1954 hudson hornet info needed

dagarage
dagarage Member
in HUDSON

started working on my 54 Hudson 2 door hornet and finding lots of differences to some books as to whats really there  mine is D7281965  is there production info on this car based on the vin? is a 54 made by Hudson or amc? were reverse lights a dealer option and not on schematics?  same with turn signals? any help would be great.

jim

Comments

  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    1954 was still made at the Hudson factory at Detroit.

    As to serial numbers, look closely: I believe there should be a number before the "D", and that indicates which model you have.

     Unfortunately, the serial number will only tell you the model and sequence of build.  For example, 6D269060  would have been a Hornet Special ("6" = Hornet Special) , and the first Hudson off the assembly line in '53.  The next car off the line might have been a 4D269061, which was a Wasp ("4" = Wasp).  In other words, the first two digits identified the model, the following digits gave the sequence of assembly for ALL models, not just the Wasp, starting with #269060. 

    Because the management "pitched" most of the records when AMC began, very little more can be known about Hudsons than the total number of cars they manufactured in one calendar year.

    I don't know about the wiring; my guess is that both turn signals and backup lights were on the wiring diagrams.  If you are a Club member, or have registered at the H-E-T website, you can download the shop manuals to find out.
  • Lance
    Lance Member
    Backup lights were an option available from the dealer either before the  sale or afterwards.
  • bull_islander
    bull_islander Expert Adviser
    Re: the vin number.   Looks like you just transposed the first two numbers.  7D281965.  If so, then yes, it's a Hornet
  • onerare39
    onerare39 Expert Adviser, Member
    edited March 2016
    Sarah Young used to have a "Jet Set" website that listed the serial numbers of Hudson vehicles and the month and year they were built.  The website does not appear to be up and running at this time.  You should contact Michel Jodoin, the 1954 registrar to see if he could help you out. 

    John Forkner


  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    She still does. http://hudsonjet.net/
  • Ric West IN
    Ric West IN Senior Contributor
    Back up lights and turn signal diagrams are found in the 1953-54 Mechanical Procedure Manual.
    They are quite small! Will need magnifying glass.
  • Glowplug
    Glowplug Expert Adviser
    edited March 2016
    Jim - welcome to 1954 2 door sedan ownership! I own 2 albeit they are Wasp variants. The wiring diagrams and information about Hudsons can be found at this page http://hudsonrestoration1948-54.com/ElectricalSystems.htm Explore the site there is a wealth of information for your use there. http://hudsonrestoration1948-54.com/index.html#RESTORATIONAIDS
  • Hudson Grandpa
    Hudson Grandpa Expert Adviser
    KEN U-TX;  OK the serial on dagarage car  reads7281965. My serial is 7284435, correct me if I am wrong, was built in November of 1953.  I do have the Borg Warner Trans.  Maybe he got lucky with the Hydra being built earlier than mine.....
  • onerare39
    onerare39 Expert Adviser, Member
    Jon,  Can you get Sarah's website to come up?  I can't
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    John F:  yes I can, with no problems.  Does clicking on the above link, NOT work for you?
  • dagarage
    dagarage Member

    wow, thanks for the info.

    I do have the hydra trans

     
    Ric West IN said:
    Back up lights and turn signal diagrams are found in the 1953-54 Mechanical Procedure Manual.
    They are quite small! Will need magnifying glass.

    I could find nothing here for turn signals or backup lights. I have a non Hudson wiring diagram and they are on it but wire colors are different.

    I will be needing rocker panels and rear quarters for both sides. any out there?

    thanks for your help.

  • onerare39
    onerare39 Expert Adviser, Member
    Jon,

    Clicking on it takes me to the site and after the site has loaded all I get is a white screen.  Running Mac X.  Maybe her site is not Mac friendly?

    John
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    Unable to offer advice.  Besides my compete ignorance of computers, mine is one of the old wind-up type, you obviously have one of the newer steam-powered ones.
  • 53jetman
    53jetman Senior Contributor
    I was able to get to Sara's web site with this "URL" :
    http://www.hudsonjet.net/
  • Glowplug
    Glowplug Expert Adviser
    edited March 2016
    The quarters from a 4 four door sedan can be pieced into a 2 door sedan. The space created by shorter quarter can be filled with a piece of a door skin. Rockers per this info from my website: C2 Current Fabrication this company manufactures sheet metal replacement panels. They have a large selection of Hudson items for sale. Note that the rocker panels pictured on thier website are not applicable to the 1948-53 Hudsons they in fact are very nice 1954 replacement rocker panels. Use my website to kick start your search for parts: http://hudsonrestoration1948-54.com/HUDSON PARTS SOURCES FOR STEPDOWNS.html
  • Glowplug
    Glowplug Expert Adviser
    edited March 2016
    Backup lights on a 54 SW Club Sedanimage
  • Per
    Per Member
    I also just get a white screen on my Mac when trying to go to Sarah's website.
  • onerare39
    onerare39 Expert Adviser, Member
    edited March 2016
    Per,

    Maybe being on Mac's has put us on "Double Secret Probation" and are not allowed to access Sarah's site.

    John Forkner
  • ESSX28-1
    ESSX28-1 Senior Contributor
    I am able to get into Sarah's site using this URL  http://www.hudsonjet.net/
    It did take a very long time to load during which time I had a "white screen" 
    Patience is needed!!!!
  • Ric West IN
    Ric West IN Senior Contributor
    These links work quickly for me.   Really enjoy the dealership info and pictures!

    "Ric"
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Site popped right up for me.  
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