Technical body questions

[Deleted User]
edited November -1 in HUDSON
A post i started when I first joined this group asked if there were differences in the length of the 4 door Hudsons (Hornet, Commadore, Wasp, Super-Six) and I got a few different answers, but the general concensus was that the Hornet was longer then the Wasp, and I am assuming longer then my Super-Six as well. Can someone tell me where the extra length is in the body? Is it in the hood, or main body? Or...Is it just the wheel base and the bodies are all the same?



This is just a "it's really bothering me, I got to know" question and really doesn't fix anything, or maybe it does... if the bodies are different then I guess I can't use the doors or maybe the hood off of a Hornet on my Super-Six, but I thought I saw that most of these parts are interchangable. so it might actually help me when I need replacement body parts later.



Thanks in advance,



Herb

Comments

  • Herb, I'm no expert, but I thought all stepdowns were mostly the same from the firewall back, except the Pacemaker and the Wasp having a shorter wheelbase which is shortened before the firewall. And, at least the Pace's have an indented firewall due to the shorter front end, which is good for modifying since it gives you some extra room if you run an earlier SBC with the distributer in the rear.

    Jay
  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    The shorter bodies were introduced in 1950 with the first Pacemaker, which transmogrified into the Wasp and Super Wasp series. They are shorter from the door post forward. The bulkhead is recessed, as the motor sits further back. The doors nd seats etc are the same. I'm no expert either on the post war models, but I have owned a '50 Pacemaker, and now have a '53 Hornet. Obviously the front sub-frames are different due to the setting back of everything, and drive shafts are different lengths. Hoods are of course shorter as well, as are the front fenders.

    Geoff.
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    As I recall, off the top of my empty head, the Hornet front clip, is 7 inches longer than the Wasp.



    Hudsonly,

    Alex B
  • Geoff, Is correct as far as his observations go on body length. The other differences on the Pacemakers and Hornets were involving the mechanical end. Pacemaker and Wasp used a smaller clutch, brake shoes and drums and the steering setup was different.Some folks like the shorter wheelbase and others don't . The first Pacemakers in 1950 were really left over 48-9 bodies with shorter wheelbases. One thing is true though about the number of options and ornamentation on shorter wheelbases stepdowns- the shorter the wheelbase the fewer the ornaments.
  • TwinH
    TwinH Senior Contributor
    Not to hijack the thread ,just wondering what the reasoning was behind going to all

    that trouble just to shorten the wheelbase on basically the same car??
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    Hornet was top of the line, therefore Hudson made it bigger. Probably the only reason. Other than providing frustration to future restorers!!! :)



    Hudsonly,

    Alex B
  • Ok, just making sure I have this straight... the Super-Six & Hornet are the same length, but the Comadore & Wasp are shorter forward of the firewall. Everything behind the fiewall should swap just fine across all stepdowns, but forward of the firewall (hood, fenders, etc) will not swap between longer vs. shorter wheel base, right?



    Thanks,



    Herb
  • Rick, The Hollywood name is a bit confusing. It really should have been called the 2 door hardtop style. Hollywood style cars came both in the long wheelbase (Commodore and Hornet) and shorter wheelbase( Wasp and SuperWasp) As far as availability goes, the Hollywood style cars are the toughest to find as few were made to begin with. Sadly, many of them were used as doner cars when convertibles are restored as they have many parts only Hollywoods and convertibles share.
  • ndustrl wrote:
    Ok, just making sure I have this straight... the Super-Six & Hornet are the same length, but the Comadore & Wasp are shorter forward of the firewall. Everything behind the fiewall should swap just fine across all stepdowns, but forward of the firewall (hood, fenders, etc) will not swap between longer vs. shorter wheel base, right?



    Thanks,



    Herb
    Herb, You are on the right track. The thing to watch on interchanges is the lack of interchange on trim between shorter and longer wheelbases. Interiors and sheetmetal rear of the cowl will interchange,but watch carefully about trunklids and tailights. Trunklids will interchange but the hardware won't,such as trim. Also, watch out for door interchange. The 1954 doors look like they interchange with earlier stepdowns. They won't. The latch was changed in 54 so the door won't workon earlier cars. All inside interior panels will interchange though.
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