1936 English Hudson update

Browniepetersen
Browniepetersen Senior Contributor
edited November -1 in HUDSON
Today was a car show and as I look out my window it is again raining. So much for a car show. That only means one thing. It is out to the shop. I spent some time assembling the headlights and fender lights today. I attached a photo so you can see how they will look. The fender lights have the new "repo-plastic" lense from KGAP. I think they look great. I know that some of you will comment: "Hudson never chrome plate their head lights?" You are right. Railton, Nash, Auburn and Coachcraft did? Go figure. Perhaps they wanted more of a upscale look. Who knows, but almost all the Coachcraft built cars that are out there on the web have chrome headlights. Anyway, it was a learning experience to rebuild these lights.



The wiring for the car is 90 percent complete (there were no wiring harnesses for these coach-built cars so it has been one wire at a time) and with a little body work it will go into the paint shop in the next week or two. It is now up and running. I dropped the oil pan (s) and cleaned out everything. Not much crap to deal with. The bottom of the engine is tight and in great shape. I also did a tune-up while I had things apart. The fenders are repaired and painted and waiting for the car to be painted. Not that excited at how everything fits, but I guess I have to remember that this is a bit different than working on a "production" car like a stepdown? Anyway, hope to have it out of the paint shop by mid September so I can start the assembly. I am going for a 25 footer with this driver. Some photo's should be available in late September. My goal is the National in Washington. I am on schedule for completing it by then.

Comments

  • Lee ODell
    Lee ODell Senior Contributor
    WOW!!! Looking forward to seeing more pictures. Lee
  • dustymaxhudson
    dustymaxhudson Expert Adviser
    Are those the original Hudson headlights, Brownie? They look great! I'd love to find a set of deep bowls like those. Are they 9 or 12V?
  • Browniepetersen
    Browniepetersen Senior Contributor
    They are the headlights that were with the car when I got it. I bought a complete 1936 headlight set from Donald L. Axelrod http://www.hdlthqtrs@aol.com because I needed a few parts. I am staying true to the restoration of this Hudson so I needed parts that were right and would work. The Hudson is a 6 volt system. Sometimes a good price is not the lowest? I have the buckets that were a part of the set that Don sent to me. I would sell them, but they are missing a few of the parts. PM me if you want me to send you some photo's and tell you what is missing. The buckets that Don sent me are pitted and good for restoring using paint but would not work if you wanted to chrome plate them. Don helped me out a lot and provided some good information. These parts are not cheap but some Hudson folks told me these same lights are used on the Nash and Auburn's and are somewhat hard to come by?
  • essexcoupe3131
    essexcoupe3131 Senior Contributor
    Hi Brownie, are you going to put some 6v halogens into these? I put a set of them in my Essex, Phew what a difference, iam sure they do them to suit a 6 volt and 12volt system

    Mike
  • Browniepetersen
    Browniepetersen Senior Contributor
    edited November 2013
    Rick, The lights were not as complicated as I originally thought. There are only a few small parts to consider but key to the assembly of the light is the springs (if you want to call them that) that are attached to the reflector. The reflector fits into the inter ring of the light and provides the pressure to hold the lense in place. It was not a tough modification to get my lights to work.



    Mike, Since this is more to the restoration side I will be trying to stay as close to original as possible. I do plan to do some minor safety upgrades such as directional signals in the fender lights and adding a pair of 36-8 tail lights to go along with the smaller English style with the center licence plate bracket. All I have to do is find a good set of tail lights. I am also considering seat belts, but they come along after completing the interior and that should happen in early spring.
    I have a pair of these type of lights to rebuild for my '39... Any pointers or recommenations you may have would be appreciated.

    No - they're not chrome plated... :rolleyes: :D Hudson didn't put much chrome or stainless on their '39 trucks... Good thing too, I couldn't afford it!
  • oldhudsons
    oldhudsons Senior Contributor
    Rick - when I got my '39 BB PU it was very original altho in poor condition. The headlamps were painted black.

    The original gold paint had been painted over with a spray can a long time before & so careful removal of the sprayed on paint revealed the original red pinstriping which rather surprised me as didn't think they'd have done that to a commercial vehicle.

    It still had it's original footpedal starter button between the clutch & brake pedals.

    I always thought it a "hoot" that it had a '38 dash - guess they had some left over from the '38 model year & decided they'd use them up on the few '39 commercial vehicles they'd build.
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    Brownie, I think some of the '35 Hud's did have chromed headlights. And congrat's on the progress with that very special car.
  • essexcoupe3131
    essexcoupe3131 Senior Contributor
    Brownie could do a tail light not sure what side, you could make me a offer

    Mike
  • oldhudsons
    oldhudsons Senior Contributor
    You may have a hole for a manual choke knob too - take a look at the Owners Manual.
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