Long trip to PA is over. (54 Hornet) added pics

Richie

Well, we drove to Schnecksville PA. in the rain all the way. and part of the way back. It was slow going as the wipers were minimal at best, but did work (used Rain-X). Once the rain cleared after about 4 hours on the return trip it was much more enjoyable. Vent open, windows down and driving about 60 mph it was smooth sailing. The car runs good at 60 and probably at faster speeds but I don't trust Coker bias ply tires so I stayed at 60 all the way home. No issues for the 797 miles home with only a minor power steering leak that needs only an "O" ring to fix it. I'm very happy with the car and the 308 Twin -H has plenty of power. The only two things I am concerned about are the dual range hydromatic, and the power brakes. The trans. may need an adjustment or repair. I never had a hydro before so I'm not sure about its symptoms. The shift from 1st to 2nd has a chatter as does 2nd to 3rd but 3rd to 4th is fine. There is no slippage in any gear after the shift has been made. Going from 4th to 3rd with the shift lever is fine and back to 4th is fine. When slowing down for a stop the down shift to low gear is very marsh. Once you are in 4th gear it is very smooth and has lots of torque, lots more that my 262 in my 50. The other concern is the power brake system, (treadle vac) as it just about takes two feet on the brake pedal to stop the car. I will look into the brake system next week. I haven't been under it yet but will early next week and will post some pics. I really like the car and am happy with it and proud that it drove all the way home without problems. Richie.

hudsontech

Made a couple of them trips, back-in-the-day. Fun as a barrel of monkeys.



'tis heartening to see somebody driving their Hudson, rain or shine.



Hudsonly,

Alex Burr

Memphis, TN

Richie

hudsontech wrote:

Made a couple of them trips, back-in-the-day. Fun as a barrel of monkeys.



'tis heartening to see somebody driving their Hudson, rain or shine.



Hudsonly,

Alex Burr

Memphis, TN

Alex, it was fun and we decided to go get it as an adventure and spend some time together. We got lots of "thumbs-up", and lots of smiles. Actually we saved a few hundred dollars and had some fun doing it. We also ate pretty good too !!! Richie.

VicTor Z

Hello Richie, The '54 skirts are in the mail , sent this morning . Should be ther in a week and a half . Priority mail would of been $29.00, so mailed by ??? at $16.00. See You in PONTIAC??

[Deleted User]

54 Hornet sedans are neat. In the early 70s I had a 22K mile 54 Hornet sedan. Drove that car cross country and it was a dream to drive. I especially enjoyed the nite time driving listening to the AM sounds coming from Chicago and other strong stations. Know how it feels to be on the road with your Hornet. Good Luck to you Richie.

faustmb

Sounds like a fun trip. I love the 54, you going to have it in PF this year?

J Spencer

Richie wrote:

Well, we drove to Schnecksville PA. in the rain all the way. and part of the way back. It was slow going as the wipers were minimal at best, but did work (used Rain-X). Once the rain cleared after about 4 hours on the return trip it was much more enjoyable. Vent open, windows down and driving about 60 mph it was smooth sailing. The car runs good at 60 and probably at faster speeds but I don't trust Coker bias ply tires so I stayed at 60 all the way home. No issues for the 797 miles home with only a minor power steering leak that needs only an "O" ring to fix it. I'm very happy with the car and the 308 Twin -H has plenty of power. The only two things I am concerned about are the dual range hydromatic, and the power brakes. The trans. may need an adjustment or repair. I never had a hydro before so I'm not sure about its symptoms. The shift from 1st to 2nd has a chatter as does 2nd to 3rd but 3rd to 4th is fine. There is no slippage in any gear after the shift has been made. Going from 4th to 3rd with the shift lever is fine and back to 4th is fine. When slowing down for a stop the down shift to low gear is very marsh. Once you are in 4th gear it is very smooth and has lots of torque, lots more that my 262 in my 50. The other concern is the power brake system, (treadle vac) as it just about takes two feet on the brake pedal to stop the car. I will look into the brake system next week. I haven't been under it yet but will early next week and will post some pics. I really like the car and am happy with it and proud that it drove all the way home without problems. Richie.

Must have been a really hard rain to wash all that paint off!! Good luck with the '54. Sounds like the power booster for the brakes is bad. First check to make sure there is an enough volume of vacuum at the booster. plugeed/collasped hose ?? Kanter Auto has rebuild kits available for it.

