identifying H8 motors

There are 7 versions of the Hudson 8 motor. The first was in 1930 (2-3/4" bore), and the '31, (2-7/8" bore) '32, (3" bore from here on) and '33 were very similar, with twin cylinder heads, Marvel updraught carburettor, water pump mounted on the left front engine plate, and generator driven from timing shaft on right of motor under the carby. '34 and '35 were virtually identical, with downdraught Carter carb (single throat), ridged single cylinder head with water pump mounted at the front in the head, and water jacket inlet is at the bottom. All generators now driven off the fan belt and on the left of the motor. '36 was a "one-off", with flat cylinder head, pump mounted on the block, and water intake pipe on top of the water jacket, single throat carby, and small port exhaust manifod, same as '34-'35. '37 went to twin throat carby and large port exhausts, and was virtually unchanged thru to 1947. Step-down 8's have a wide extension on the rear half of the crankcase, and a stepped sump to accommodate the front suspension cross member, otherwise very similar to '37 onwards, apart from the water pump, which is later type with ball bearing shaft instead of bronze bushings. That's it briefly, sorry I don't have any pics. Of course Hudson being Hudson, they had another One-off and that was the Terraplane 8, and that is another story!

a few additional comments that might help with a visual i.d.: at various times, and as time moved forward, Hudson increased the size of the water jackets so that they bulged out further. The location of the pipes to & from these jackets also were moved.

As Geoff said, the '30 thru '33 Hudsons used a 2 head arrangement, a vacuum tank, & an updraft carb. - the '33 T8 was a transitional engine with a 1 pc. head, downdraft Carter carb., and a fuel pump (they also incorporated a "one off" V-shaped radiator) and a bore of 2 15/16". Then in '34-5 they used what the "Brits" call the "high spline" head which was eliminated from '36 on with just a flat 1 pc. head.

Hope these comments will help a little.

Do you belong to the Hudson 8 group? If not, might want to join us at Yahoo.com.

And, Here is a 36 H8 to go with the photo's you have.