New Hudson Questions

mars55

I have got my '49 Commodore Six running after long storage and I have some questions.



1. When I first started it, the Hudson immediately over heated. the thermostat tested good, so I sent the radiator out to be cleaned. The radiator shop reported that the radiator was 60% plugged. Now it runs just short of the 3/4 mark on the temperature gauge at 90 degree weather and at the 1/2 mark at 70 degrees. This is OK/Not OK?



2. The tail lights, dash lights and license plate light do not work. Do Hudsons use fuses? If so, where are they located?



3. There are six chrome knobs on the bottom of the dash. I know that fourth from the left is the lights. What do the others do?

Unknown

As far as the cooling, mine runs pretty much 3/4 all of the time, if it is hot outside, it climbs a bit more, but seems to run religiously on 3/4.



One of the six knobs is the lights, one is the lighter, not sure about the rest. BTW, I got a 50 commodore 6.

Unknown

mars55 wrote:

I have got my '49 Commodore Six running after long storage and I have some questions.

1. When I first started it, the Hudson immediately over heated. the thermostat tested good, so I sent the radiator out to be cleaned. The radiator shop reported that the radiator was 60% plugged. Now it runs just short of the 3/4 mark on the temperature gauge at 90 degree weather and at the 1/2 mark at 70 degrees. This is OK/Not OK?

2. The tail lights, dash lights and license plate light do not work. Do Hudsons use fuses? If so, where are they located?

3. There are six chrome knobs on the bottom of the dash. I know that fourth from the left is the lights. What do the others do?

Question 1 ...

Check that you are using a 7# pressure cap with the correct reach... short or long neck radiator... also use a thermometer to check the temperature when the thermostat opens... should be ~185 degrees F. When you replaced the radiator did you make sure the vertical rubber strips along the sides were in place? If they are missing or deteriorated the radiator air circulation can be around instead of through the radiator... can cause over heating. If the radiator was plugged ... the block should also be back flushed... check with your radiator shop or mechanic to get that done.

Question #2

The lights are connected to a voltage source through the switch on your dash. The switch has a circuit breaker attached to preclude fire. I would pull the bulb in one of the tail lights and measure to center conductor of the lamp socket to ground with Ohm meter. Short to ground is BAD... if means the wiring or some part of the voltage path is compromised... probably by insulation falling off the wiring. If the path is NOT shorted ... turn the light switch to on with battery installed... should read near 6 VDC if all ok. Check the outside of the lamp socket to ground with OHM meter ... it SHOULD read short to ground...if not short it insert a proper bulb and see if you have lights... most of the time it is bad insulation ..... rewiring is easy. run new wires to the back from switch.


Question #3

Left to right

Starter switch
Hudson Drive Master
Light switch... has circuit breaker on back
Cigar Lighter
Windshield wipers

The 48-9 Hudson parts manual shows as a picture in manual.. I do not know what the "6" switch is??

Cheers from HOT

mars55

Yes, I did back flushed the block and reinstalled the vertical rubber strips. I am currently running a 4 lb cap because that is what came with the car, but a 7 lb cap would not hurt.



Checked the lamp socket for a short, but no problem. Guess I need to get a wiring diagram to find where I am losing the voltage.



I have the rear window wiper installed. Could the sixth switch be this?

harry54

7lbs cap will keep it from losing coolant out the over flow.

Aaron D. IL

One thing you might wanna do if she keeps running hot is bust out the waterjacket caps on the block because flushing alone might not get all the gunk out of there. You blask out the water jackets with a strong power washer and then replace them with 2" caps which are available at NAPA. DOORMAN part number 555 ....something. Should help cooling because if you saw what I saw come out of there when I performed that operation I think no amount of radiator flush solution would've gotten it all.

7XPacemaker

One other thing that is overlooked quite a bit.... Be SURE that the radiator cap is the correct depth- otherwise the radiator will build NO pressure and can contribute to your overheating problems............................

mars55

Well, I decided to take bull by the horns and measure the engine temperature. So with temperature gage reading 3/4 I removed the radiator cap and measured the water temperature which was 182 degrees. From this I think the Hudson temperature gage markings are at 20 degrees spacing and the middle mark is 160 degrees, 3/4 mark is 180 degrees and Hot is 200 degrees. This makes sense as the Hudson orginally had a non-pressure system and would boil at about 200 degrees. So my temperature is OK.

I also deduce that Hudsonkid has a 180 degree thermostat installed in his Hudson and that I have 160 degree thermostat (which I know from testing it).

Nick Sollon has sent me a wiring diagram for my Hudson, so I can start to trouble shoot my tail light problem.

mars55

The problem with the tail lights, dash lights and license plate light turn out to be a loose connection on the light switch. Thanks everyboby for your help.