Started the 53 Hornet!!

Unknown
Unknown
edited November -1 in HUDSON
Finally got the Hornet in the garage today and started very gently tearing her down. Took some pics I know you guys would enjoy. Plans are to strip it down to frame on body, sand (garnet) blast the engine bay, most of the undercoat is still there, but probably gonna strip it too and re-do. My fiance is going to make all new interior. Lots of other plans but too much too type right now. more to come with more pics!!



Comments, Advice, and or Suggestions welcome!!!

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Couple of more pics
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Good for you! Keep us posted and thanks for posting the pics. Looks pretty solid from what I can see.
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    Hudson308 wrote:
    Oh, to be a target on "Overhaulin", huh?

    Thanks for the pictures... keep 'em coming. As Russell stated, it looks solid in all the places they usually aren't. Looks like Hudson made the manual trans crossmember removeable in '53? First time I've seen that. Might be a hard piece to find, if you don't have it...



    Nah, you wouldn't want to be a target on Overhaulin' - granted it would look absolutely stunning when Foose and friends got done - but could he really just do an "original" restoration or would he have to jazz it up Foose style. :D



    Hudsonly,

    Alex Burr

    Memphis, TN
  • russmaas
    russmaas Senior Contributor
    looks like it was originally a hydro and someone sweap for a 48-51 single lever trans
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    russmaas wrote:
    looks like it was originally a hydro and someone sweap for a 48-51 single lever trans



    Is there anyway to tell what the car originally came with auto or column?? From the Hudson Tag or VIN???
  • Lee ODell
    Lee ODell Senior Contributor
    Good looking car. Are you going to use the same color combination?



    Lee
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Keeping it the same color scheme, just gonna change up the drab seal gray a little. Maybe, add a little silver or gun metal silver to the gray to lighten it up and give it a little more pow to it.
  • dougson
    dougson Senior Contributor
    Those pictures of the undercarraige bring back (not so) fond memories of my experiences last winter removing all that old undercoating. Good luck. There should be some left over hardware or evidence of hole cutting to determine if the transmission had been swapped.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Thank you for sharing :)
  • russmaas
    russmaas Senior Contributor
    Cross members on any stick do not unbolt. In 1952 Hudson went to a 2 lever manual trans. You have a single lever than was used prior to 1952 with that linkage. The dual range hydro was used with that cross member you have. I would bet that the rear-end is a 3.08, which was standard in all cars with hydros.



    i would put a hydro back in or change the rear end gear to a 3.54 or 4.10 If you want any power at all.



    FYI the cross memeber should have two "ears" on each side, this is were the hydro bolts up. if not, someone cut them off at some point when they changed tranny's



    Russ J
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Ok, Im gonna get some new pics tonight and let you guys figure this out for me lol!!!!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Ok- here are some closer pics! I honestly have no idea about what was in the car or what it should have so hopefully you guys can enlighten me!



    Thanks

    Brian
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    According to my brand new Hudson Mechanical Procedure Manuel which i have just conferred- it is a single range manual column! So now I dont know what the car had or should have in it.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    SUPER! Good to see another person who appreciates the Hudson marquee and is willing to tackle a restoration.

    Lots of comments before mine and I am going to add mine to them.

    I have had the pleasure of driving, maintaining, fixing and restoring Hudsons for 45 years. A lot of the fixing was driving by my wallet. And some of the cars I fixed to drive were the result of a lot of mixing and matching of available or cheap replacement parts. Like the 53 Hornet I owned with 49 front sheet metal. Didn't change the paint either as I could not afford it. The front sheet metal was swapped from another junk yard dog where I got the 53.

    Many of the parts from 48-54 Hudsons will interchange via the un-bolt and re-bolt path. Inserting an early engine and transmission combination into your car would have been one of those changes.

    As has been pointed out, your car came from the factory as a Hydra-Matic car. Being a Hornet it also had a 308 cubic inch engine. To return the car to the model correct configuration, you will need a late 52-53 steering column tube from a parts car. The steering box does not have to be changed.

    Your mechanical procedures manual will show you how to remove and replace the column tube and perform the adjustments. The replacement engine transmission combination can be from Hornet model from 51-54. (55-56 engines will work too if you add spacer behind the flywheel). The correct transmission for your car will be from a late 52-54 Hudson. Dual range Hydra-Matic was installed in all models for those years so you have a wider source pool to find parts. You will need the correct cross member, mounts and linkage... with these parts you should be well on the way to reassembling the Hornet. Note: The 54 Hudsons came two different automatic transmissions. The 54 Hydra-Matic matches your requirement.

    Visit my website, the INTERNET address is part of this message. The website should assist you in the completion of your project.

    Good Luck.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    I guess the 53 hornet and superwasp share pretty much identical front ends .the hood ornament,fender spears,lack of inverted v and grille bars appear exactly like my car. J.R.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    superwasp912 wrote:
    I guess the 53 hornet and superwasp share pretty much identical front ends .the hood ornament,fender spears,lack of inverted v and grille bars appear exactly like my car. J.R.
    The Super Wasp is 5 inches shorter in the front fenders. 119 inch wheel base to 124 hornet wheel base. Trim on front fenders is different and shorter along with body stainless being narrower. Car was Hydro as it only has the brake pedal. The picture does not show a clutch pedal. The rear is a DANA model 44 and it should be a 3-08 ratio. We have fellows who rebuild and sell the transmission. Contact Jason at Bill Albright's and get the correct cross member. Maybe the correct steering column and shift indicator. Walt.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Here are pictures from my 1952 Hudson Hornet with Dual Range Hydromatic for reference.
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