VIN Decoding Confusion
Comments
-
I checked out the serial number location for my 46 pick up and the 47 Commodore 8
project. On the PU it was where expected pass side top of frame rail between the horn bracket and the cowel support "leg" very easy to read. The Commodore, No sign of any numbers. This was not a rusty frame, still has factory paint which I removed with wire brush on drill motor.Must be the "number stamping" guy was on bathroom break.
0 -
Hahahaha Ric that's great. Probably was a Union break thing (nothing against unions). Anyway this mystery will continue tomorrow didn't make it out to the shop today BUT yesterday when I was looking around the horn mounting area, there was nothing numbers-wise. Frame is very, very clean no rust or extra paint or anything, there are just no numbers there. The only ones I found were the numbers i mentioned above, the stamped numbers on the engine block and the G315 tag.0
-
Just a little more from the "what exactly do I have here anyway?" department: I haven't seen the type of air cleaner I have installed o my Hudson on any other Hudson. In the picture i have posted here, the bottom of the air cleaner housing is removed, which also houses the filter (they wire-mesh SOS pad looking type of filter). Note how the air filter is on the opposite side of the engine compartment from the carb, with a long metal tube leading to the carb. From all photos I've seen, the Oil bath sits on top of the carb, and the standard air filter housing has the filter element on the top of the housing (as stated, mine's on the bottom). So....what do I have here? Anyone else seen this setup? I'm guessing it's the Power Dome.0
-
I sold it several years ago so cant go out and make sure but my 48 Commodore 8 had the same thing I believe. The Stepdown cars needed something that did not stick up as high as the 46-47 had,
Roger0 -
My 47 conv. project came with that type of air cleaner in 1957, but had several previous owners. The 48-50 8cyls used that type. May have been borrowed 48-50. (pics of the
types of air cleaners used are in the owners manuals).
"Ric"0 -
Incidentally, the serial number stamped on the axle housing in many Hudsons (possibly yours too) is on the TOP of the axle housing. As has been said, it is on the right side (as you look at the car from behind). You could wire brush that area, then hold a small mirror up to reflect the top of the housing so that you can sight the stamping from the area just under the gas tank.0
-
Well guys, I know we all love a mystery, but we also like to have it solved. So far, not much to go on with this one. Let's sum up what we do have:
no VIN tag on the passenger side door frame rail, though I can see where the tag used to be
no VIN on the right rear axle to the left of the U-bolt (looked with a mirror and everything)
no VIN stamped on the frame rail by where the dual horns are mounted
As to the VIN# being stamped in front of the first cylinder exhaust port. If we are talking about on the top of the engine (to the left and above where the block says HUDSON) there are two sets of numbers: 159571 and then a bit to the right of that, directly above the "H" there are some numbers which are really hard to read but look like 159 then either a 6,8,3, or 5 then a space (where I would assume there are more numbers) and then a -1
That's all I've found. There is a tag on the radiator, passenger side, if you are looking at it from the engine bay. It has a big either number "1" or letter "I" and then 46. Then a bunch of manufacturer information. I will post of picts later if its helpful.0 -
No the number would be on the same surface the head sits on if that helps . At the right front of the motor and on the side in the same area on the Stepdown six. Below you see a photo of the 232 ,262 ,308 location.
Roger0 -
Hey guys here are the picts I was going to post last night on this. First is the tag on the radiator, second is showing the locations of the stamped numbers on the top of the engine block.0
-
engine block. the number above the "H" is the one that's really faded out.0
-
You are close, its between the head and ex. manifold ,on the surface of the block.
Between #1 and 2 exhaust ports. Go right of the thermostat housing. Will take a lot of
wire brush work.
"Ric"0 -
That's not the engine block numbers there its the head ,a separate item. Look to the right where the head sits on the block between it and the manifold.
Also I was thinking if the ID plate on the door is "Missing". That tells me something fishy is going on with the title someplace. As I said earlier you may just want to just get a new ID tag and leave well enough alone, (I see nothing , I know nothing )
Roger X_X0 -
Hahaha Roger yeah I heard ya. Well the car was re-painted at some point in the past (sloppily, I might add). I have a feeling the VIN tag was popped off or fell off at that time, as there is a sticker below where the VIN tag should be that was just painted over. I'm thinking it was more careless actions than bad intent. I have some history on the car, and the man i bought it from only had it 2 years and did nothing with it other than rust repair to the floors and take out most of the interior. The owner before him had it forever, it was an elderly woman who's husband had used the car but passed away, so it sat in her garage for 15+ years. She was going to have it hauled to the junk yard until the guy I bought it from got it from her.0
-
Here is a pic of the location of the VIN on the rear of my 39. I believe they used the same type of rear on the 40's cars until 48.
