V8 that fits

Aaron D. IL

I read in one WTN a while back during a past nationa. 2004 I think that had an article that covered some modifieds..... siad that there was a V8 that would drop in with no mods to the original Hudson motor mounts. Anyone know what motor that is ? Is that only Hudson's that were equipped with Hydramatic?

I think it was in one of Richard Polse's articles.

[Deleted User]

The GM Hydromatic was available in all of the GM offerings from about 1950 to 1958, IIRC. If you are thinking of putting in a period GM engine (a Caddy or Olds V-8 would be cool!) you should be able to use the same GM bolt-pattern HM in the Hornet, and this should not affect your shift linkage, either. Might be dead wrong, but I think this can be done pretty easily, if this is what you are talking about.

Aaron D. IL

Yeah that's basically it. I just would like to avoid fabricating mounts if it's possible. I recall the article in question saying someone had found a V8 where this was in fact the case. Might've been an Olds engine. Would've had to have been a Hudson Hydramatic chassis because I can't imagine what would simply bolt up on a Hudson 3-speed sub-frame. ???????

Unknown

Aaron D. IL wrote:

I read in one WTN a while back during a past nationa. 2004 I think that had an article that covered some modifieds..... siad that there was a V8 that would drop in with no mods to the original Hudson motor mounts. Anyone know what motor that is ? Is that only Hudson's that were equipped with Hydramatic?

I think it was in one of Richard Polse's articles.

I would say that there's not, without some type of modifying. The Hudson tie-rods are behind the "center of axle" instead of in front, thus putting the oilpan in the way every time. I guess you could have a modified oilpan, if the crankshaft and pickup tube allows the room for the modification.

Unknown

Early Olds Rocket engines have a single front engine mount at the center and two rear mounts at the Hydramatic. Probably an easy swap compared to others but will not fit the front mounts unless you fabricate some type of adapter that will bolt across the front of the engine to use the 2 stock front hudson mounts. Possibly a front mounting plate from a hudson 6 can be cut and drilled or modified to fit the Olds pattern, but I'm guessing the Olds V8 is shorter than the H6.

Park_W

The Olds engines of the fifties with Hydramatic had very similar rear mounts to the Hudsons with Hydra, and indeed the Hudson motor mounts will bolt up to the Olds Hydramatic bell housing with only a little filing of two of the Hudson mounts' bolt holes (don't remember whether it's the upper or lower ones). As said here, the Olds has a single front mount at the center. When I did my conversion back in '56, I built a mount pad on the front crossmember that accommodated the single Olds front mount. But I like the idea of a "cradle" that would bolt to the wider-spaced Hudson mount pads and be bolted solid to the Olds engine block. The Olds and Hudson rear mounts are not very far apart, so with the singe center-mount at the front, the engine rocks a bit much with application of power. Wider spaced front mounts would be better. By the way, the fifties Caddy engines had the same engine-to-bell housing bolt pattern as the Olds, so one can use an Olds bell housing, which fits the original Hudson rear mounts, to make a Caddy installation easier. And the Caddy has two wide-spaced front mounts, so it makes for a good solid installation.

Unknown

As Park points out there are several engines better suited to a Hudson installation than others. If you are trying to use existing mountings as the installation points this necessarily limits the candidates. Later today I will pull out my Honest Charlie, JC Whitney, and Wasowski (SP) catalogs of the mid 50s and try to scan the motor adapter sections and post applicable pictures here. These GIANTS of the workin man's hot rodding market made all sorts of engine and trans adapters to allow you to create the body and engine/trans combo of your wildest dreams.

Aaron D. IL

I'll take any advice you guys could give on a clean modification. Thank you.

Unknown

I put a Y block 292 ford in a 47 Commodore coupe, about a year go. It was a drop in. Also, I have a 54 Hornet that someone else converted from manual to hydramatic many years ago and appeared to be stock, until I tried dropping the trans crossmember. Also have a Jet with 289 Studebaker mounts. Everything fits, if you have a torch, welder, and a 12 pack.

Unknown

The mounts you need for the Olds are on ebay now. These are repops of the early Hurst mounts, which also show up on ebay from time to time.



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Oldsmobile-engine-mount-Hurst-Rat-rod-303-324-371_W0QQitemZ180378390685QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item29ff63d09d&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1171

[Deleted User]

If you want to go chevy, the way to go is with a hurst front mount, it should fit with no modification, it puts the engine a little forward, but you cant have everything, i did a mock up with a 327 from a 68 impala, everything looked great, the drive shaft even appeared to work. I cant be certain because i opted to stay hudson powered.

rambos_ride

Hudson308 wrote:

Here's a shot of an early Olds rocket in a '51 Hornet, sitting in a junkyard in French Lake, MN. You can just see the center mount under the front of the engine, similar to that described by Park. You can also see the torched original mounts.

Attachment not found.

Based on my experience with the 454 installation in my 49 - I think you would still have problems with the pitman arm and drag-link clearances with the exhaust.

Funny the engine setback based on the torched motor mounts is pretty darn close to mine, I just moved the mounts back and made brakets to the supports.

Unknown

After $1100 and three cracked 308s not including the one that was in the car I got POed and went the V8 route , couldnt get a decent fit in the stock chassis either - now a Hudson with torsion bars , little old 440 looks right at home !!

Unknown

used spare parts from my Mopar stash, PU 727 Load Flyte , 3/4 ton P.U. two piece drive line with center carrier bearing , 8 1/4 Mopar rearend 3.20 gears , 69 New Yorker sub frame ,really wanted to restore the car to original ,but its just not in my budget,

Pic of right side

Unknown

Stateline, nice looking work. How far along are you with your re-build. Are those recent pictures?

Unknown

Charlie Harris of Springfield NE has a 50 Pacemaker Convertible with a Volarie frame stub running a 318/auto with all the accessories. Car looks stock till your open the hood!

Unknown

wkitchens wrote:

Stateline, nice looking work. How far along are you with your re-build. Are those recent pictures?

thats where its at now I just decided to go the V8 route this week, I rough fit the subframe in a parts car before I tried it in the Hornet , I removed the fire wall to install a short wheelbase firewall for dist. clearance on a 318 or 360 , then switched subframes and didnt need the room , so back in with the orignal firewall , still not sure which engine will end up in it , I dont feel like swapping the 727 to a small block case, really dont need a 440 in it though.

Unknown

WildWasp wrote:

Charlie Harris of Springfield NE has a 50 Pacemaker Convertible with a Volarie frame stub running a 318/auto with all the accessories. Car looks stock till your open the hood!

Volarie subframes make a good swap for a small block V8 , I like the older Chry. subframes myself , I want mine to appear stock till the hood is opened too!

Unknown

stateline wrote:

thats where its at now I just decided to go the V8 route this week, I rough fit the subframe in a parts car before I tried it in the Hornet , I removed the fire wall to install a short wheelbase firewall for dist. clearance on a 318 or 360 , then switched subframes and didnt need the room , so back in with the orignal firewall , still not sure which engine will end up in it , I dont feel like swapping the 727 to a small block case, really dont need a 440 in it though.

When I finally made up my mind what I wanted the finished car to be, I cancelled all my Hot-Rod, and Street-Rodder magazines. I figured if I kept looking at all the new stuff coming out, I'd never decide what I wanted. No need "changing horses in the middle of the stream".

50C8DAN

The late Darrel Dye near LA did a 455 Buick install in a '53 Hornet. It was an amazing job and looked great. I am not a big fan of swaps but this was looked great and seemed like what a V8 that Hudson would have used would have looked like. Bill Albright has more info about this car and its whereabouts if anyone is interested.