Looking for Mechanic in Columbus, OH

KidTerraplane

I have a 1938 Hudson Terraplane that I am looking to start restoring.  I want to start with the getting it running before going to the body work.  It has been sitting in a garage for the last 20 years.  I do know that the engine is not seized.  I am not looking for a pristine restoration.  Just get it back into good, "reliable" running condition for the good weather drive and going to the occasional car show.

I live on the east side of Columbus, OH but am willing to drive if worth it.  I do have access to a trailer to haul the car as well.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Jon B

Your discussion has now been moved to the "Hudson" category. 

With any luck, one of our Ohio members will suggest a Hudson-capable mechanic, or at least a good mechanic who can work on the older engines.  Doug Wildrick (see the message below this one) would be an excellent person to work on your engine, and he also reproduces rubber parts that would fit your car.

Possibly you (or someone who knows these engines) can check it out and if it seems to be in good condition, safely fire it up.  Some "checks" to do:

1. Drain oil, drop the pan, and inspect the crankshaft, rods, etc.  Clean any gunk out the oil pan and the upper trays. (Be sure to fill the tray with new oil before replacing).  New gaskets are available from Hudson vendors.  If someone is knowledgeable about engines, he / she could remove the rod caps, inspect the crankshaft journals, inspect the rod bearing babbit, and check clearances (and tighten if required).

2. Perform a compression test to check the valve operation and piston rings.  Often, if these cars sit for any length of time, the valves will stick causing low compression and eventually burning the valves.

3. Of course you'll probably want to go over the ignition, checking wiring, replacing points, installing a new condenser (buy spares; condensers seem to go bad a lot, nowadays).

4. There is a very real possibility that the clutch discs will be bonded to the clutch plate.  You could check for that right away but depressing the clutch and seeing of the engine is free. If stuck, you can right away start soaking the clutch with a solvent and rotating it (and the engine) to spread the solvent around and get it working to free up the clutch.

5.  Be sure there is a fuel filter on the line (or install one yourself) because if the tank has sediment it is going to cause you problems.  It's not inevitable, but there's a possibility that you might have to have the tank boiled out and sealed on the inside.  The short term workaround (if you see a lot of crud collecting in the filter) is to simply put a 5-gallon gas container in the front floor and run a hose from it, to the fuel pump -- thus bypassing the car's tank completely.

I think you are correct in deciding to just get the thing going before embarking on a restoration.  Check out those brakes (and the metal brake lines too), lubricate everything, get it running, and have some fun with it. 

onerare39

Have you talked to Doug Wildrick, Wildrick Restoration.  He is in Shelbyville, Indiana, about 2.5 hours west of you.  He specializes in Hudson automobile restorations.

Find him here    http://www.wildrickrestorations.com