Serial numbers decoding

54SuperWasp

Hi guys, was able to retrieve the serial numbers on my 53 parts car and on my 54 soon to be project for the different registries of the Hudson Club.
First: 1954 Hudson Super Wasp fourdoor sedan with 262 c.i. engine with Twin-H and an automatic Borg-Warner transmission.
On the passenger door side the plate reads as follow:
Serial no: 5292759
Model : D
On the engine: 5292759 and on the lower side of the motor:11 19 53
My understanding: The car would have been built November 19th of 1953 and it is a numbers match. Am I right? Something else I should know? I am getting all the infos I can before I start the "amateur" restoration I will perform.

Now, for the parts car. It's a 1953 Hudson Super Wasp foor door sedan with a 308.
and an Hydramatic 4 speed transmission.
On the passenger door side the plate reads as follow:
Model: 5C
Serial no: 222254
On the engine: 222254 and on the lower side of the motor: 12 29 52
So, probably built on December 29th of 1952
Again, the nubers match. But I was quite surprise since I thought somebody had put a 308 in it cause I was sure all Super Wasp would have had a 262. Could have it been an option? At first, I told myself somebody had put a 308 head. Again, I thought it was better to put a 262 head on a 308 but not a 308 on a 262.
My intention is to keep all the parts that fits ( and there is a lot)for my 54 as a reserve. The 54 is a very good start cause it's a California Car with absolutly no rust underneath, no floors to repair etc. The 53 is quite rusty under. I was thinking putting the 308 in the 54 but, for now, even after many years, I was able to start that 54 engine and it purrs like a cat and the Twin-H works perfectly well and, as I have read quite often here: If it ain't broke, don't touch it. But if something happens to this motor, I will have a pretty good back-up. Sorry for the long text. I am open to any comments or suggestions and I keep good note on any advise. Thanks, Michel.

nick s

Michael on your "308" is there a rib above the oil pan flange? If it is a 308 it will have it but a 262 will not.

[Deleted User]

I seem to recall the dealer replacement blocks had no serial number . Then would be stamped when installed with old number . Anyone else hear this ? That would explain it
Roger

[Deleted User]

Hudson blocks were cast, then left outside to season for months. When a replacement engine was installed, the dealer was supposed to stamp the original motor number on the replacement, and destroy the block that was removed. These things we never did, as we sold the old engine to guys that were running race cars. Walt Mordenti.

Lee ODell

I have a rebuilt Twin-H engine that came with my 52 Hornet I bought. It has a Sept 1952 vin 198936, but with a April 5, 1955 D55 casting numbeer, mounted on engine stand in my garage. I believe it to have been a replacement engine at one time for pre 55 Hudsons since it has early crankshaft and 1952 vin number.

Should it go in my 52 Hornet or my 1947 PU or someone's 55 Hudson?

The Hornet already has a good running single carb engine. PU has good 212 engine.

Or to someone with a Hudson with a matching vin # if it still exists?

Just thinking out loud.

Have a great day
Lee O'Dell

54SuperWasp

Thank you all for the answers. Will take a picture of the engines this evening ( batteries on my camera are on charge for now...) cause they seem to be quite similar. As for the ribs, I am not sure what it should look like. So, if there are similar, the other question would be, two 308 one with a 262 head or two 262, one with a 308 head. The pictures might give an asnwer. Will come back later. Thanks again. Michel.

54SuperWasp

nick s wrote:

Michael on your "308" is there a rib above the oil pan flange? If it is a 308 it will have it but a 262 will not.

Hi Nick, here are pictures of the 2 motors. Not sure about the rib... By the way, here is the garage I just rented and that I am getting ready for this winter. Wood stove, compressor, fridge... and tools too! Michel red motor ( my 54) dirty motor ( my 53)

StillOutThere

No rib showing on either engine block in your photos. The Hornet rib is blatantly obvious looking like a second oil pan flange some 3 inches above the actual pan flange.

Because later stepdown Hudson six cylinder heads can be physically interchanged, they GOT interchanged. Whether it was because a head cracked or warped or blew a gasket from freezing or overheating or hard driving, the closest junk yard supplied another head and the numbers on it didn't mean a heckuva lot to the mechanic working on the car in the '60s or '70 or '80s. The bolts lined up - all they wanted to know.

54SuperWasp

StillOutThere wrote:

No rib showing on either engine block in your photos. The Hornet rib is blatantly obvious looking like a second oil pan flange some 3 inches above the actual pan flange.
No rib, that's a good reason I could not figure what it was. So, it means two 262 c.i. motors, but one with a 308 head. So, my idea of sticking with my original 262 with the Twin-H is good. I like that. Will keep the other jsust in reserve in case of... Thanks again to all, Michel