RL Chilton

Richie-



I'd get into those brakes pretty quick, if it were me. If it is taking you two feet and a stronghold on the wheel to get her to stop, you are most likely relying on the mechanical back-up (Hudsons triple-safe brakes) which only affects the rear brakes. 70% of your braking prowess comes from the front, not the rear.



I'm a big brake nut, myself, as I tend to think that brakes and tires are just about the most important mechanical features on any automobile, an area in which I never skimp.



Just a few weeks ago, I re-built the entire brake system on our sedan. new Master cylinder, new wheel cylinders, rubber hoses, new shoes, new brake hardware, everything but the hard lines, which were thoroughly cleaned. Let me tell you, if you are half as shocked as I was, you'll end up passing out!! Those Hudson engineers never cease to amaze me. Everything I did was absolutely stock, BUT, pound for pound, no car on the road, and I don't care what year it is, or what kind of brakes it has, nothing stops better than my car . . . on drums, no less. It's not supposed to work better than rotors, but it does!! There was talk here on the forum not long ago about Walt's brakes and how good they were, and I was like, yeah, o.k., . . . whatever. If Walt's brakes work better than mine, he must have a broken nose from hitting it on the steering wheel. IMO, anyone that puts discs on a Hudson is wasting his time and money for a lot of nothing. I've driven more brands and more different types of cars than anyone I know and nothing stops better, similar and nearly as good, but not as good.



It's really an immense pleasure, and an honor every single time I get in that car and get to drive her and can marvel at Hudsons engineering . . . it continually astonishes me.



You'll have the same feelings when you do your brakes, just make sure they are done with quality parts and done properly.

Unknown

Russell,



WHOA! Nothing against the "I drive my car in traffic and can't do it safely without disc brakes" crowd, but you might be in for a tongue lashing from them. :eek: <---PLEASE NOTE HAPPY FACE



Personally, I drive my Hudson in traffic and am very confident in my abilities as well as those of the car's stock brakes, suspension and drive train. Obviously, you must feel the same about your car.



BTW, does your being a big brake nut mean you are flat on the sides and have a threaded hole in the center?

RL Chilton

Hudsonitis makes me break out in a rash . . . (of good sense).:D

53jetman

Russell - For your information, the 1954 cars with Power Brakes did not have the benefit of the mechanical brake back-up from the brake pedal.



Jerry

53jetman

RL Chilton

Thanks, Jerry for the education! Y'all pardon the ignorance, please. I didn't know that . . . makes me wonder "why not?"



Well, if that is indeed the case, I'd say, "Richie, best to get on those brakes even quicker!"LOL!

Richie

VicTor Z wrote:

Hello Richie, The '54 skirts are in the mail , sent this morning . Should be ther in a week and a half . Priority mail would of been $29.00, so mailed by ??? at $16.00. See You in PONTIAC??

VicTor, that's great thanks very much. Richie

Richie

Heart_Of_Texas wrote:

54 Hornet sedans are neat. In the early 70s I had a 22K mile 54 Hornet sedan. Drove that car cross country and it was a dream to drive. I especially enjoyed the nite time driving listening to the AM sounds coming from Chicago and other strong stations. Know how it feels to be on the road with your Hornet. Good Luck to you Richie.

Thanks Ken, I will enjoy my 54 as much as you did yours. Richie.

Richie

faustmb wrote:

Sounds like a fun trip. I love the 54, you going to have it in PF this year?

Thanks Matt, it was a fun trip and we enjoyed it more after the rain stopped. We got lots of smiles and some laughs, don't know if they were laughing with us or at us but it doesn't matter cause we were having fun. We will have either the 50 or 54 at PF. Looking forward to seeing you again. Richie.

Richie

J Spencer wrote:

Must have been a really hard rain to wash all that paint off!! Good luck with the '54. Sounds like the power booster for the brakes is bad. First check to make sure there is an enough volume of vacuum at the booster. plugeed/collasped hose ?? Kanter Auto has rebuild kits available for it.

J Spencer, the rain was pretty hard at times but I can't lie, it looked like that before we started back. Would have helped my cause if it took all the paint off. I will start checking the brake problem tomorrow, and thanks for the ideas. Richie.

