Took my 49 Hudson Commodore to Doug Wildrick
Took my 1949 Hudson Commodore from Flippin, AR to Doug Wildrick in Shelbyville, IN. Won't bore you with details of the road trip, only will say you can't trust Garmin - put me in a dead end small gravel rutted road between two corn fields. Tought to turn around a 1 ton pick-up long bed and a car hauler trailer in a muddy field!
Very IMPRESSED with Doug Widrick and his shop! He was doing a walk around the car and he started to adjust my perfectly adjusted carburetor ( guess it wasn't so perfectly adjusted after all! ). He fixed the sqeek that has been annoying me for 8 years in about 2 minutes. He also found a head gasket leak that I absolutely could not see. He will be restoring my clutch ( which has been chattering for at least 8 years ), fix my transmisson that pops out of 2nd gear ( he said he already knows what is worn out ) and making my OD unit work without my "cheater switch". He already fixed my door handles. I had to slam the door to get it to latch. It now latches with very little pressure.
More Hudsons to look at at Doug's place than I could count! Some really nice Hudsons, Terraplanes, Essex.
Hopefully, Doug's dad will be able to re-wood grain my dash.
It was really nice to find someone as knowledgeable as Doug on Hudsons. It was worth the trip in what I learned in a hour at his place.
Very IMPRESSED with Doug Widrick and his shop! He was doing a walk around the car and he started to adjust my perfectly adjusted carburetor ( guess it wasn't so perfectly adjusted after all! ). He fixed the sqeek that has been annoying me for 8 years in about 2 minutes. He also found a head gasket leak that I absolutely could not see. He will be restoring my clutch ( which has been chattering for at least 8 years ), fix my transmisson that pops out of 2nd gear ( he said he already knows what is worn out ) and making my OD unit work without my "cheater switch". He already fixed my door handles. I had to slam the door to get it to latch. It now latches with very little pressure.
More Hudsons to look at at Doug's place than I could count! Some really nice Hudsons, Terraplanes, Essex.
Hopefully, Doug's dad will be able to re-wood grain my dash.
It was really nice to find someone as knowledgeable as Doug on Hudsons. It was worth the trip in what I learned in a hour at his place.
0
Comments
-
THAT IS WHY WE CALL HIM DR.DOUG HE DOES GREAT WORK AND AT A REASONABLE PRICE ANMD CAN FIX ALMOST EVERY THING0
-
The Doctor is the best, no doubt. His old shop had a feature I liked, though...there were two doors, one marked "MEN" and the other "WOMEN." The women's door opened into a washroom. The men's door opened into the alley beside the building. :cheer:0
-
I met him at Spokane National. In addition to his talents, he's also kind of a kick in the pants to talk to. Which never hurts.0
-
happychris wrote:Took my 1949 Hudson Commodore from Flippin, AR to Doug Wildrick in Shelbyville, IN. Won't bore you with details of the road trip, only will say you can't trust Garmin - put me in a dead end small gravel rutted road between two corn fields. Tought to turn around a 1 ton pick-up long bed and a car hauler trailer in a muddy field!
First rule of Garmin - if the road it directs you to don't look right, it probably isn't. In Nevada they're still looking for the fellow from Canada who, back last March, following his Garmin looking for a short cut took a muddy forestry road. They found the wife a while after the husband took off to find help - she survived on stuff in their camper.
People tend to follow Garmin with a fervor that borders on religious. Seems to be a lack of common sense working with too many people. (Not trying to cut your legs off at the knees - it's a personal observation).
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN0 -
You took your car to the right place!
I'm lucky enough to live less than an hour away from Dr. Doug.
However I'd get my Hudson to him regardless of where I lived.
He can also cook...0 -
You took your car to the right place!
I'm lucky enough to live an hour from Dr. Doug.
However I'd take my Hudson to him no matter where I lived.
He can also cook.....0 -
Doug is like Allstate... you're in good hands. haha0
-
We have a Garmin Nuvi, too. Use it as a "guide" (loosely based). Common Sense still plays very well. "Garmin Nuvi" is an anagram for "Nina Grim Vu". We always refer to ours as "Nina" . . . she's British, dontcha know.0
-
hudsontech wrote:happychris wrote:Took my 1949 Hudson Commodore from Flippin, AR to Doug Wildrick in Shelbyville, IN. Won't bore you with details of the road trip, only will say you can't trust Garmin - put me in a dead end small gravel rutted road between two corn fields. Tought to turn around a 1 ton pick-up long bed and a car hauler trailer in a muddy field!
First rule of Garmin - if the road it directs you to don't look right, it probably isn't. In Nevada they're still looking for the fellow from Canada who, back last March, following his Garmin looking for a short cut took a muddy forestry road. They found the wife a while after the husband took off to find help - she survived on stuff in their camper.
People tend to follow Garmin with a fervor that borders on religious. Seems to be a lack of common sense working with too many people. (Not trying to cut your legs off at the knees - it's a personal observation).
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN
Sometimes common sense ain't so common :-)0 -
I have been known to have a disscussion or two with my Garmin. I chuckle because it cannot find my home. It just clicks and clicks and pops out "destination not found." Oh Well? I guess as said above, if common sense were common, every one would have it?0
-
Doug looks good in that red jacket..quite the ladies manHanson Motor Co. wrote:
You took your car to the right place!
I'm lucky enough to live an hour from Dr. Doug.
However I'd take my Hudson to him no matter where I lived.
