LWB's vs. SWB's

RL Chilton

Here's a question I never thought to ask before. I know the short wheel-base stepdowns utilize different front fenders and hood, but concerning the front frame clip, did Hudson use the same one for LWB and SWB cars and simply "move it back" 5" for the SWB cars during production? From a production standpoint, this would make the most sense, but I don't know that to be true or not.

[Deleted User]

RL Chilton wrote:

Here's a question I never thought to ask before. I know the short wheel-base stepdowns utilize different front fenders and hood, but concerning the front frame clip, did Hudson use the same one for LWB and SWB cars and simply "move it back" 5" for the SWB cars during production? From a production standpoint, this would make the most sense, but I don't know that to be true or not.

The front frame is also shorter. In your body service manual it states the frames are all similar although there is difference in dimensions due to wheelbase. The short wheelbase the engine sets back into the firewall. Walt.

[Deleted User]

RL Chilton wrote:

Here's a question I never thought to ask before. I know the short wheel-base stepdowns utilize different front fenders and hood, but concerning the front frame clip, did Hudson use the same one for LWB and SWB cars and simply "move it back" 5" for the SWB cars during production? From a production standpoint, this would make the most sense, but I don't know that to be true or not.

Russell

The frame chart for a LWB Stepdown with the dimension chart and a chart for the SWB cars follows. Note that the differences is about 2 inches and it is in the front part of the frame. My memory of disassembly of both types of cars is that this difference is for mounting adjustments needed to make the front sheet metal fit.