What can be done with a straight 8

50C8DAN

Some threads back the Buick 8 was discussed for a Hudson engine transplant, well there no reason a H8 could not be worked up.  Don't know if it could hit 16X mph though, but it would be a hoot!

https://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2016/10/07/bombshell-betty-the-165-mph-1952-buick-super-riviera/

48Sed

Ken what is the max for boring on the eight without running into overheating?

50C8DAN

From what I have read due to the cylinder arrangement 0.040" is the max over bore on a H8.

Here is an old writeup from Hot Rod mag from 3/1950 on hopping up a H8:

Park_W

Two items not discussed:

  1. Flattening the contour of the "cam face" of the tappets slightly, which increases the open duration.  Makes a noticeable difference.  Al Saffrahn and a few others know how to do this.

  2. A dual exhaust manifold.  While Hudson did increase the exhaust flow path for '37, further power can be gained with a dual-outlet modified manifold.

jjbubaboy

Wow Park! That's a very cool manifold. Sure would love to have my 6 cylinder one done like that! 
Jeff 

terraplane8

Some good info here: http://www.hetclub.org/forum/discussion/66791/split-exhaust-manifolds

Also: http://www.hotrod.com/articles/1955-chevrolet-3100-splitting-six-cylinder-exhaust-manifolds-the-old-way/

http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/174436/post/1293298/hl/splitting/fromsearch/1/#1293298

50ClubCoupe

looks like the email address mentioned in the first link (above) is no longer valid.  Does anyone have another source for splitting the exhaust manifold?

Park_W

I'll try to find the name of the fellow in, I think, Kansas(?) who did mine.  Back in about year 2009 this father-son duo were doing some good work on in-line engine manifolds, and there were a few photos and comments here on the Forum.  My first one was in 1953, on my '38 8-Cyl sedan.  In our senior year of HS a buddy did it for me in his welding class.  Don Bright, Ft. Wayne's version of Smokey Yunick, who ran 2 '38 Hudsons at our 5/8 mi. hi-banked track, had built an 8-cyl engine for me.  When the engine was ready, I put the split manifold on it before installing it in my sedan.  I didn't realize how much the manifold was contributing until I had an occasion to swap it with a stock manifold temporarily.  I was shocked at the difference in Performance.  BTW, this 3,300 lb. sedan, at the big drag strip near Chicago, ran the quarter in 17 seconds and 84 mph, which was pretty respectable in those days  . . .  almost none of the new Olds 88s would match it.

KustomKreeps

what can be done with a straight eight?

They make fine anchors.
I had a tree that was on a hek of an angle after a storm. Right over a fence. Connected a chain to the engine then through neighboring trees branches and winched tree to straightish angle then attached.
Worked a charm. bloody heavy lumps those inlines.
Was a big ol Buick not a Hudson (thats currently waiting for me to get around to selling it and stored away )

terraplane8

50ClubCoupe said:

looks like the email address mentioned in the first link (above) is no longer valid.  Does anyone have another source for splitting the exhaust manifold?

There was a phone number there too at the bottom of the first link. It appears that you can cut a hole with a hole saw in the manifold then weld on a cast-iron outlet. Doesn't seem that hard to do.

I do know that Ivan recommends running a bigger 2.5" exhaust and says you can feel it in the seat of your pants compared to a 2" pipe. He said that it is important to follow through right through the whole exhaust system not just upgrade the manifold. That would indicate to me this approaches at least a 10% improvement as it is hard for the average person to reliably detect less than that from what I have read.

I note that Park's car on a weight shifted basis at 84 mph indicates 155hp at the flywheel. I assume the 3300lbs included the driver etc.

Frankvintagefullflowcom

Ivan must be biting his tongue pretty hard by now.

Frank

Park_W

The 3,300 lbs. came from the scales at the drag strip  (I wasn't in it when they did the weighing).  Also put it on a truck scale back home, and that confirmed the 3,300 figure.

terraplane8

Park_W said:

The 3,300 lbs. came from the scales at the drag strip  (I wasn't in it when they did the weighing).  Also put it on a truck scale back home, and that confirmed the 3,300 figure.

That would mean the gross weight with say a 150-170 lb. driver would be 3,450-3,470lbs, meaning around 160fwhp using the ET terminal speed and weight calculator.

KustomKreeps

hmm with the numbers you lot are talking at the expense im not sure it would be worth it. better to swap in a LS or something.

http://www.uncommonengineering.com/ 
would be the place i would start if i was serious about modding an old Hudson Inline. they strap supercharges etc to them.
Personally i think the standard Crudson engine looks better than one with a blower or fuel injection strapped to it but hey if you really want to keep the old anchor and want the most from it i guess you aint got much options.
the builds start at $7k  and thats the mild build with no blower etc. Im guessing full build be like 10-15K. Not sure if they do NOS or not. 

Some copy / paste spam the topic skills to follow:

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48Sed

Do any of you know why Hudson listed #5 bearing#157987 as 1939-40 only and then changed the number to #162541 for 1941-50?
Info found in master parts book
Are std mains still out there for the 41-52 254? I have seen many for the 262 out there.
Looking for #157984thru157986
Thanks