading https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/369029/46-hudson-fuel-gauge-ohms-reading Tue, 19 Aug 2025 12:24:33 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise Bitburger 369029@/discussions Can someone please tell me what the ohms data for a fuel gauge/ sending unit on a 46 Hudson is?

I've read on one of these threads that stepdown fuel gauges/sending units read: 0 ohms full and 100 ohms empty. I would have guessed O empty and 100 full.

Are 46/47 models the same or a different ohms value?

I find no data on this in my manual.

]]> Valve guide replacement https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/368907/valve-guide-replacement Mon, 03 Mar 2025 01:34:21 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise cheyenne7271 368907@/discussions Does anyone have a suggestion, besides going to the machine shop, on pulling an old exhaust valve guide and installing a new one on a big six? I pulled it apart to install the new head and intake but had a dead mis. Found #6 valve burnt and bent. Rest of the engine is good and still in the car. Any tips would be appreciated. ‘53 Hornet.

]]> Sealing a 1933 Terraplane Head Gasket https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/369037/sealing-a-1933-terraplane-head-gasket Mon, 25 Aug 2025 20:24:55 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise glynes 369037@/discussions I've got water coming up through a head bolt and out the side of the head near a water jacket. The gasket is new and I coated it several times with aluminum paint. Olson's mentioned that the gasket design doesn't have grommets around the water openings so they tend to leak into the asbestos. They suggested I shellac around those holes.

Thoughts?

]]> Headlight relay circuit diagram https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/369038/headlight-relay-circuit-diagram Wed, 27 Aug 2025 09:43:43 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise stevepet 369038@/discussions Hi

I would like to install headlight relays onto my 52 wasp. Does anybody have a circuit diagram for this? Electrics do my head in at the best of times adding positive ground to the mix completely fries the grey matter.


Regards


Steven

]]> 1954 Hornet power steering issue https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/369030/1954-hornet-power-steering-issue Wed, 20 Aug 2025 09:48:00 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise tinsled 369030@/discussions As some of you may recall, I'm new with Hudson, imported my '54 Hornet coupe past winter to Finland.

In spring had rockers replaced, worked on electrical issues and now been driving in summer. Very happy with the Hudson... BUT; the car has factory power steering, or should have...

It's all there without big visible leaks, but does not help with steering much or at all...

In spring when first got to check the car properly I noticed the oil reservoir of the power steering pump was almost empty, only ca.1/4" level in the bottom of the jar. I just filled it up to the mark with ATF "A" oil/fluid. Lifted the front axle up and turned steering wheel from lock to lock a couple of times. Unfortunately there was no improvement to the ease of steering, it's heavy in low speeds and while parking.

Are there "typical issues" with the stepdown-models power steering?

What would be the "steps" to check to find why it's not doing the job as it should?

Thanks in advance! /Pekka

]]> Transmission and overdrive rebuild https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/369044/transmission-and-overdrive-rebuild Mon, 01 Sep 2025 21:35:38 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise blondwookie 369044@/discussions Besides Al in Arizona. Does anyone else know how to rebuild the two lever three speed and overdrive unit? I have both that need to be rebuilt and I believe I have all of the rebuild parts and gaskets needed. This thing's a little bit over my head right now.

]]> Stepdown Starter Bendix https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/368832/stepdown-starter-bendix Tue, 05 Nov 2024 03:13:09 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise hastypacer 368832@/discussions I have recently joined my transmission to my engine block and am finishing the install of my starter ect.


Trouble I have run into is the starter Bendix will not clear the flywheel to lock onto the two barrel bolts that join it to the block/bell housing seam. I have had this starter on and off the car multiple times in the past so I know it at least was correct at one time. I think that the Bendix gear must have reset at halfmast somehow, or could the flywheel have been incorrectly installed?



I measured the flywheel to block gap at 1.185 in. (which I think is correct), and have included pics If anyone has had a similar situation I would appreciated some guidance.

]]> Fuel pump for 1936 8 cylinder Railton https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/369018/fuel-pump-for-1936-8-cylinder-railton Sat, 02 Aug 2025 02:12:06 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise rhurst 369018@/discussions Working on the fuel system on my 1936 Railton. Looks like someone installed a high pressure electric fuel pump at the tank and it runs through the mechanical fuel pump which may not be working. Thinking I want to restore it back to the original condition and get a working mechanical fuel pump or rebuilt the one I have. Does anyone have a source for one?

Also found two pickups coming from the tank.. Not sure why but they both end up at a fuel filter in the engine compartment. Not sure if it is related to the switch under the dash that adds more fuel to the carborator in the event of a vapor lock. Any help with these issues would be appreciated.

Robert

]]> 51 Hornet auto trans https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/369005/51-hornet-auto-trans Mon, 21 Jul 2025 21:45:51 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise Richie 369005@/discussions Hi everyone, can someone head me in the direction of a Hudson auto trans repair person?

I'm in Ga. and would like to get some info from an experienced Hudson hydromatic person. Thanks, Richie.

]]> 35 Terraplane oil pan gasket / o-ring https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/369004/35-terraplane-oil-pan-gasket-o-ring Sat, 19 Jul 2025 15:35:38 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise 35 Terraplane 369004@/discussions RE: 35 Terraplane oil pan gaskets. I purchased a gasket set from Olson. It included an O-ring with dipper tray/oil pan gaskets. Is the oil ring used on the 35 oil pans? I don't recall there being one on the pickup tube when I removed it.