Kevin C.0 -
Kevin, where exactly is the number? Where that white tape is?0
-
Yeah that's where I looked but smooth as a baby's arse, not a thing there. I'll double check it and rub over it with a wire brush just to make sure but I was down there installing the gas tank so I spent some time in that area and didn't see anything.0
-
Jon,
Yes, it is under the tape.0 -
I'll be checking this out tonight or tomorrow night when I get back out to the shop. Hopefully will solve the mystery at that time.0
-
And the number is: 5476032 (though it looks more like a "3" for the first number but I don't think any VIN#'s started with a "3")
Incidentally, I finally got the glove box open, and resting inside was an obviously reproduced VIN tag, which I have uploaded a photo of here. This is the VIN# that's on the title.0 -
carsofchaos - actually 1946 serial numbers did start with a "3" as I pointed out in a previous post. Serial (VIN) numbers in 1946 started with "3", series or model numbers began with "5".
The serial number you finally uncovered starts with "34" - 3 is the year and 4 is the model, ie a Commodore 8. If you find the engine number and it is different than the serial number then you have a replacement engine.
Again, why Hudson did that I have no idea - but my theory is they simply ran the next series of numbers after 1942 that would have been assigned to 1943 production. Hudson was quick off the mark beginning production in August 1945. The only thing I can say about the model (series) number starting with "5" is that beginning production start of Aug. 1945.
Hudson was famous for doing things differently from everyybody else. Example - round head ignition keys, hex head for other keys.
Regards the body number tag in your glove box - I can't remember seeing one like that before, but somebody may have.
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN0 -
Yes i went and checked again, definitely a "3" for the first number!
Next I get to figure out if it's the original tranny since it now allegedly has Overdrive installed. I took out the Drive Master panel from the dash to find it totally disconnected
But that's a topic for a different thread0 -
Doc I think you've nailed it because my impression was that someone couldn't figure out the VIN, and got the little tag I found in the glovebox made....I've seen those ads 100 times "for illustration purposes only". I may go through the trouble of dealing with NJDMV to correct the VIN on the title, but I've got a dental appointment for 5 root canals that I'd rather do before messing with the NJDMV on something like this!
I do have some concerns though. The transmission has definitely been changed (now has OD and the Drivemaster and all it's components are gone), and I'm kinda wondering why the stock air cleaner is gone and I have the type from later model years installed.
Fontunately rummaging through the car yesterday I found in the pouch that's on the back of the front seat the name and address of the little old lady who had owned the car for many, many years. I'll write her a letter and see if I can get some of the history on this car.
As to the "shoddy practices and overbilling" that's why I like to try and do all the work myself. At least when I screw it up, I'm not charging myself $75 a hour to do so!0 -
Last time I had a title issue (numbers didn't match) I was sent to the highway patrol with it. 1948 Chevy truck ,they looked it over and found just as you did the title number matched one someplace on the motor. That was all they needed to see ,it didn't matter to them that other tags had other numbers on them.
Don't dig to deep you may not like what you find,
Roger
0 -
I'm pretty sure overdrive is part of the Drivemaster system.
The drivemaster controls the vacuum devices that operate the clutch.
I think the car starts out in second gear and shifts to third when you let up on the clutch,
than goes into overdrive. I never had a Hudson with working Drivemaster , but I believe that's how it works. Info available in the manuals.0 -
The overdrive "Could" be part of a drivemaster system. If so equipped I believe it was called "Supermatic"
I have never been able to drive one but you would push in the clutch and place in 1st gear and take off normaly. Then when you let off gas car depress clutch and would shift to 2nd, . You accelerate again and let off car depresses clutch and shifts to 3rd. If overdrive equipped car will proceed to overdrive next.
And when coming to a stop the car will depress clutch and shift to 2nd . To take off you release brake and depress gas clutch will engage and off you go again. You don't need to use the clutch yourself again,
Roger0 -
Me thinks there are some components of the Drive Master missing. I saw in a different thread that there are a couple of pieces under the bonnet for the Drive Master. Those appear to have been removed from my car. I took the Drive Master switch panel out of the dash and the buttons weren't connected to anything (though the wiring was all there).0
-
In 1946 thru 1949 "Drivemaster" was semiautomatic transmission shift from 2nd to 3rd. It also included the automatic clutch. Overdrive could be installed at the factory on all, but was not in anyway included with "Drivemaster". "Supermatic Drive" available in 1950 & early 1951 included the Overdrive option. Just one more confusing item in Hudson History!0
-
Wow that is confusing. I've also read in other areas that Drive Master and Overdrive worked in conjuction with each other, and that you had to have the OD tranny to have Drive Master work. Of course, I've heard the opposite as well.
What I'm thinking on mine is that possibly I had Drive Master AND Overdrive installed. Drive Master was dismantled, and the OD trans is still active.0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- 36.8K All Categories
- 97 Hudson 1916 - 1929
- 14 Upcoming Events
- 82 Essex Super 6
- 28.5K HUDSON
- 537 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise
- 992 Street Rods
- 150 American Motors
- 171 The Flathead Forum
- 49 Manuals, etc,.
- 72 Hudson 8
- 43 FORUM - Instructions and Tips on using the forum
- 2.8K CLASSIFIEDS
- 597 Vehicles
- 2.1K Parts & Pieces
- 76 Literature & Memorabilia
- Hudson 1916 - 1929 Yahoo Groups Archived Photos