engine mess

Unknown
edited November -1 in HUDSON
Got my 212 hudson motor all pulled apart and can't believe what a mess it is.There's about seven areas where either the connecting rods or crank where hittng something inside the motor. It must have sounded terrible{head was off for years when I bought the car} I guess the designers never had clearance in mind. Anybody have this on there early hudson motors?

Plan on getting this thing running as I see there's parts available.

Comments

  • Hi,---There are 3 left hand rods & 3 right hand ones in that motor. It sounds like someone did not know that when reassembling it & could have possibly gotten them mixed up somehow. The rod numbers should be marked on each rod representing the position each should be inserted in the block. Do you not have a mechanical proceedure manual to work from?
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    Is it an unknown something these parts were hitting? Is the camshaft still there, intact? Hudson8, will those rods go onto the crankshaft journals if they're not in the right place? I didn't think there was enough movement possible at the wrist pin to allow the "wrong offset" rod to fit onto the crank.
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    If it's any consolation, I've never heard of a problem such as yours. So it sounds like whoever overhauled the engine the previous time, was simply ignorant of how it was supposed to go together, and might even have used the incorrect parts. I've had my 1937 3x5 engine running just fine for the past 33 years, and I know one fellow who had a '46 Hudson whose engine has racked up over 300,000 miles. So...the problem you describe certainly isn't inherent with the 212.
  • Yes, I have a procedure manual. I haven't really checked to see if the rods were in correctly because it seemed like the engine was never out.,but I left everything in order to go back to check it.Your right that someone must have put them in wrong because I doubt it came from the factory like that. Also, the center piston skirts were hitting the upper main bearing web area.
  • Someone must have installed incorrect parts like rods the last time. Every one who works on these things are not mechanics.
  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    What has happened is the timing gear has given out at some stage, and the bottom of the rods have collided with the cams. There is no way rods can be assembled with the wrong offset. There is so little clearance inside the 5" stroke motors that when timed correctly the cam is turned away from the rod as it goes past at point of minimum clearance. When the timing gear gives out everything gets out of kilter! Don't feel bad about this or think it is a design fault - the same thing happens today with lots of modrn cars if the timing belt breaks- you get valves going throught he tops of pistons. If possible get a replacement alloy timing gear and this will never happen.



    Geoff.
  • Geoff,

    Is there a source for New aluminum cam gears or complete gear sets to convert

    the older fiber coated gears over to the new aluminum design?

    I know that there are modifications showing how to recess the timing cover bolts

    in the manual but I havn't seen any sources for these parts new.

    thanks for the help,

    PaceRacer50
  • dwardo99
    dwardo99 Expert Adviser
    I'm almost certain I have a NOS set of piston rings. I can't remember what oversize but I'll look if you're interested.
  • 99 -Yes, I may be able to use them. Even if there oversize I may have to go that route. I am going to try not to overbore if possible. Looks pretty thin by the waterjackets.
  • You Dont Want To Go Over 030 On The Bore, Walls Too Thin, Will Run Hot, May Have A Set Of Alum Timing Gear. Bill Albright
  • Uncle Josh
    Uncle Josh Senior Contributor
    There are quite a few standard 3 in ring sets around, and some aluminum gears as well. Post your request on a new thread here.
  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    Sorry, I'm away on the bottom of the world - you will have to find a source of alloy gears closer to home!

    Geoff.
  • barrysweet52
    barrysweet52 Expert Adviser
    When I pulled my 36 Terra motor down, I found that there were deep radial cuts on the conrod caps. Some time in the past the fibre timing gear had failed and the caps must have hit the camshaft. What surprised me was the depth of the cuts and the burr or swarf around the cuts. You could rub some of it off with your fingers. Also someone had replaced the oil strainer mesh in the sump. It was so coarse you could poke a knitting needle thru the holes. Its amazing what you find sometimes.
  • Uncle Josh
    Uncle Josh Senior Contributor
    Ayuh! My 212 truck splasher had the valves switched around. Same size except for stem clearance and material. Exhaust manifold packed full of nuts, and a nutshell cookie packed in the top of #1. Sometimes, it's a good thing they don't start!
  • EssexAdv
    EssexAdv Expert Adviser, Member
    WHen you change to an alumn. gear you must also change the crank gear... the gear pitch is different
This discussion has been closed.