]]> Using Best brand rear main seal 3878 - new repro https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/368974/using-best-brand-rear-main-seal-3878-new-repro Sat, 07 Jun 2025 02:08:33 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise Courtesy Man 368974@/discussions Just received the rear main seal for Hudson Big Six - anyone tried this? It is a narrow rubber half circular seal. The original is much wider and sits next to a deep groove that accepts the other cloth and twine seal. Lip on new rubber seal seems much too narrow to work and in the instructions no mention of the twine seal - only description of using the included mop twine on the vertical grooves of the main bearings. Anyone familiar with this - is it a waste of $60? Thanks Gert

]]> Advice Sought on Brake Swerve https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/368358/advice-sought-on-brake-swerve Sun, 17 Sep 2023 04:13:17 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise Jon B 368358@/discussions
I replaced the inner & outer seals on the left and right rear drums, and installed new brake shoes & lining. I replaced the brake drum but at that point got sidetracked doing several repairs to the car.  Then, I had the car towed to a commercial garage to have some other things done.  I never actually drove the car to see if I'd manage to fix the swerving.

This summer I drove the car home from the garage, and found to my horror that the car still swerved violently to the right whenever I applied the brakes!  My "fix" of both rear drums, did not apparently cure the brake problem!

So I pulled both from brake drums, only to discover that there was no problem in either.  No sign of oil or brake fluid on any of the brake linings, and no brake fluid leakage in the brake cylinders.

I did adjust the brakes at 4 wheels, by turning the star wheel, and I even equalized the pressure in all four tires.

So, could anyone please offer some suggestions as to the source of my problem?  I strongly suspect it was something that happened suddenly; not over a period of days or weeks.  When I set off for the cars & coffee, everything was normal.  When I returned home the car swerved all of a sudden.

If you could suggest any explanation I would be most grateful.  I'd be even more grateful if you could suggest a test of some sort that would confirm your suspicions, rather than having me simply replace one part after another, chasing a possible solution!  Thanks in advance for offering your theories!]]> 1952 Hornet Muffler https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/368964/1952-hornet-muffler Tue, 27 May 2025 01:25:16 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise 37 CTS 368964@/discussions Hello,


My 1952 Hornet sedan is in need of a muffler.

Does someone have a source or part number for one?

]]> Electric fuel pump https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/368953/electric-fuel-pump Thu, 15 May 2025 20:36:42 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise JasonNC 368953@/discussions Where is the best location to install an electric fuel pump on a Stepdown? The pump is the pusher type which I'm told needs to be below the tank as it is gravity fed.

]]> Help! Can anyone identify an unknown bolt/pin https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/368947/help-can-anyone-identify-an-unknown-bolt-pin Mon, 12 May 2025 10:08:37 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise dalma 368947@/discussions An unknown and unusual looking bolt (or pin?) appeared on the floor near the pedals (accelerator, brakes, clutch) of my ‘53 Hudson Wasp sedan. It has obviously fallen out from somewhere, possibly from under the dash but I can’t see from where. The shaft is 15/16” (24mm) long by just under 1/4” (6mm) diameter. It’s unusual because only the top 5/16” (9mm) of the shaft near the head is threaded. See photo.


]]> What color/how it was plated? '54 Hornet grille inner horizontal plate. https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/368942/what-color-how-it-was-plated-039-54-hornet-grille-inner-horizontal-plate Sun, 04 May 2025 18:29:12 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise tinsled 368942@/discussions 1st my apologies for a bit too dark photo... Below the center horizontal bar, between the parking lights there is a inner horizontal panel behind the stainless lower bar. It's not stainless, mine has quite a bit of surface rust and looks like it has been painted black, but paint chipped off because of corrosion... However, I'm not sure, was the black paint original or painted by some previous owner... My aim is to restore grille to factory spec.


]]> '54 Hornet club coupe - rear parking lights won't light - why? https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/368943/039-54-hornet-club-coupe-rear-parking-lights-won-039-t-light-why Sun, 04 May 2025 19:14:15 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise tinsled 368943@/discussions Working to make the '54 Hornet coupe roadworthy...

Managed to get all turning signal light work, also the brake lights do light. However the tail parking lights, nor the license plate light do not get any voltage. I suppose parking lights are connected to the post in center of the relay on firewall, see the photo. Hot wire would be the white wire on right, yellow in left is for horns. The center post will gets 6,5V when the knob in dash is turned to center position and the front parking lights will lit. The rear don't. The wiring in trunk area appears original, but is in good shape. Most of the wires in engine bay have been replaced by modern, but I cannot find where the wire harness to back of the car is connected?


]]> Inner fender removal https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/368937/inner-fender-removal Sun, 20 Apr 2025 04:09:18 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise stevepet 368937@/discussions Need a bit of help. Trying to remove inner fender cover to get at valves. Have undone all the bolts it's loose and moving but cannot get it out. Is there a particular way to get it out or just lots of swearing and wriggling of inner fender involved.


Cheers


Steven


Ps Vehicle is a 52 wasp

]]> 1954 Hornet Loose wires, - neutral safety switch? https://openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/368933/1954-hornet-loose-wires-neutral-safety-switch Fri, 18 Apr 2025 18:22:11 +0000 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise tinsled 368933@/discussions Having a lot of electrical problems in my newly acquired 1954 Hornet coupe... One of which I suppose is loose wires maybe touching ground. Not sure where they need to be connected.

These are below the power brake booster, on the left side of firewall.

Is the mechanical part in middle of the photo the neutral safety switch?

The leftmost wire is loose. I can see it only by pushing the camera down under the brake booster assembly. It seems to have a crimped end on it, supposed to be connected to a female connector?


]]>