Reviving a 32 Essex

boothguy
boothguy Senior Contributor
edited September 2013 in HUDSON
Trying to bring this back to life after 60 year hibernation and I need some help/advice. Current stumbling blocks are broken shocks and a seal for the throwout bearing. These two things plus new tires and we can put it on the road for the first time since 1951. Speaking of tires it came with 7.10s on the rear which gives it a little bit of a stance that I kind of like but I'm thinking it was done to improve cruising speed. Anybody have recommendations on tires? I've also heard that a rear from a 30-3 Hudson will swap and help on the highway by bringing the ratio from over 5 down to 4.56. Can anyone confirm this? I'll try to get some pictures posted. Thanks

Comments

  • StillOutThere
    StillOutThere Expert Adviser
    You didn't state how your shocks are "broken" but if repairable, Five Points Classic Shocks in CA should be able to do them as they have for many decades.
  • oldhudsons
    oldhudsons Senior Contributor
    is it an Essex (made in the 1st 1/2 of '32) or an Essex-Terraplane, makes a big difference????
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    Pete, it's an Essex, not a Terraplane.
  • StillOutThere
    StillOutThere Expert Adviser
    Lever action shocks, correct? That is 5 Pts specialty. The first tube shocks were on the '34 Terras and Huds.
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    Apple Hydraulics also rebuilds old lever-action shocks, and is rather well known for this: http://www.applehydraulics.com/shocks.htm . Prices vary but it seems that most popular lever action shocks can be rebuilt for about $200 each. However, you'd certainly do well to look into the Five Points company since someone on our forum has recommended it.
  • boothguy
    boothguy Senior Contributor
    All the shocks are frozen. One has a broken shaft, one has a broken arm and one has a broken link. I don't know how universal parts for these are and if a rebuilder would likely have parts or if I need to find something else that could be adapted or???? I was hoping somebody had confronted the same situation and had a solution.
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    I would assume that absolutely no shock absorber, no matter how wretched, would phase any of these rebuilders! I'll bet they have shelves full of usable parts salvaged from other shocks of the same make and type. Why not take a snapshot of the shocks in their present condition, and send it to both companies for a rough estimate?
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