He can also cook.....0 -
UNDERSTAND, can't rely on a Garmin, but it was better than asking for directions ( which I had to do in the end ). You know that MEN don't ask for directions. Sure wish I had in this case. I was figuring they were going to need a wrecker or a BIG tractor to get me out of that VERY WET field!
Gary Phillips ( happychris )
Flippin, AR0 -
I had been wondering if the lost guy whose wife was found had been following a GPS of some kind.
Mapquest isn't much better. I was driving my '48 to a Northwest Chapter meet at Jim Harmon's place in Banks, OR a few years ago- Mapquest took me over this hilly, twisty road- kind of fun, actually, I had my foot in it ('48 has a twin H 308), going uphill and taking the corners at good speed, and met the Mini Cooper club coming down- lots of waves and thumbs up both ways. When I got to the top of the hills, Mapquest missed a turn and got me lost. I got to the meet late, and Jim said if I'd gone about a mile further up the main road, there's a 60 MPH state highway through the hills.
Another time, my Mapquest map would have taken me right to my destination, had it not been for the Cowlitz River being in the way. . .:oops:0 -
When I was looking for directions from Southern Calif to the Nationals in Seattle, Mapquest directed me to New York first then back to Seattle. I could have won the long distance award. Unfortunately we were not able to make that meet. Maps from the Auto Club are a better choice, not as much common sence necessary. LOL
Lee O'Dell0 -
I seem to be in the minority, but I keep the maps in my Garmin nuvi up to date and it has taken good care of me. It was how I was able to drive my Hornet home to MN from TX, and it even cut hours off of the drive compared to the last time I drove MN/TX using the interstate.0
-
Gary,thank you for your kind words as well as the others on this thread. I am very blessed to have Hudson parents that are still active in the Club and actively driving their Hudsons across this great land. Hudsons are what I know about the most and have the pleasure to work on everyday! It is still a JOB,but quite gratifying to do what I love to do-thanks DrD0
-
There is no dought Doug knows his shit, He is a blast when it comes to little pranks too Exchanging those stories are always a fun part of a visit with him. (the wis gang)0
-
Walt here. That's why I use an I-PAD, gives the correct directions, traffic conditions and a route to by pass any traffic jams. My GPS always says, turn around, or make a U turn and I am on the correct road. I-PAD solved that problem.0
-
UPDATE 11/15/11:
Went to Shelbville, IN and picked up the 49 Commodore. Trip up there was interesting! Sparks from under the truck made me pull over to find rear ehaust hanger had broken and exhaust pipe was dragging. Wired it up, but noticed the Safety Chains were TIGHT. Someone had taken the hitch pin from the receiver and I was towing the car trailer on the SAFETY CHAINS! Could have been UGLY, who would be low enough to steal a hitch pin???
Was getting the muffler replaced ( muffler housing split after hanger failed ) and the girls were stuck in the hotel for more hours than anticipated. Doug Wildrick ( Dr Doug ) drove my Hudson to the hotel, picked up the girls and took them to the Casino then came over to Midas to let me drive the Hudson. WAY ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY! Doug then showed me how to drive my Hudson properly. Guess I have been doing it wrong all these years!
The clutch was totally rebuilt, the problem with the transmission was fixed ( guess the brake spring hooked to the shifter linkage was the issue ). The OD was totally repaired. New valves, new head studs, new head gasket, carburetor rebuilt. Also, the distributor cap was for a Chrysler, not a Hudson - so that was replaced. Amazed the car ran as good as it did! The doors now shut without SLAMMING!
Doug then showed me how to correctly secure the Hudson to the trailer. He even loaned me straps to go around the lower A-Arms. Found out you chain the rear, then use straps to pull forward. The chains and straps stayed tight all 500 miles home! What a difference from the trip up ( where I lost 3 ratchets and sawed through a strap ).
Doug - I mailed the straps and ratchet back to you yesterday - THANKS!
Took another tour of Doug's Shop - some really great Hudsons, and even an Essex.
Doug did a GREAT JOB - would recommend Doug to anyone. Now I have to drive the Hudson.
p.s. - the Garmin told me to turn the wrong way and then do a Legal U-Turn, which is harder than you would think with a Long Bed Dually Crew Cab Pick-up and a 18 foot car trailer with a Hudson on it. Garmin got me again!
BST RGDS
GARY P ( Flippin, AR )0 -
I don't use Garmin or any such instrument. Before I leave the house I consult MS Streets & Trips and figure out what roads I'm gonna take. To be honest, yeah, I've gotten lost a time or two, but never that bad. Couple of times I got lost was because I was in a passing lane and an 18 wheeler blocked the sign I needed. Happened to me recently trying to get thru Lexington, KY - which is a bear WITHOUT 18 wheelers blocking signs.
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN0 -
Thank you Gary for your kind words. It was great visiting with you too. Hope the girls hit big!:cheer:0
-
Hello
wath's "garmin"????
Pierrot0 -
Garmin est un fabricant de GPS.pierre from france wrote:Hello
wath's "garmin"????
Pierrot0 -
Ah OK ;;;lol thanks0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- 36.9K All Categories
- 104 Hudson 1916 - 1929
- 19 Upcoming Events
- 91 Essex Super 6
- 28.6K HUDSON
- 559 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise
- 993 Street Rods
- 150 American Motors
- 172 The Flathead Forum
- 49 Manuals, etc,.
- 78 Hudson 8
- 44 FORUM - Instructions and Tips on using the forum
- 2.8K CLASSIFIEDS
- 599 Vehicles
- 2.1K Parts & Pieces
- 77 Literature & Memorabilia
- Hudson 1916 - 1929 Yahoo Groups Archived Photos