jets/superjets

[Deleted User]

Hey guys; I'm confused, when I posted that I will put a 308 in a jet, Alex said it may need a shoe horn, I thought you could get a 308 in a jet, The one we bought had a 308 in it and it won i/sa in NHRA. Am i wrong or is the 308 come in the super jet or jet liner? What is the difference? What was the standard motor for the jet,262? My partner has a hornet,it has a 308.

[Deleted User]

Standard motor for a JET was a 202. You can fit the 308 in but you got to mod a bit to get it in. Not just a straight drop in.

[Deleted User]

I did here about having to move the firewall back, if that is true, the one we bought back in the 60s, it was a good job, could not tell. I saw a story a jet in the don gartlis muesem, it had a 318 ci. how did they get that. Was it a 308
bored a little or a 202 bored and strocked?

Marconi

318 is a 308 bored .060" over.

[Deleted User]

No the 202 is different beast entirely than the big sixes. 202 was created using the tooling from the now defunct Hudson eight engine.

You pull the 202 out and from there its cut and mod to get the 308 in. Makes one hell of a nice race car when you are done.

So 202 is no relation to the 232/262 or 308.

Sarah Young

As Editor for the JetSet, I know the readers are yearning for an article on this very topic! Without my own experience, I'm also looking for input on what’s involved in stuffing a Hornet engine in a Jet, including references to fitting, springing modifications, etc. Readers want some detailed advice on how to successfully complete the nitty gritty!

[Deleted User]

I did here about having to move the firewall back, if that is true, the one we bought back in the 60s, it was a good job, could not tell. I saw a story a jet in the don gartlis museum, it had a 318 ci. how did they get that. Was it a 308
bored a little or a 202 bored and strocked?

baby huey65 wrote:

Check out Sarah Young's Hot Rod article on Ike Smith's Jet, Jack Clifford is quoted in the story... Link to the article Note that IKE has I/SA and "HONESTY" on the side of the JET LOL! Jack and Ike both fooled the AHRA and NHRA folks until the truth was told and both cars were moved from stock class racing to modified racing classes.

There are a number of Hot Rod Mag articles on early NHRA and AHRA racing that feature Hudson Jets. The Ike Smith Jet was campaigned as a stock car with the 308 engine as was a similar Jet with 308 that Jack Clifford built. One such article showed pictures of Jack and Ike match racing at an AHRA event.

Also this was posted on this BBS in the past...

In the Hot Rod Magazine July 1965, AND in Drag Racing Magazine April & May 1965 --- there are Good articles on Hudson’s and The Hornet powered Jets. Also, "ol-racer" has verbiage as to Why, their reigns of Terror and Records (Never beaten) ended in the last few years of the 1960's, (Check his Racing Picture Hudson Thread)


As far as the body modifications, Both Ike and Jack's Jet bodies were modified with a narrowed Wasp firewall. The Wasp firewall contains the required indentation which allowed the Hornet engine to fit into the Jet engine bay. Note in the attached pictures of Slones Jet ... the original firewall is cut out and the narrowed Wasp firewall can be seen recessed back into the cars cabin.




I do remember Jack stating that he used a non Hudson rear end, but again I do not remember what that was.

Others raced Hornet Jets albeit in non stock classes. Sloane McCauley of Dallas,




Kelly Hinegardner had a Hornet Jet too... Kelly was the reason Sloane's Jet wound up in Don Gs museum, the boys from El Paso had a Hot Jet too and there were others.

[Deleted User]

How do I sign up for the jetsetter?

[Deleted User]

sorry not a texter I get the lol but not the rest of it?

Geoff

There is around 6 inches extra length to cater for with a Hornet motor. It can't go further forward because of the front support, so the main mods would be for the rear engine mount cross member, the clutch and brake pedals, gear shift, and the bulkhead, as mentioned in the previous posting. This would put the engine and bell housing back into the cab in a similar fashion to the s.w.b. Step-downs. It would also make for similar problems with servicing I imagine. Ever tried to do a valve grind on a Pacemaker?
Geoff

SamJ

Great postings, thanx. How much heavier is a 308 than a 202? Does the extra weight have to be compensated for in the suspension, etc.?

frank spring

No Sam, you do not have to compensate for the weight because the power from the 308 keeps the front wheels off the ground!

SamJ wrote:

Great postings, thanx. How much heavier is a 308 than a 202? Does the extra weight have to be compensated for in the suspension, etc.?

frank spring

Since we have not heard from 53Jetman on the subject I went back to an April07 post that fits here.......


