1946 Commodore 8

[Deleted User]

Hi All,

Im looking at getting a 46 Commodore 8, four door suicide door sedan. 77k original miles, solid as a rock. Since I am pretty new to Hudsons (never owned one, just admired them), I'm looking for a couple of things and hoping this site will help me out.
On my Hudson, most of the side windos have cracks. Anyone know of someone who has replacements? I'm not looking for perfection, just better than what's there now.
Also I'm looking for schematics. For example, the seller had the gas tank removed, boiled, and put back in (somehow) and its sitting in the trunk. I'm thinking this is not right hahahaha. I need to see how this is supposed to look.

Thanks in advance!

Keith

Jon B

Keith, any good auto glass shop should be able to make up new glass for you. There may actually be antique car glass companies who have patterns, from which you could order. But try calling around in your area to see if you can't have some made locally. They might ask you to remove the glass from the car and bring it in so they'll have a pattern. (Assuming that's curved glass in your rear window, that would be the exception.)

May I suggest that you join the Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club, if you aren't already a member? There is a great magazine and it's an invaluable clearinghouse for information. (Most of the people who hang out here already are members.) You get a roster showing the thousands of members and listing their cars. There is also a website run by the Club http://hetclub.org/ . You can access a number of things on the site for free "limited registration", but Club members get to use all the bells and whistles. Go there to find out about membership in the Club.

If you go to the Club site and look under LIBRARY you may find the link to download the manuals (for many years). However, this may only be available to registered website members, I forget. (Again, a "limited registration" is free, but full usage of the website is only available to Club members.)

You might want to mention where you're located. Possibly someone who reads this forum, has a '46-7 and lives near you, and would be willing to share his / her expertise and technical knowledge with you.

[Deleted User]

All the glass is flat as stated any good glass shop can duplicate this. The tank hangs under the trunk.
The club library has many books and manuals on line .
Welcome to the world of Hudson
Roger

Park_W

Welcome to the Commodore Club, K.R. !

Uncle Josh

I have a good rear glass if you need one. email HETcramerlp@roadrunner.com and drop the HET. I hope only the rear doors are suicide. 36 Was the last year for front suicides. Welcome to the Hudnuts.

hudsontech

Quick access to the online library is - http://hetclub.org/burr/lithomepage.htm - if you go to the HET club site and click on "Library" you'll find only a few manuals. Everything is at the above url - it's being moved from there to the club site.

Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN

[Deleted User]

Hi All!

Sorry for my late reply been tied up and I have the Hudson coming to my garage on Monday.
Okay so to update a few things:
Yes the glass is all flat glass. I'd gotten an estimate for ONE of the windows at $200 which seemed pretty steep. I'm in North Jersey though where everything is 5x the normal cost.
Rear suicide doors only.
I will definitely be joining the hetclub!
I have no idea why the gas tank is sitting in the trunk other than the owner had it taken out, boiled, sealed, etc etc etc. I guess that will be my first order of business, getting it back into position!
Uncle Josh did you mean good rear window glass or rear side window glass? Just to clarify, windshield and rear window are excellent, just the side windows on both sides have cracks.
Guys I'll also have at least one if not two spare doors, driver side, if anyone knows of someone who will need them. I can get picts later this week after I have the Hudson at my garage.
Thanks in advance everyone this seems like a great club to be in (unlike my stinkin Oldsmobile club which does nothing for me! hahaha)

RL Chilton

Keith-

Check with Flat Out Auto Glass. I think they are in NC. I just got 7 pieces of flat glass from them for my Hornet. The total was around $300. This is for clear, green was slightly higher, but available. For another $95, I can get the stencils to put the factory etchings back in the glass.

faustmb

I had a local glass shop cut the side and vent Windows for my 47 Hudson truck for $50. The commodore 8 is a great vehicle, I have one in my future projects

[Deleted User]

Yeah , check a couple glass places ,hes too high ,
Roger

Jon B

Bob's Classic Auto Glass sells the entire ten-piece set for your car, for about $400 (excluding shipping). http://www.vendio.com/stores/bobsclassicautoglass/category/page=2/__http_host=www.vendio.com/catId=4144591 Looks like they have the patterns for the glass, so you won't have to send them the patterns. I didn't check their "single piece" price.

