the begining of my newest adventure

[Deleted User]

Between Toms and my cars (Tom has 3 33 project cars) they all have the rectangular tag. All of my project bits and pieces for 34/5 have the triangle. I wonder if it is something phased in late in the production run?

[Deleted User]

I have one the shifter is a bit pitted so if I could find a better one it would be good. I had my son helping and while the gears were soaking to limber them up a bit (this has sat since the 60's) and his scraping the goo off is not as careful as I would like so plywood seemed like the ticket.

[Deleted User]

Just started working on the wheel had a bunch of cracking going on.

53jetman

By 1933 & 1934, Hudson had only one body plant. Altho the roadsters and convertibles were farmed out to another builder during this period, but all closed car bodys were built by Hudson at their body plant in Detroit.

[Deleted User]

I was curious so I looked at Toms project cars as one of his is higher in ser no and I figured it might have the triangle tag, but his coupe, 4 door and conv coupe all have the rectangle tag. He was telling me the company that did the Conv conversions of these cars(Briggs I think) put a small metal tag on the firewall with a number (I was told there does not seem to be any order to the numbers) after the conversion.

bent metal

Can you tell me more about the tag on the firewall? A picture would be awesome!

As for the outside cowl tags. All '34s I can remember had the triangle, just like yours. The '33s had the rectangle, just like yours,...and the '33s are always crooked, just like yours.

AND,...Fantastic work on that battery box!

[Deleted User]

Thanks I had fun bending up the parts, a vice, hammer, and a drill can make some cool stuff. I do not have a tag on my wreck that I know of (now I will have to take a better look) I can probably look at Tom's car at some point. The tags, well that is what I have found so far but that does not mean that there was not a late year changeover or something else that went on. who knows.

[Deleted User]

My first attempt at fixing a steering wheel, I got spoiled with the 33 as it was perfect as it sat, not so much on this one. On the way to a mend though, but still needs more TLC.

[Deleted User]

Here is phase 2 of this project. I had to build a good sized piece of the bottom of it, still has a ways to go but moving forward.

[Deleted User]

What I have before painting and polishing it a bit.

ESSX28-1

Great job on restoring the steering wheel. Presume you've thought about electrical contacts for the horn.

[Deleted User]

Yes I have, easier to go it with my Dremel and clean up the center after (or at least I think so) I put some paint to it today and will take a picture of it later. It is not perfect but close, close enough for me anyway. I noticed a couple of very small (head of a pin) depressions in the wheel, sanded them most of the way out though, we will see how it looks all done and back on there though. I was worried as I don't like how most wheels look when painted, so hopefully this comes out ok.

[Deleted User]

This is what I ended up with as a final result.

54SuperWasp

Thanks fot the pics. Seems the whole car will be very well done! Michel

[Deleted User]

Thanks for the vote of confidence, I try to be very through and on other projects I have been inspired by others projects, so I like to share my small steps too.

[Deleted User]

Not too much lately, mounted the wheel and want to build a pulled to remove this type of wheel. Went over this one more time but still more work to eliminate all traces of any pits etc. I know for the most part it will not be seen, but I will know how it looks. I guess that is OCD, or something like that.

TwinH

OCD = Old Car Disorder...

StillOutThere

The convertible bodies are from Briggs and should NOT have the "Hudson Built Steel Body" ovaled triangle tag but rather only a Briggs stamped tag with a body number mounted on the flat face of the firewall. The Hud-Built tags are on closed cars because indeed Hudson built those.
My '34 Terraplane convert has no exterior tag, only the Briggs tag and your 34 Hud should be done the same way.

[Deleted User]

I have wondered what would be correct as I have been lead to believe that both the tag did not come on these cars and that it did. From what I understand the cars were converted by Briggs but not truly built by Briggs, they started off with standard coupes that went to Briggs for conversion. When I spoke to Jim after he finished his he has a tag on it but was not sure if it was supposed to or not. I would bet that the closed coupes had the tag from the factory, the question in my mind would be was that omitted when the body went to Briggs? Sounds to me like your take is it was. Is your car an unrestored car or one that has a known history? Not trying to be a smartA-- just trying to understand better how to make the car right. That tag was in a box of parts that came off this car and from what I understand there was no parts cars involved with this mess that Ive got. From what I have been told there were also very limited number of colors available and the hudson Conv was not available in all trim lines based on the literature that is out there. Based on the struggling times when these cars were built my guess is that if you had the money you could buy one in any color that was available though.