RE:jet information and trivia
With regards to factory built Jets with Hornet engines, I personally inspected such a car that was driven to my father's place of business by the factory zone service manager in July 1954. He was making a regular visit to our dealership and had been allowed to use the Hornet powered Jet in his rounds to visit the dealers in the Cleveland Zone. This car and several other similar cars had been modified by the engineering dept for testing in the field. Apparently they were considering fielding some of the Jets in the upcoming Mexican Road race. But of course the merger with Nash had put an end to such plans .



Upon inspection, the car was very nicely converted. The cowl had been recessed much like the cowl of the Wasp & Super Wasp (which eliminated the heater), and the chassis had undergone some strength modifications plus heavy duty springs & shocks, as well as the rear axle which appeared to be a modified unit similar to a Hornet.



Most of the mechanics, my father and I all got a chance to ride in the car, and beleive me, that baby would set you free! The car appeared to set closer to ground and seemed to handle very well, and road more like a Super Wasp or Hornet than my Super Jet.



Jerry

53jetman

Sarah Young

baby huey65 wrote:

How do I sign up for the jetsetter?

"The JetSetter" is the newsletter of the Jet Set. "The JetSetter" is published quarterly and mailed to all current members of the Jet Set. Current rate for the Jet Set is established at $6.00 a year to cover costs of printing and mailing. The year runs from July to June, coinciding with the National meet. Any person who aspires to own, owns, or drools at the sight of a Hudson Jet is a worthy candidate for the "Jet Set." Click here to print out a membership form to send me.

[Deleted User]

thanks for the app. I will fill it out and send in the morning. I still did not get an answer about the defference between a jet, superjet, and a jetliner?

Sarah Young

baby huey65 wrote:

What is the defference between a Jet, SuperJet, and a JetLiner?

In one word= TRIM. The Jet and SuperJets were offered in '53 and Jet, SuperJet, and JetLiner were all offered in '54. The basic Jet models offered no stainless steel to speak of, not even scripting on the fenders or trim around the windshield. Even the hood ornament on the early basic '53 Jets were utilitarian in design. The SuperJets had the SuperJet script on the fenders and horizontal spears on the side of the car. I believe the trim around windshield and windows was also included? In '54, all the Jet series were offered with the plane-shaped hood ornament commonly recognized. The JetLiner gleamed with not only the horizontal spears and glass trim, but also featured stainless faux air vents on the quarter panel of 2-door coupes or rear door of 4-door sedans. They also offered upgraded vinyl seats whereas other models had the checkered wool in green or blue.

[Deleted User]

And don't forget the Jet Liner had a big chrome cap on the frnder ahead of the taillight assembly,
Roger

[Deleted User]

frank spring wrote:

Since we have not heard from 53Jetman on the subject I went back to an April07 post that fits here.......


RE:jet information and trivia
With regards to factory built Jets with Hornet engines, I personally inspected such a car that was driven to my father's place of business by the factory zone service manager in July 1954. He was making a regular visit to our dealership and had been allowed to use the Hornet powered Jet in his rounds to visit the dealers in the Cleveland Zone. This car and several other similar cars had been modified by the engineering dept for testing in the field. Apparently they were considering fielding some of the Jets in the upcoming Mexican Road race. But of course the merger with Nash had put an end to such plans .



Upon inspection, the car was very nicely converted. The cowl had been recessed much like the cowl of the Wasp & Super Wasp (which eliminated the heater), and the chassis had undergone some strength modifications plus heavy duty springs & shocks, as well as the rear axle which appeared to be a modified unit similar to a Hornet.



Most of the mechanics, my father and I all got a chance to ride in the car, and beleive me, that baby would set you free! The car appeared to set closer to ground and seemed to handle very well, and road more like a Super Wasp or Hornet than my Super Jet.



Jerry
jerry; do you know anyone who would have doc.to back up the story about the 308 jet fot mex. road race? gene
53jetman

53jetman

I am not aware of any sort of documentation on the Jets equipped with the 308 engine. This was something that was not really talked about.

Jerry

Nevada Hudson

frank spring wrote:

No Sam, you do not have to compensate for the weight because the power from the 308 keeps the front wheels off the ground!

SamJ wrote:

Great postings, thanx. How much heavier is a 308 than a 202? Does the extra weight have to be compensated for in the suspension, etc.?

Ed, your dad wrote about Hornet-Jets in the WTN in the early 70's when he was editor. ( another great editor!) Can't find which one right now, as am busy watching John Fromm's video.