Back up light rubber mounts

RonS
RonS Senior Contributor
edited April 2013 in HUDSON
Who sells a pair of backup light mounting pads for the 52-53 stepdowns.

Comments

  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    No one.
  • RonS
    RonS Senior Contributor
    No One?? What is everyone doing when these things crumble? I have a friend that needs a pair When he saw mine he asked if any one would sell a set. Russ I have one extra. Is there a market to reproduce them? I can use mine as a base for a mold. Ron
  • ski4life65
    ski4life65 Expert Adviser
    I probably have a couple of new ones that could be used to reproduce some. Maybe Wildrick's can add it to the line of rubber parts they are selling?
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    edited April 2013
    Ron & Don-

    Yes, there is a need. There was a fella casting some out of some type of resin, like Epoxy Resin. They sanded up nice and when you painted them flat black, you couldn't hardly tell they were not rubber unless you got close. I bought his last set recently (he has no plans to make more), cleaned them up and got them ready for paint.

    Ideally, we need some out of rubber. A rubber block could be frozen, turned, cut and drilled. Or, a mould needs to be made to cast them.

    I have probably 3 sets on hand. Aside from the above, I took originals, which were badly cracked and dried. Soaked in denatured alcohol for a week or so, let dry. Filled with Epoxy Resin, and sanded back to shape and then painted flat black. They look pretty good, but not like a brand new chunk of rubber would look. Both of y'all know what a stickler I am for quality. Don, if your buddy needs a set, I could part with some that I have, if necessary, but the answer to your question, is yes we need a new source. Probably after the initial selling of 10-15 sets, It would probably take a year or more to sell another 10-15 sets. A lot of folks that have these on their car need new ones.

    I'm in for 2 or 3 sets, easy.
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Will get pictures later.
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    I believe Ron S is willing to move forward with this, but thanks for the info, Ken.

    Out to take pictures . . .
  • RonS
    RonS Senior Contributor
    edited April 2013
    I was advised of a fella in the Studebaker club that, with a part to copy, will make reproductions from polyurethene. I'll give him a call and see what he would require as a minimum run. BTY, I did the same epoxy with mine 20 years ago, except that I used a flat black then a satin clear. I was hoping Metro would have a stock 3 1/4 diameter rubber stock to cut and drill. They don't.
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    image

    L to R: Cast repros (sanded on bottom, raw on top); filled and repaired in the middle; Good used one.

    Ron-

    I'm not right next to these any more, but they are nowhere near 1-1/4" . . . they're closer to 3" diameter.
  • dave s
    dave s Senior Contributor, Moderator
    completeet of back up lights with rubbers on ebay now
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hudson-Reverse-lights-1940-s-50-s-Plymouth-Dodge-Hudson-MOPAR-Unity-Model-C-/221214136508?hash=item338163d8bc&item=221214136508&pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Another set with B~A~D rubbers, to boot!
  • Courtesy Man
    Courtesy Man Expert Adviser
    Could cast it in Devcon Flexane, a black urethane. Cut off the bottom of a 2 liter soda pop plastic bottle. Prepare a duplicate or use an old one of the rubber mounts. Pour in Plaster of Paris in bottom of bottle leaving room to push in duplicate rubbed in Crisco or vegetable oil. Place wooden dowel of center diameter inside - also with a release. The dowel stands vertically. Push the duplicate into the plaster until it is level with top of plaster. The duplicate form with the detail side should go down into the plaster. The duplicate is removed as plaster starts to harden. Prepare the two part Flexane and pour to top of mold after plaster and dowel again rubbed with a release agent. I poured my own motor mounts for my 47 PU with 308 and made them 1/4 inch shorter than stock t0 clear the steering pitman arm. If I am not clear in this discription - ask me. Gert Kristiansen
  • RonS
    RonS Senior Contributor
    edited April 2013
    Oops, Sorry Russ. I typed incorrectly. They are diameter of 3 1/4", with the top thickness of 1 3/8" narrowing to 1/2" at the bottom. I didn't intend to make these myself but to locate someone who will use my restored one, make a mold, then make them available to other needy Hudson owners. Thanks Gert . That's interesting, Where does one purchase Devcon Flexane? There is a place in Tucson, from what I was told, that makes molds. They sell you the material than, when cast looks like Russells pinkish stuff. Then you must paint them, and clear coat 'em. Still, they will not be as close to "rubber" as we would like. My friend is nut & bolt restoring a 41 Graham Hollywood. He has had parts made. That's the lead that I am following. If someone is experienced with this process, I would be glad to offer my spacer for set up. It is about as good as new and appears as Armor-alled rubber. Ron
  • RonS
    RonS Senior Contributor
    I sent an email to Shrock Bros to see if they were interested in reproducing the spacers. I called, but no answer. If some one is interested in producing them,that's fine with me. As I said, I will offer my part for a casting. Would Doug Wildrick or Gene Eshelman be interested?
  • Courtesy Man
    Courtesy Man Expert Adviser
    Devcon Flexane can be found online or industrial or plastic supply - probably other brands as well. A Plaster of Paris mold would be good for a few pieces and could be shellac coated or polyurethane. If part has details on both ends - not flat on one side- then a two part mold needed. For proper reproduction numbers then more professional molds needed. However making aluminum or metal molds for hundreds of parts is very expensive - ask Press Kale.
    Making a few parts yourself is not cost effective with Flexane if a commercial part available.
    Gert
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