Fastest Hudson Ever??

rambos_ride

Joking around on my HUD posting about speed made me think of something -

Does anyone have records of the fastest Hudsons?



Specifically 1/4 mile speeds - or Salt Flat Racers - I thought It might make for an interesting post.



Rambos_Ride

[Deleted User]

I'm not well versed in the top speeds that Hudson has achieved either. I do believe A Hornet hit the 141mph mark at bonneville last year, a '54.



As far as 1/4 mile speeds, I have not a clue. Anyone willing to post what they know - I'd be a willing reader.



I did see a flathead ford dragster run a sub 7sec 1/4 mile last weekend. The only thought running through my mind was "I know a Hudson could beat that if someone tried!". If someone would be willing to donate a basket case pre-war Hudson to the cause, I'd donate the engines and time to try and teach the flathead fanatics that Ford doesn't (and has never) ruled the roost.



I was disappointed in not seeing a Hudson tear down the track at Bowling Green. I need to get busy, huh?



Mark Hudson

Unknown

There were a couple of 308 powered Jets that were in the 9's back in the 60's. Jack Clifford ran one as well as a successful '54 Hornet Coupe. He used to have those in his catalogs. I think I still have one floating around somewherr from 1977 or 1978. If I find it, I'll post on the forum.

Club Coupe

There is a 308 powered Jet drag car on display at the Don Garlits' Museum of Drag Racing at Ocala, Florida. At least it was on display some years ago when I was there. Go to www.curtandmandy.com/ocala to see a picture.

rambos_ride

Cool information so far - I'll have to get to the Garlits museum next time I get to Florida.



Wouldn't this be a great idea for a Hudson book? Has anyone ever published a book specifically about Hudson racing history - or are we the only ones who care?

[Deleted User]

Well Mark, I am going to be back at it. The locals at the track where Steve runs (No. 2 son) have been after me to get the '41 back out to run. Just so happens a '46 Chev. powered with a V8 runs 7.75-7.85 in the 1/8 mile. The last time I ran 3 years ago the hudson ran 7.80 to 7.85 in the 1/8 mile and I won the Pro Bracket. I think we need to put the yellow chev back on the trailer in the early rounds. I believe the hudson & I are just the ones to do it. I am getting somewhat excited. Years ago I ran the quarter mile at Cordova raceway and went a 12.45. It was a nice cool evenning and she ran like a bear on the top end. Also back in those days I was running 8.20's and 8.30's in the 1/8 . Anyway, the motor is out and getting a fresh going through. I think I can get a 7.70 out of her in the 1/8 and a low 12. in the quarter with the webers. I do have a fuel injection done and ready to bolt on but will start with the webers. Hope to be back on the track in 3-4 weeks. I am also making a head, my own design to use next year. I will build one more block to use with the homemade head with a new bolt down design I think may work and that will probably be it for me racing. I will continue to help my boys run as long as they want to.

[Deleted User]

Actually, from the stories I've heard locally regarding home grown Hudson speed demons (moonshiners they were, I wish I knew what went with their cars) - there are alot of folks out there who know about the Hudson "severe usage" legend and would enjoy a book along that line.



I would be the first one in line for such a book!



Mark Hudson

rambos_ride

maasfh - got any pictures? Sounds like you've had fun with it!



'Hudsonator - yeah, not trying to turn the discussion morbid but unfortunately a lot of the hudsonites with this information are getting up there in age and that information might get lost forever...



I'd be second in line for the book!

[Deleted User]

Randy,



What kind of head are you considering? A new type of casting or just a milled slab with no water for racing?



I must admit to spending most of my time on flatheads other than the Hudson, mainly flathead Harleys. However, we've had alot of sucess thus far in really waking up those engines. I've spent the majority of my time working in the combustion chamber roof and keeping the deck reliefs as shallow (or non-existant) as possible. So far, we've raised the compression about 3 points above a stock Hi-comp head and increased the timing by 8 degrees - which tells me that the situation is really working.



How transferrable is this to a Hudson? - I don't really know yet, but fixing to find out. I've shyed away from Hudson's because I simply didn't have enough expendible pieces or money to be monkeying around. My educated guess is that a Hudson engine could possibly take better advantage of chamber modifications than flathead I've ever seen with the exception of a Kohler small engine, which consequently has the same valve cant towards the cylinder.



I'm tickled to death to finally have a Hudson car, and is speeding things up in this dept. Why I waited so long to get a car - is simply rediculous to think about now! I know I'm spending alot of time driving the car, but I've always been a street demon, and I'm trying to establish a basis of comparison for any improvements I may make. I can't afford a dyno, unfortunately.



So, anytime I hear anything about head modifications - my ears are the first to perk up.



Mark

[Deleted User]

On the literature matter:



At the expense of being morbid - I do agree with rambos_ride on the loss of valuable information being upon us. Huge loss when Jack Clifford and Smokey Yunick passed.



I sat under a shade tree briefly yesterday evening and listened to some of the old guard in moonshine territory tell about importing used (and cheap) Hudson cars in the 60's to deal with the task of logisitics. Mind you, these cars were running with the muscle car cop cars of the day. One famous ride was a yellow Hornet convertible - if you can imagine! Ironic that these cars disappeared before I was of age enough to notice them in the junkyards and pastures of the area, and it may be a product of the "Automania" program and subsequent embellishment - but you know a Hudson man always loves to hear tales of the invincible stepdowns!