I assume this is for standard laminated glass, not tempered (which wasn't used in 1946).

Anyone have experience with Bob's? Seems like I've heard a couple good reviews on him in the past.

Of course, you might try an auto glass company in Pennsylvania or New York State, via Google, and see if they offer better prices than this local fellow you tried. He appears to be way off base with his pricing.

By the way, besides joining the national Hudson club, you might also want to join the Garden State Chapter. They're an active group and there is no substitute for having fellow Hudson owners right around the corner, that you can go to for advice. Our chapter (in Virginia & Maryland) is running a 2-day Hudson tour in Delaware and we've invited members of the Garden State Chapter to join us.

[Deleted User]

That's closer to the right price

[Deleted User]

Hi Guys,

Got the Hudson in the garage yesterday and very happy with her so far. Looking for a couple other items in addition to the glass:
1) I'd like the ornaments on top of the front fenders....they don't have to be great but mine are pretty pitted out.
2) the part of the grille which houses the Hudson logo....again doesn't have to be perfect but mine's pretty pitted out
3) rear bumper. Might be able to re-chrome mine, but if I can find a decent (and doesn't have to be perfect!) one for a reasonable price, I'd jump on that.

I'm sure there'll be more items in the near future once I give it a good going over. Also joined the HET club. Let me know what you guys think!

[Deleted User]

Guys anyone know if side window glass from a 48 will fit on a 46?

Jon B

48 and 46 are totally different cars.

Finding good fender lights has been a problem for years. Bill Albright finally had them reproduced. $500 a set. http://albrightcars.com/section/parts.htm

You may be able to find decent used chrome parts which will, at least, "tide you over" until you spend the full amount necessary to do a first class chrome plating. Contact some of the Hudson vendors in the WTN. Bumpers are large and vendors won't always bring them to Hudson flea market, so it's good to ask around.

[Deleted User]

Yeah I would be happy with some decent pieces, they dont have to be show quality but I've got alot of that New Jersey pitting going on which....you know.....is pretty bad. Oddly some pieces are in great shape while others (like the tear drop trim around the headlights) I really would like to get replaced.
Figured as much on the side glass....since I found some for a '48 sedan on the cheap I was hoping they would be the same size. Oh well.

RL Chilton

Keith-

Steve Traudt also reproduces new fender lights. He's listed in your Roster. If you don't have one of those, there is the electronic roster on HETclub.org They are new castings to match the originals. Either way, with Albright or Steve Traudt, I think the $500/set is accurate.

Since you are in the NE, I would check with Carl Weber on the other items you are looking for.

Browniepetersen

I hate to do any advertising here on the forum, but, the pits in the pot metal can be repaired and the parts replated. It is a time based process but the final product turns out as good as or better than new. I work with a plating shop that I have taught how to do this process and if you want to drop me a personal note I would be happy to work with you. What ever you do, do not throw the parts away--even if your local shop tells you they can not be repaired. Check out the photo that I have attached of a cut up emblem.

[Deleted User]

Not a problem Brownie, PM sent

[Deleted User]

Brownie is right , My uncle (he's gone now) was even able to solder broken ones back together
and you would never see it on the front.
These guys now that chrome plate right over the pits and call it good make me sick,
Roger

Browniepetersen

Thanks Roger, I have the same reaction to bad chrome work. As you say, each pit has to be drilled out and then filled. We had some real problems working with some of the emblems that the pit went through the part. They are difficult to get them to close up so they can be filled. I use copper for the process because it becomes a part of the pot metal and should never crack, break or fall out. Right now, I am working with two broken hood mascots (one the wings from a 34 Terraplane) to see if I can rebuild them so that a patch or grafted wing does not show once repaired. I have a lot of time into the 34 wing so I am not sure if anyone would pay to have one repaired, but, I just want to see if it can be done with todays technology.

[Deleted User]

Ive seen that "chroming over the pits" too and it looks worse than if they'd just left it alone!

[Deleted User]

I agree , I could have done that good with silver paint ..........
Roger