Getting Grampa's 40 Hudson Running

Unknown
edited November -1 in HUDSON
I inherited my Granpa's 1940 Hudson Traveler 6. He died about 6 years ago and my father drove it to the funeral and into a storage facility (clean) where it has been sitting ever since. Knowing that it ran, and my Granpa took it to car shows and Saturday drives, I need to know how to get it going again. i tried to get it going once a couple years ago....cleaned up the points and put a new battery in it and just as the battery started to fail...it fired a little bit. What do you suggest I do to get it going? Points/battery/drain fuel in cell/carb cleaned?????? Is there a way to get the motor to turn over faster? It turns over very slow even with a newly charged battery. Also....what grade of oil should I use in it in Southern Wisconsin? Any other suggestions on how to get this car running would be appreciated! This is a 1940 Hudson Traveler with a 6 cyl with 70K in great shape with all original everything. Thanks for your help....Grampa will be proud! He knew everything about this car and although I am kind of handy in the garage....I do not know much about these old ones!! Thanks!

Comments

  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    In addition to the points I mentioned on the Chatroom, you may have to put in new clutch oil. This isn't a top priority but the stuff may have leaked out and you'll find clutch operation to be problemmatic.



    In fact, you may discover that the clutch is stuck (i.e., you can't get the car in or out of gear). This is common and we can come up with a way to fix it, if you have a problem.
  • Do you know what type of gas we should run in the tank? (leaded/unleaded)

    and is there any substitute that must be put in the gas for the valves?



    Thankyou, TJ
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    Regular unleaded is fine unless you're into stock car racing!
  • Sorry, I forgot what you said about the straight thirty oil...we are going to get some soon but, is there a recommended brand that we should look for or specific types to get?



    Thankyou for all your help!
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    And don't even think about using any gas that's in that tank. Drain or siphon it all out and put fresh gas in it. Otherwise you will likely be very sorry.
  • Uncle Josh
    Uncle Josh Senior Contributor
    And when you go to start it next time, put some gas in a squirt bottle and with the air cleaner off, give the carb a squirt or two. That should fire it immediately. Might have to do it a few times until the fuel pump gets gas in the carb.
  • I think I would put a little very light oil, marvel mystery oil or such in each spark plug hole and turn it over a few times with out plugs in to lube the cylinders and rings, in 6 years any oil it had has dried up, and 6 years is ample time for a bunch of crud to build up in the tank, would'nt hurt to drop it and flush it out good , not a big job ,no need to go to all that stuff about putting sealers/rust inhibiters and stuff in it as some do, just flush it out good and put an inline filter some where before the fuel pump. BUD
  • Lee ODell
    Lee ODell Senior Contributor
    Adding to all these good suggestions I would drop the oil pan, since it has been setting for 6 years, and clean any sludge that may in the pan and in the oil tray. Don't want slug scooped up into the rod bearings. Lee
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