Prewar cars make the hottest drag rides - Go Randy and Dany!



Mark

Unknown

CORDOVA, Ran there in 1957, Fuel Flathead.Ran 117, 11.56 et, 1800# car

TOM-WA-

If you want something FAST in a Hudson check THIS OUT...Steve is a great Guy and he did lots of work for me on My 54 Wasp before I got it



http://www.uncommonengineering.com

TwinH

My 49 Commodore already has a 308 clifford head, twin H carbed, and clifford header,

but the best part is it came with another never fired rebuilt 308. Have been racing

jr. dragsters with my son for 7 years now. Our Briggs & Stratton 5hp engines are very

near 50 hp on alcohol. 3.5" bore X 3" stroke twisting up to 8500 - 9000 rpm and have

seen as high as 10,200 on the telltale when a chain broke. I know we can't spin a

Hudson that hard but I see lots of room for improvement for airflow. Nothing I'm going to jump on anytime soon but this is our last year racing the jr. and it would be nice

to actually have a use for everything we've learned. I think a Hudson 6 in a dragster

(period correct, at least externally) sounds like a lot of fun or work, or both...

Unknown

If you want to increase the rpms, you can put a 232 crank in a 308. If I remember right it comes out to about 260 cubes. I put one together back in 1977 and it ran really well.



Hudsonator, please see if you can tape record some of the conversations you describe. Unfortunately this wealth of information will soon pass into obscurity. The legends of Hudson in its prime and through the 60's would make a great book, put me on the list!

[Deleted User]

I learned a trick or two over the years in the vintage tractor world, increased the CID in alot of old buggers and got a horse for ever cube I added in the factory rpm range. In some cases I doubled the CID of the engine in question and tripled the hp, none of them ran above 2500 rpm.



When they dropped the rpm rules, I built a 230 Mopar flatty and twisted it to 6000rpms - nice little tractor. I'm interested in the 232 crank situation for the Hudson, depends on what I find in the block.



backtohudsons - I've needed that tape recorder all my life! Seems the good stuff only comes out when I'm least expecting it. My uncle would be a good story, at some point in time (I think around 58-59) He took on the law in a Commodore. I need to hear that one again.



How many rpms did you turn with your 232 setup? If I understood correctly regarding the Bonneville Hudson of last season - it also was running the 308/232 crank setup and impressed the Inliners a great deal.



Mark Hudson

Unknown

I gained at least 1000 rpm over the 308 which generally is all done at 4500. It probably would have gone higher but this was in a street car so it wasn't really necessary. I was running a Clifford 4bbl intake with a Holley 450 carb and headers. I didn't have the 7X block relief so with that added it would have breathed even better. This was in a 1949 Super Six Coupe. Loooong time ago!!

[Deleted User]

This was a good thread. Anyone else has any more information?

VicTor Z

Yes ! I have a '42 Hudson Coupe that was run at El Mirage Dry Lake here in So Ca, it had a V 12 or 16 brand X motor. This is just what the seller told me. I have found no history on this Hudson. I would like some info. It has a rear 1951 Ca plate. When I first seen it , it was in a collection of old cars in El Monte Ca. on Rosemead Blvd.

Richard E.

Some guys from Washington State hold a Bonneville record with a Hudson, which I think is somewhere in the 137mph range. Two CA HETers are building a dry lake Hudson with the intention of going 150mph and breaking this record at both El Mirage and Bonneville. They use this forum, so I will let them give you the details. By the way, the Hudson Boys, for WA state have a website.

Browniepetersen

I have a 1952 Hornet -- restoration-- that I drove on the salt flats with an average two direction run at 122.683. The run was made in 1997. In 1952 the speed was set at 121 using a 7X car from the local Salt Lake City dealership. My run was made from a standing start with no push vehicle and the car is original and not using fuel injection or other modifications.



The Kunz racing team was on the salt flats a few years ago and ran a modified original Hudson at the 149 speed. Other than this, I know nothing...

[Deleted User]

Browniepetersen wrote:

I have a 1952 Hornet -- restoration-- that I drove on the salt flats with an average two direction run at 122.683. The run was made in 1997. In 1952 the speed was set at 121 using a 7X car from the local Salt Lake City dealership. My run was made from a standing start with no push vehicle and the car is original and not using fuel injection or other modifications.



The Kunz racing team was on the salt flats a few years ago and ran a modified original Hudson at the 149 speed. Other than this, I know nothing...

Wow, very impressive what a flat 6 can do. Now was the 7X a stock 308 bore and stroke, or was it punched out a bit? Where did they get all that extra power from?

[Deleted User]

Richard E. Wrote "By the way, the Hudson Boys, for WA state have a website."



What is that website address?

[Deleted User]

Richard E. wrote:

Some guys from Washington State hold a Bonneville record with a Hudson, which I think is somewhere in the 137mph range. Two CA HETers are building a dry lake Hudson with the intention of going 150mph and breaking this record at both El Mirage and Bonneville. They use this forum, so I will let them give you the details. By the way, the Hudson Boys, for WA state have a website.

Keep us informed of these runs. Please. Several of us Hudson speed fanatics still out here - hungry for some news.



Mark

[Deleted User]

hudsonsoul wrote:

Richard E. Wrote "By the way, the Hudson Boys, for WA state have a website."

What is that website address?

http://www.thehudsonboys.com/