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Unknown
Unknown
edited November -1 in HUDSON
Hello, I enjoyed reading some of the threads on this site and decided I would like to join. I thought I would give a brief intro of myself, I live in Windsor Ontario Canada, I'am a CNC Machinist by trade I currently own a 1941 Chrysler Royal 3 window coupe. I have worked on cars with my father all my life I am so proud that he past this hobby onto me. I'am almost 28 years old and a father of 3 wonderful kids who also share in the love of this hobby. I have recently looking at 1952 Hudson Wasp as a family car since my 41, well is not to family friendly in the size department. I know that the Hudson is Unibody and are there certain things I should be looking for?i.e. rust under the rockers etc? The body seems solid but I'am worried about the under side. As for the mechanical everything works except the fuel from the tank to carb and have just been pouring fuel down the bowl to get it to run. Could the sending unit be shot? Also how easy is this car to convert to 12 volt?maybe I could run an electric fuel pump? Are brake parts easy to get?



If anybody here could point me in the right direction with this old girl it would be greatly appreciated, thanks



Brent



oh yeah heres a pic of the 41



IM000764.jpg

Comments

  • hudsonguy
    hudsonguy Senior Contributor
    Brent,



    Welcome (hopefully) to the wacky world of Hudsons. If you get one, you'll never be the same. Or as my wife says "It's a GOOD obsession!"



    For a family 'driver', which it sounds like what you're looking for, you can't do much better than a stepdown Hudson. I'm preparing another cross country trip this summer with my '49, and I can't wait. You can spend 10 hours a day in a Hudson, and not even feel tired from driving!



    You're right on track looking down deep for rust problems. If you poke around the various frame rails, floorpans, etc. with an ice pick, you'll know one way or another what kind of shape it's in.



    It sounds like your fuel pump isn't working, which can be remedied several ways. Dave Kostansek sells rebuilt mechanical fuel pumps. Many Hudsons have had electric fuel pumps installed to help fill the lines and carb at start-up. That way, you'll also have a spare fuel pump already inline in case you have any problems with the mechanical one. The 'sending unit' just controls your gas gauge reading, and doesn't get involved with the fuel delivery.



    A pretty common 12V conversion involves using a GM-style one-wire alternator. The hardest part is making a bracket, but it sounds like you have that capability. There are several people in the Hudson club that can help you with that, if the time comes.



    Brake parts (and almost everything else) is pretty readily available. Thanks to the Internet, and many dedicated Hudson suppliers, it's much simpler to find Hudson parts today than it was a few decades ago. I can order anything from a simple thermostat to a complete engine rebuild kit by simply picking up the phone.



    The Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club is a great place to start, with it's award-winning publication The White Triangle News. You'll find a large classified section containing new and used parts, cars, etc. Here's the link to the Club website.



    http://www.hudsonclub.org/



    Good Luck with your Wasp. Hope it works out.
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    Greetings, Brent, and welcome. Yes, you should definitely be wary of rust in a Canadian car that old. A hole or two in the floor is not a big problem (front floor pan patch panels are not available) but you DON'T want to find rustout in the perimeter frame from the rear wheel wells on back. So get on your back on a creeper (or get the car on a lift) with a good flashlight and the proverbial ice pick, and look around. A bit of rust here or there could be fixable (depending on how adept you are with a welding torch) but you don't want to encounter too much.



    As to the 12 volt, I've been driving with 6 volts in my '37 for 35 years and really, as long as the wiring is in good order, it's not a problem. You DO want to have the correct 6 volt battery cable and good ground straps (in two places) and for heaven's sake don't get a cheap battery with low cold-cranking-amp rating. Six-volt systems are less forgiving of any component failure (electrical or fuel) than 12-volt systems.



    Try running the car from a 5-gallon can (neoprene hose from can to fuel pump). If it runs then, you'll know the problem is probably in the tank or lines from the tank. This could be corrosion in the tank (requiring a thorough cleaning and sealing) or you might even have pinhole rust in the line (causing the pump to suck air).



