Hudson interchange parts

hudsontech

A recent post on this forum (I think - I can't remember now what post it was) was suggesting an interchange program.   In that post the 1927-1950 Hudson Interchange Parts Catalog was mentioned - that is, as was posted, in the online library and is a great resource in finding what Hudson parts interchange.

I've also been thru several Hollanders Interchange manuals - but these are next to useless as there are very few Hudson, et al, parts that will interchange with brand-x.

Back in the 1970's a club member, Lou Backus, came up with a general parts interchange book.  Of course this is far outdated, but...........(ah, the ubiqutious BUT) it still a pretty good resource.  Ken Cates made a copy and put it on his web site.  He took his site down for a while - but it is back up.  I found it thru Google but could not find Lou's manual.  So I don't know if Ken still has it online.

So if I can remember where I put my copy I'll, sooner or later, scan it and put it online.  It's a start.

Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN

SuperDave

Alex.

One of the problems with Lou's manual is that he used  JC Whitney and Warshausky (sp?) etc. to make his case on interchangeability.  I have one of those manuals and would be happy to share it. But... It's almost useless. I'll mail it to you if you want it,

BillUSN1

Alex,

This may be the one your referring to.

http://www.hudsonrestoration1948-54.com/HudsonSw.pdf

This is his newer ref link.

http://www.hudsonrestoration1948-54.com/Hudson%20Parts%20Interchange.htm

 

hudsontech

1st link is it, Bill.  I know the data is way out of date - but it is a starting point.

Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN

Glowplug

1st link is it, Bill.  I know the data is way out of date - but it is a starting point.

Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN

The Backus manual actually Did Not use the JC Whitney Catalog
as the qualification source. The inside cover of that resource notes the
people who contributed to the content. Alex Burr was one of these
folks! One can decide the content is of little value today, but I disagree.
The part numbers are the same as are on parts being sold on eBay and at
swap meets and if the specified part number  does not produce a needed part,  use it with inter- change manuals covering
period parts to find an alternative. I regularly find parts via the two noted venues and in the past
surveyed the stock of a deceased parts vendor using that resource to ID the
quantity of Hudson items there in.

Each will value the manual from their perspective. The value of this work
did not degrade with age. It is a starting point for anyone willing to do a bit
of investigative work when hunting parts.

Finally, the days of using original part numbers to walk into a parts store and
buy Hudson parts are over. All the discussions about counter folk aside, if you
cannot use a part number they understand, use the resource and the aforementioned
Backus manual and other interchange manuals to
ID your target part and look for it with HET vendors and other sources.
My parts needs have been met for 50+ years following this process.

The best method of updating the Backus manual is just like happens here on the forum.  I capture that information with the source as a reference and add it to the appropriate area of the manual. An improvement would be to digitize that information and sort it so that an computer can produce candidate part numbers for the user to use.   I actually have the manual located on my smart phone and it is available when I go to swap meets and find parts caches.

ski4life65

I have had one of those books for years, and still refer to it often. It has been a very valuable resource

Jon B

It would be nice if someone could devise a webpage where people like us (just common old Hudson owners) could send in an interchange that they know of.  Like bearings, or ignition points or seals.

Then maybe once in awhile someone could gather up all this information and put it into an on-line interchange manual.

Maybe it would just be another ''category'' in this forum, where "Joe" could post a message like:

"1937 condensers interchanges:
Autolite IGB-1025J
NAPA AL 869
Filko AL0213
Standard AL-111"

Then once every couple weeks "Fred" could come in, gather up that information, put it onto his webpage in the correct place, and then delete the (now unnecessary) posting by Joe.  And thus bit by bit build up a gigantic interchange manual.

In this way it would be a sort of dynamic, "living" document that allowed us all to pass along the tons of information that we probably have all acquired through the years of owning our Hudsons.

BillUSN1

That's sort of how we do it in the IH community. We have FAQs. Frequently asked questions.
You can also make a discussion a stickey so it's always at the top for people to get to right away.
It takes active participation to keep it up. Ours is now 1 really long discussion that takes a while to scroll thru to find the one your looking for.
You may need sub post so the models don't run together or by subjects like suspension/engine/trans/body.
An active moderator that could do as you said and integrate each new part # into the sticky would work.
Just thoughts.

Lance

Don, I give you credit for still being able to use the  Backhus  manual. I have one but like the others have found it to be very dated.  Many of the interchange parts are now no longer available. I'm lucky though most of the interchanges with stepdowns I pretty much know.  It's kind of sad to see so many of the contributors are no longer with us.

RonS

I too have the Lou Backus Swap manual. True it is dated, but most of the listings can be cross referenced to modern part #s. Also Hollander is a good source for stuff. Example, even though the rear backlight on the 53 sedan looks like it will work on a coupe... Hollander says NO with a different part number. The best reference location is right here on this forum. When ever one of you tell another member of a part that will work as a replacement, I add it to the appropriate back page in Lou Bs manual. Over the years I have accumulated quite a listing of info for stepdowns. Ebay is a help that way as well. BTW, thanks to all of you who have prepared updated listings. Ron

Glowplug

Ron, etal:

You can scan or take a clear picture of your collection of parts exchanges then post them here. These postings can then be addd to other Hudson owners files and perhaps collected into an addendum for use with the Backus manual.