New to Hudsons from New Zealand

KustomKreeps

hiya

From the nice open right hand drive south island roads of New Zealand.

Have owned many 70s Muscle cars but have now sold them on.

Currently have a 52 Buick Special Deluxe thats been restored but has a classic hotrod look.

So last week brought a new project ~~ 1949 Hudson Super six.

It has been parked up in an old timers shed getting rat eaten since 69.

Right hand drive. Have the original ownership & registration papers from when it was brought into NZ along with some old pictures of it with its old owners. (2 owner/same family car).

The inline was stuck but have freed it up. starts up fine. but breaks are shot and so many holes in exhaust. 

Wiring is old  but seems to be all there and for the most part working. 

Inside has a couple of rates nests. 

Chrome is pitted for the most part. Stainless seems mostly there and mostly good condition other than the bottom strip along the sides.

Been painted at some point mid 60s and its showing signs of its age.

Plan to strip it down. blast n paint it. New rubbers of course. New wiring harness (like the look of American Autowire), maybe french the lights, got a 401 Nailhead lined up that i think will look awesome in the old tank (definitely dont want SBC or BBC), unsure what I will use for front/back suspension. need to look at current set up more. but do want decent anchors to stop the thing. Unsure also for bright work. Keep it, shave it or go custom grill with chev teeth or something... that steep is along ways off.

So yeah going low, loud & with luck custom.

Once I get a better idea of what I have got I will no doubt be pestering many here with questions.

Then will be posting a build thread on HAMB and i guess here if others are interested.

Alex

ESSX28-1

Know about the New Zealand HET Club?? See:   http://het.org.nz/index.php

Jon B

Welcome to the Forum, Alex.  We do have a number of Kiwis here, so I'm sure you'll get some good advice regarding what's available in New Zealand.

RonS

Hello Alex, and welcome. Where do you reside in South Island? My daughter and her husband reside in Christchurch, Canterbury. My wife and I will be spending Christmas with them. I have been a member of the HET club for 25+ years.  You may wish to consider joining this fine organization. As Dave Y stated, there are a surprising number of members in NZ.

Geoff

Have you given any consideration  to preserving this rare (for N.Z.) in original  condition rather than rodding it?

KustomKreeps

Hey guys

Sorry been away in Chch for a few days.

Im waimate based.

I will take a look across your club and join up this weekend i think.

As for if i have considered keeping original... not at all to be honest. 

I know die hard Hadson people may think this to be a great evil as the Buick crowd was the same when we did the Buick. But on the bright side it means there will be parts for others Hudson fans available in NZ as I wont be keeping them. Also means an old Hudson wont be left to rot further.

The Buick I have is fully restored other than lowered rear, 12v, new stereo, paint, skirts and front indicators. everything else from clock & glove box lights to engine detailing has been done to how it was.

Buick Originally:

The 49 hudson is over twice my age & will cost a good chunk of change what ever way i go. So i will go the way that will make me the happiest and will get it seeing the open roads the most.

Hardest part will be finding a Buick 401 Nailhead V8 in NZ. 

Thanks guys

Alex

Per

If you are comfortable with the steering ratio, you could just get the original suspension to be tight and I think you would like it. These cars (equipped with the larger displacement Hornet engine) won many stock car races from 1951 to 1954 because of the great handling of the suspension.

1958kiwi

KustomKreeps said:

hiya

From the nice open right hand drive south island roads of New Zealand.

Have owned many 70s Muscle cars but have now sold them on.

Currently have a 52 Buick Special Deluxe thats been restored but has a classic hotrod look.

So last week brought a new project ~~ 1949 Hudson Super six.

It has been parked up in an old timers shed getting rat eaten since 69.

Right hand drive. Have the original ownership & registration papers from when it was brought into NZ along with some old pictures of it with its old owners. (2 owner/same family car).

The inline was stuck but have freed it up. starts up fine. but breaks are shot and so many holes in exhaust. 

Wiring is old  but seems to be all there and for the most part working. 

Inside has a couple of rates nests. 

Chrome is pitted for the most part. Stainless seems mostly there and mostly good condition other than the bottom strip along the sides.

Been painted at some point mid 60s and its showing signs of its age.

Plan to strip it down. blast n paint it. New rubbers of course. New wiring harness (like the look of American Autowire), maybe french the lights, got a 401 Nailhead lined up that i think will look awesome in the old tank (definitely dont want SBC or BBC), unsure what I will use for front/back suspension. need to look at current set up more. but do want decent anchors to stop the thing. Unsure also for bright work. Keep it, shave it or go custom grill with chev teeth or something... that steep is along ways off.

So yeah going low, loud & with luck custom.

Once I get a better idea of what I have got I will no doubt be pestering many here with questions.

Then will be posting a build thread on HAMB and i guess here if others are interested.

Alex

1958kiwi

Small world. 

I have 1951 NZ new right hand drive hudson convertible.

I also am In NZ

Was a Commodore but someone took the engine and trans many years ago .

I want to make it into a 308 H power. Keep it as stock looking as possible and make it drive nice.

I have 3 x nail head engines. They are a great motor but for the Hudson it needs a Nascar motor and they came with one - the 308 twin H. I have 3 Buicks also,One with the motor it was born with a 425 and to be honest it is the most reliable car I own.

Sorry guys I digress, I am new to this forum.I am after parts for my Hudson and advice. Mainly who has NOS parts, who knows about building 308's Etc.

Better not ramble on too much more and see if this works

Cheers from down under Pat

KustomKreeps

1958kiwi said:

Small world. 

I have 1951 NZ new right hand drive hudson convertible.

I also am In NZ

Was a Commodore but someone took the engine and trans many years ago .

I want to make it into a 308 H power. Keep it as stock looking as possible and make it drive nice.

I have 3 x nail head engines. They are a great motor but for the Hudson it needs a Nascar motor and they came with one - the 308 twin H. I have 3 Buicks also,One with the motor it was born with a 425 and to be honest it is the most reliable car I own.

Sorry guys I digress, I am new to this forum.I am after parts for my Hudson and advice. Mainly who has NOS parts, who knows about building 308's Etc.

Better not ramble on too much more and see if this works

Cheers from down under Pat

Hey Pat

Wouldnt happen to have a 401 in good nick for sale would ya?

Got an add coming up in Petrolhead for one. if that fails I will be importing one.

51 Convertible sounds like a sweet ride.

Alex

kiwijeff

Welcome Alex and 1958Kiwi. Your cars (Hudson's) are a little to modern for me, but one day, I'll go for a ride in one of these modern Hudson's. For modified Hudson's, there is a street rod section in this forum, I visit both this page and the street rod one, due to owning a stock 28 Hudson project, and a Hot Rod 29 Hudson. If either of you ever go through Greymouth, look me up. :-bd

KustomKreeps

Looking at doing a trip over summer in the Buick. Wanaka - Haast Pass - up the West coast till we hit Motueka or Blenheim then back down the East coast.

Its a great trip when you take it slow and stop off at random places. So yes we will be in Greymouth start of next year. Just not in the Hudson.

Still planing out the build. Lots research at the moment.

Same time im tinkering on it as is. Brakes work now, fixed a leak in the gas tank,water pump is off and getting fixed up. Once thats back its turn it on see if it moves under its own power. Will take a vid and upload that moment.

And then once I know it works I will be itching to get to work ripping it to pieces, selling the old junk and buying new junk.

Alex

kiwijeff

Sounds like a fun trip, and the Buick would look great in a photo or two, with my 29. That's black n flamed as well.