Richie

RL Chilton wrote:

Richie-



I'd get into those brakes pretty quick, if it were me. If it is taking you two feet and a stronghold on the wheel to get her to stop, you are most likely relying on the mechanical back-up (Hudsons triple-safe brakes) which only affects the rear brakes. 70% of your braking prowess comes from the front, not the rear.



I'm a big brake nut, myself, as I tend to think that brakes and tires are just about the most important mechanical features on any automobile, an area in which I never skimp.



Just a few weeks ago, I re-built the entire brake system on our sedan. new Master cylinder, new wheel cylinders, rubber hoses, new shoes, new brake hardware, everything but the hard lines, which were thoroughly cleaned. Let me tell you, if you are half as shocked as I was, you'll end up passing out!! Those Hudson engineers never cease to amaze me. Everything I did was absolutely stock, BUT, pound for pound, no car on the road, and I don't care what year it is, or what kind of brakes it has, nothing stops better than my car . . . on drums, no less. It's not supposed to work better than rotors, but it does!! There was talk here on the forum not long ago about Walt's brakes and how good they were, and I was like, yeah, o.k., . . . whatever. If Walt's brakes work better than mine, he must have a broken nose from hitting it on the steering wheel. IMO, anyone that puts discs on a Hudson is wasting his time and money for a lot of nothing. I've driven more brands and more different types of cars than anyone I know and nothing stops better, similar and nearly as good, but not as good.



It's really an immense pleasure, and an honor every single time I get in that car and get to drive her and can marvel at Hudsons engineering . . . it continually astonishes me.



You'll have the same feelings when you do your brakes, just make sure they are done with quality parts and done properly.

Russell, I will start checking the brake problem tomorrow. It sure sounds like you have the brake system totally under control. I hope mine are about as good as yours when I finish with them. I would be one proud guy if they work that well. Thanks, Richie.

Richie

53jetman wrote:

Russell - For your information, the 1954 cars with Power Brakes did not have the benefit of the mechanical brake back-up from the brake pedal.



Jerry

53jetman

That is good to know Jerry, I would have found out tomorrow and thought something was missing when I checked the underneath. Thanks for the info Jerry, Richie.

Richie

RL Chilton wrote:

Thanks, Jerry for the education! Y'all pardon the ignorance, please. I didn't know that . . . makes me wonder "why not?"



Well, if that is indeed the case, I'd say, "Richie, best to get on those brakes even quicker!"LOL!

I will Russell !! Richie.

onerare39

I had the exact same problem with my 54 Tredle-Vac! My symptoms were that you had to stand on the hard pedal, then all of a sudden the brakes would lock up! It turned out to be the rubber brake line that runs from the power brake unit to the distribution block on the frame. The rubber had deteriorated inside the hose at the metal fittings and expanded and therefore would not allow brake fluid to pass freely. I took a drill and drilled the rotten rubber out. It solved the problem. THIS IS NOT A PERMANENT FIX. I had a new hose made with the correct fittings at Tompkins Industries in Olathe, Kansas (it took them 10 min.). Google search (Tompkins Industries Hydraulic Adapters and Fittings). Tompkins has other locations around the country.



John

Unknown

One other problem with the brakes on these Hudsons on this thread is the incorrect front shoes. Go to a parts store and they bring you a set of shoes may or may not be correct. The shoe where it rest on the anchor pin may be lower in the shoe than the shoe for the Hudson. If so you only have about 2 inches or so of contact with the top of brake shoe. I think Walt has this covered in his tech. books. You have to grind the slot the anchor pin goes in the backing plate lower to take care of this. Any time you do a master brake adjustment you may have to move the anchor.

Richie

Billy K.TN. wrote:

One other problem with the brakes on these Hudsons on this thread is the incorrect front shoes. Go to a parts store and they bring you a set of shoes may or may not be correct. The shoe where it rest on the anchor pin may be lower in the shoe than the shoe for the Hudson. If so you only have about 2 inches or so of contact with the top of brake shoe. I think Walt has this covered in his tech. books. You have to grind the slot the anchor pin goes in the backing plate lower to take care of this. Any time you do a master brake adjustment you may have to move the anchor.

Billy K., I haven't thought about that as the brakes were all new and installed before I bought the car. That is a good idea and I'll pull the front wheels this coming week and check. I have both of Walt's ' Hudson Tech Tips' books and have read both of them in the past few days. Thanks Billy. Richie.