Battery placement and hold down

bguthy

Does anyone have a picture or can tell me what I need for a battery, a tray and a hold down .
Thanks

charles4d

Most auto parts stores sell an aftermarket battery hold down frame

Jon B

If you're a stickler for originality, be aware that you can find brand new Hudson battery trays and hold-downs if you look hard enough.  I've seen them at Hudson flea markets.  First, just get whatever you can to do the job (even if it's "modern looking").  Then, next time you encounter a Hudson of the same vintage as yours, at a car show or Hudson meet, ask the owner if he has an original battery tray and hold-down and -- if he does -- ask him if you can measure it and take a photo.  Then, equipped with that info., you can begin your search for a NOS setup.

bguthy

I have a 1951 hornet with a 308 engine and it does have the steel frame on the left side but I am not sure if a tray sits on top of that or not. I have been waiting forever to see another one to take pictures of and go to a lot of car shows but can't find another hudson

Jon B

If you are in the Club, merely check the roster to find the nearest 1951.  Or, you could e-mail the fellow who keeps the registry of 1951's, and ask him if there are any in your state.  (I think he has over 600 on his list, now.)  The listing of registry keepers is over at our official H-E-T website.  If you are not a member of the Club, you can still register to use the website, as a "limited member", and you will get to use some of the features of the site.  http://www.hetclub.org/

Hudson Grandpa

Yes the steel frame does fit on top.  If you don't have one go to a machine shop, make sure you measure the outside of the battery you want and have them make a tray for you.  Thats what I had to do. Enclosed pics should be self explanatory..

bguthy

How do I see the pictures? There doesn't seem to be any attachments and nothing is displayed.

Jon B

I am definitely seeing two photos.  Not sure why your system is not showing them to you.

Grandpa is of course showing you two Optima batteries side by side, but the hold-down he shows is similar to those for the standard old-style lead-acid batteries.  You are going to be looking for something like this:



This one happens to be for a '55-56 Chevy and they are being sold brand new (I'm not saying that the Chevy one fits your Hudson, however; you'd have to measure it).  You can go to Ebay and see dozens of similar hold downs, in all sizes.

The important thing to remember is:

1).  Find one to fit your battery.  Know your "battery group" number (usually #1 or #2, in the case of 6 volt batteries) and double check size by measuring the battery.  Then be sure the hold-down is a wee bit larger to fit the battery easily.  Some of them are adjustable.  There are many kinds.

2). Be sure that the holes for the hold-down bolts are located correctly for your car.  Note that the holes in the above photo, show the bolt holes at the two short ends, which is standard for Hudsons I think.

3).  Make sure the hold down bolt is of the correct length to grab the hold-down, anchor to the bracket welded to your car, and not stick out too far at the top.  You can normally find these bolts at an auto parts store.

As I said, you can sometimes find these trays NOS at Hudson meets, and the hold-downs too.  Or you can contact some of the vendors who advertise in the WTN and see if they have any for sale.

RL Chilton

Might be the browser you are using.  Try using Chrome.  It seems to work well.  

bguthy

Thanks I see the pictures now and thanks for all the help

Hudson Grandpa

The holder that you see is a holder that compacts or extends to fit the size of the battery you are using.
Been so long ago either got it from NAPA or O'Reilly's. Guess it would be called universal.. But the plate came from a machine shop to the tune of $120.00.