Overdrive Questions

hdsn49
hdsn49 Senior Contributor
edited November -1 in HUDSON
1. I have an overdrive unit that I would like to install on my 49 hudson. Can I use the existing transmission or do I have to use the transmission that came with the overdrive unit.



2. Does anybody make an overdrive rebuilding kit?. I have been able to find a new kickdown switch and a new overdrive relay. I can get a new wiring harness.

What else will I need besides a shortened driveshaft?

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    You have to use the overdrive trans.
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    The short answer is, you need the shortened driveshaft, the kickdown switch (which you have) plus you wll need the lockout cable (I think yours has an electrical switch near the knob) and a relay. None of these should be hard to find.



    The 'overdrive' portion of the transmission was made by Borg-Warner and is pretty much identical with those used by other manufacturers, but the transmission itself was made by Hudson. So there will be some 'unique' items like seals and shafts that interface with both units.



    Al Saffrahn, in Arizona, specializes in rebuilding and repairing Hudson overdrives.
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    If you have a '48 or later overdrive, the "reverse lockout" switch will be on the transmission, next to the hole for the speedo cable. This replaces the cable-mounted switch used '41-'47. I highly recommend you wire the OD like the '50 and later Hudsons and most others cars of the time. The later, simpler wiring scheme does away with the complicated relay used '41-'49. That requires you to use a kickdown switch with 4 terminals on it vs. just 2, but they're not too hard to find. As Jon said, these Borg-Warner OD units are pretty much the same for all makes, the differences being mainly the input and output shaft details.
  • Clutchguy
    Clutchguy Senior Contributor
    The Hudson transmission gears will be the same inside the standard trans.[counter shaft,2-3 intermediate,low gear,input shaft,shift rails,top cover,shift lever,detents]The ratio for 2nd.gear sometimes is different because of Drivemaster/Supermatic.The standard trans.case for overdrive and the standard 3 spd.only case are different.This can be confusing.If you look at the case's,they look the same but the O/dr.case has been machined specially for the overdrive to mate to it.The main shaft for the overdrive vs. standard 3 spd.is the different because it is longer.The bearings are availible at the parts store.Other trans."Hard parts" are availible,but you just have to search.I hope this helps.
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