StillOutThere

Yes, "converted" by Briggs would be a more accurate way of stating it. One would think that if new coupe bodies were being trucked over to Briggs that they would have had primer only and there would be no point, especially during the Depression, of adding the $1 (at the time) nickel plated brass "Hudson" tag.
My '34 T conv was given a light restoration back some 50 years ago (when standards were much lower!). Pretty much has a known history post-WWII. It has had recent engine rebuilt and fresh convertible top and tires but body is still the last restoration. Oh, and new Canadian runningboard mats.
Most cars of any make in those years had very limited colors available relative to body styles. My Terra was originally monotone Steel Dust (sort of a blue/green-toned silver). Some manufacturer's paint chip charts from the era will relate colors to body styles. Sometimes mentioned in factory sales literature as well. But yes, in Depression years, if they could make a sale of a car by painting it special order color, they certainly were going to do so.

[Deleted User]

That would make sense as I am sure that the plates were added post paint therefore no holes drilled until installation. I am sure they would have taken any cost savings step they could have as they were not making money per say. This is the only unrestored Conv I have really looked at, I should have looked at the bottom of the cowl for holes as well. That tag was in a baby wipes box inside the car (which is a real mess) so I cleaned it up. The original sedan I parted for the frame (floors were bad) had the tag of course, and the 34 T sedan (orig paint), and my dad's original paint 34 H all had the tags, but that is apples to oranges. My Uncle was explaining to me the Briggs tags on the firewall and that so far no one has figured out how the numbering worked. Speculation was that is was a "job" number and could have been mixed in with several other makes or jobs so therefore it may have no true way of comparison with other cars. I will be reconverting the car as the firewall front has been chopped up, and I want the 34 windshield arrangement, so the cowl will be a hybrid of the two cars that make up most of this project.

StillOutThere

Should be no problem to splice the two cowls. In fact one side of my windsheld uprights the paint has cracked showing where the original joint is done. You do know that N Carolina industries has absolutely perfect new windshield frames for these cars, right?
Has anyone ever done a registry with the Briggs tag #s to see if there is anything meaningful to be learned? Hint, hint.

[Deleted User]

I think Jim compiled some and asked around and there seemed to be no corresponding relevance to serial number or time the vehicle was built, the numbers were up and down like a roller coaster. I do know that they make a frame, I have not gotten far enough nor are my finances ready for that plunge. The next big one will be tires and motor overhaul, it is a low mi motor that runs but I will be opening and inspecting prior to refiring, looking for cracks in #7-8 piston as that seems to be an issue. Sorting through parking lights this afternoon. Perhaps either me or Jim can try and decode or register the Briggs tags. I figure when I un channel the florr pan mess it would be a good time to do a full cowl swap and I can be just like Briggs and convert this cowl! If it was just all as easy as writing it down.

[Deleted User]

Today I am going to fabricate some pins for the reflectors that I have for my parking lights. I only have one that is complete.

[Deleted User]

Built the pins and reassembled the set for the project, now I have to put my dad's back together that are on the top side.

[Deleted User]

painted the pan earlier and pulled the rear drums to start on the rear axle. dug out another trans as I think that one is not going to get the nod, front shaft spent too many years exposed.

[Deleted User]

Learned about pulling axles and cleaning up backing plates and drums today, next springs have to be removed and gone through, center chuck has to come out, reline rear shoes and clean hardware. I also have 2 springs that are broken, found them rattling around in there so I have to find some replacements.

[Deleted User]

Well replaced the axle bearings and seals, inner and outer, finished cleaning up the bell housing and began on the trans. Have some questions on that but I will start a separate thread on that. I will post some pic when I have something that looks decent to throw on here.

[Deleted User]

Here is my latest progress, been on the road a bit so not as much to show. I have the bearings, seals and all of that done, turned the drums, relined the shoes, new brake cables (they seem to fit and better work for the $) new perch rubbers ETC. So far coming along, now back to the trans and the interlock puzzle!

[Deleted User]

A couple of more pictures with some progress to the project.