It's alive!!!

DavidC

Got to start a 308 that has not run in 25 years. This is a father-son project, with the goal of building a mildly hopped-up Hornet that can be driven every day worry-free. On the third brief crank she fired up, wish I could post video, but says too long. Maybe I can learn how to link it. After timing and carb adjustments she starts within 3 seconds of cranking. Many thanks to the folks on this site who took the time to give me sage advice. My son and I managed to incorporate a 12SI alternator, A/C compressor, twin H (thanks Walt for the marvelous carbs, thermo bypass and oil filter), Maas cam, Pertronix ignition, Clifford headers, Bennett cooling, Sommender grooves, 1/2 in head bolt conversion, Dodge rad and custom fan shroud. After she comes back from paint we'll have lots to do- 12v conversion (thanks PW), brakes, suspension, insulation, then let someone else do the interior. We love this flathead!
Hudsonly
Dave

ernie28

Well done - looks great. Enjoy!

48Sed

How many rows are in the Dodge rad 3or4,is it a copper rad?

BillUSN1

Very nice!

Glowplug

Thanks for sharing your success.  Is it an optical illusion or did you also remark you head with 318? Post your video to YOU TUBE then post the address here and everyone can view.

Ol racer

Looks like very nice set up that will easily scoot down the road with traffic....

DavidC

Good eye Old Farmer, I had the cylinders bored 60 over out of necessity (frozen motor, rusted, with deep scoring and chunking of cylinders), so she's now a "318". The head is actually a 262 head for slightly elevated compression. Just little hop-up things, the head, the street cam, the headers.

I don't know if the Rad is 3 or 4 row, but it is copper, a Spectre CU889, able to cool a Dodge big block, so ought to cool a Hudson. The shroud will be most helpful when I install the a/c condenser.

Will try the youtube thing

DavidC

http://youtu.be/pszhWJfRP2Q
http://youtu.be/O0Mj_n3kUCI

The first is the actual first startup. Sorry about the portrait orientation. The third blip was a charm! The young man with smile from ear to ear is my son, the owner of this car. Monitored oil press, temp rpm, volts from under the hood. Ran it for 30 minutes to break in cam, then changed oil, tuned it.

The second video follows timing adjustment, carb tuning, now with smooth idle at 550 rpm.

Next step is to complete body assembly and get it to final paint! Slightly darker than Broadway Blue.

All new tubing is SS, can be done with quality hand flare tool if prepped well. Not a single split or leak despite double flare, and the tool is in good shape. Snap-on. Currently running on outboard motor gas tank. Will eventually run SS to classic fuel filter to carbs. Considering leaving marine fuel line bulb between hard fuel line and fuel pump as a primer as needed for vapor lock or initial prime. Don't know if this has been tried before, but ought to work!

GrimGreaser

Makin' me jealous... ☺ Looks great!

Glowplug

Great videos! Again, thanks for sharing. The SMILE on you son's face and his exclamation of happiness is worth all the dirty finger nails and work that went into your car. As a Dad I too have those special memories made with my sons. Priceless!

Interesting that you are using a boat tank with a bulb. I have one too and recently pulled it out to replace the tank in one of my cars while the tank was being repaired. I would just add an electric pump in the line to over come the vapor lock concerns. Also, as a suggestion, if you were planning to use the boat tank in the future as a second source of fuel, add a input to your fuel line where you can add or remove the fuel line.

RL Chilton

Thanks for sharing, enjoyed the videos.  That makes for a great day!  Sounds awesome, by the way!

hudsontech

What Russell said - sounds great.  I love hearing those old engines run.  When I was in the Navy I spent my time in aviation.  Back in the 50's there were still a lot of radial engines still around.  Loved the sound of those starting up - sounded like all the rods and pistons were going to fall out of the cylinders!!!  Still can smell the oil and see the exhaust smoke as they cranked up.  Awesome on a cool summer morning.

Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN

DavidC

Old Farmer, the boat fuel tank is temporary just to get her started. The original tank has been cleaned and lined, and hard tubing will be run along the frame rail. My crazy thought was to use a 1.5 ft length of the marine fuel hose with the bulb in the middle from the undercar hard fuel line to the FP. The idea is hard starting from vapor lock or prolonged storage can be solved by opening hood and pumping bulb until fuel is supplied, just as in a boat motor. I have never heard of this being done before, but it works for boats, why not cars? The one concern I have is the extra joints in the hose increase opportunities for fuel leaks.

Hudsonly,

Dave Carpenter