    If you get the car, don't be a stranger here. We like to answer technical questions and -- once in awhile -- our answers are correct!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Thank you for the warm welcome!!! I have always enjoyed the "looks" of these Hudsons and think they were a head of their time in the ways of styling. I wonder if a 8-volt battery would be the way to go.



    BRENT
  • hdsn49
    hdsn49 Senior Contributor
    Welcome to the Hudson world. I brought my three kids up in the back seat of my Hudsons. I actually used my Hudson to bring my two sons home from the hospital when they were born. They are a lot older now and I great great enjoyment watching them drive the Hudsons to car shows.



    You will find out that the Hudson people are great. I have belonged to the HET for 30 years. I have made a lot of friends around the country by being part of the club.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Hi and welcome. I called a fellow from the Windsor area last night and he has a 1952 Hollywood Hornet for sale. I don't know the exact condition, but he said it needs a lot of work and doesn't run. It might be worth your while to look at car as he said he would sell cheap. His name is Bob Countryman phone: 519-864-1494. good luck and check cars carefully, especially the frame.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Brent -



    Hi and Welcome - I can tell you that I have only been hanging around since this past November and I couldn't ask for a nicer group of knowledgeable, genuine people to help with genuine problems. These people not only preserve, modify and showcase their vehicles and parts, but they work very hard to preserve the knowledge base about the cars as well. Sometimes I feel like I should be paying some of them for their responses to my questions (such as yours)- some responses are indeed 'priceless'.
  • Aaron D. IL
    Aaron D. IL Senior Contributor
    Hello Brent I've been into Hudsons a few years now (I'm age 27)

    You can actually get your brake shoes at a local NAPA or Autozone believe it or not. Failing that, there are other sources. I've heard of 8V batteries being run but I've little to no problems with the old 6V positive ground as long as everything is maintained. I suggest joining the national HET club if you're not already a member. There's other memebers in Canada. There's also plenty of room in the old Hudsons for the family.
  • SamJ
    SamJ Senior Contributor
    Brent, email me and I will send you a copy of White Triangle News and the contact info for a local Club Member who's an expert. Use HETfortyqtpi@earthlink.net - BUT drop the HET first. Welcome!
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    Welcome aboard Brent, from an old Mopar lover, even tho I like Hudsons equally as well. Your car brings back memories - one of my first cars was a 1937 Chrysler C-16 Royal Sedan. Back in the '50s I raced on the old dirt tracks down south running 1937, 1938, 1939 Dodge and Plymouth coupes with the 1953 Dodge 241 small block hemi under the hood.

    Hope you will find your stay with us helpful and informative. Happy Hudsoning.



    Hudsonly,

    Alex B
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    WOW, thanxs guys for the warm welcome again!!! I will definetly take some of you guys up on your advice and offers for assistance, once again thanks!! I work tommorow so the Wasp will have to wait till monday before I will have a chance to get underneath her to see the real story with rust. I will let you guys know the out come maybe take some pics and let you guys take a look. I really want this car and I'am even thinking about selling the 41.......I cant believe I typed that LOL well maybe not LOL
  • nick s
    nick s Senior Contributor
    brent, ken amman in lennon michigan will be a valuable resource for you. if you get the car he is a good source for parts and if you decide to continue your search, he usually has a few cars for sale. not sure what issues you will face with customs but he is reasonably close to you.
  • SamJ
    SamJ Senior Contributor
    nick s wrote:
    brent, ken amman in lennon michigan will be a valuable resource for you. if you get the car he is a good source for parts and if you decide to continue your search, he usually has a few cars for sale. not sure what issues you will face with customs but he is reasonably close to you.

    No customs issues because of NAFTA. Bring a car in from the US, though, when you register it you will have to pay the Federal as well as the normal Provincial Sales tax + GST. Again, Brent email me and I will send you some contact info, including for Nick's excellent suggestion, Ken.
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