53 super wasp, how rusty is too rusty?
Comments
-
unless it's a convertible, or a cheap parts car, keep shopping...0
-
Keep shopping! LOL!0
-
mlheaton wrote:hi,
I just got some pictures of the georgia super wasp, looks pretty rusty on the frame to me, I am going to try and ad some pictures. Is it repairable or should I keep shopping.
Morgan
Hi Morgan,
That guy called me yesterday morning and I passed on your name and phone number. I asked him point blank about frame rust and he said it had none. Obviously it does and he must have checked it after the fact and sent the pics. As others have said, I would definately pass on the car. Remember, the rocker panels are gone aswell. Keep watching this forum, we'll find you another one. Niels0 -
more pictures,0
-
what do you guys think a fair price for this car is, maybe I could find a good chassis and swap over the parts during a restoration, just a thought. Its to good to junk wouldn't you say.0
-
WOW! :eek: If what you can see is trashed, think about what you can't see. It's amazing that the rear of the car hasn't fallen off yet. Think of this cars' frame in terms of a house. If you were buying a house, would you pay more for it because someone spent money to fix a severely damaged foundation? Probably not. Why? Because people don't expect the foundation to be a major repair or replacement item. If the foundation is defective, what you build on it is meaningless. But if someone invested money to improve or update the home, that adds value. With a car, it doesn't matter what has been done or how much was invested if they are on a defective "foundation." Although everything can be repaired, it boils down to a matter of common sense and economics. Good luck.0
-
mlheaton wrote:what do you guys think a fair price for this car is, maybe I could find a good chassis and swap over the parts during a restoration, just a thought. Its to good to junk wouldn't you say.
Heart breaking, isn't it?
That is some severe rust, and I suspect you have even more demons awaiting you in places you can't see. If the rear frame is in that shape, does it even have a perimeter frame left?
I have an absolutely rusted '53 Hornet for a parts vehicle, and its rear frame/crossmember is in better condition than that Wasp. I'm afraid you have a 'terminal' case on your hands.
I wouldn't buy the car at all based upon it being "roadworthy" - because its NOT!!!
Thanks for posting those pics, makes me feel that much better about my own Wasp Club Coupe - its not that bad and does have its integrity in the areas of importance.
The price of its associated parts is its only worth. Engine/tranny/interior - etc. A chassis transplant of the kind needed to save that car is an ENORMOUS undertaking. I'm still planning on my own mode of attack with the issues I have.
Mark0 -
Great parts car. I wouldn't drive it to the end of the seller's driveway in that condition.0
-
A friend of mine owns a Hot Rod and Kustom shop here in CT. I dropped in a few weeks ago and he gave me the number of a guy who called him with a "2 door Hudson for sale" I gave the guy a called and he told me he had a " 1950 Hudson pacemaker that had been garaged for 20+ years, that was in excellent shape for $4000" I gave Bill Chapman a call. Grabbed my brother Greg and the three of us drove out to see this car. I was so siked I was ready to grab the flatbed ( the garage's I work for).........Its a damn good thing I didn't. The frame was so rotted on the car I would have split the car in two pulling it onto the flatbed. The frame was completely gone there are holes in the fenders that you can put your fist through and there isnt a solid panel on the car. The car is a basket case. The owner never showed up so I gave him a call. I informed him he was mistaken of the condition and value of his Hudson. He basically told me I could have the car for $2500. I told him $250 was a little more logical. I real kicker is that the car is a Brougham.
Stay Well, Stay Safe
Matt0 -
Sgnl50 wrote:A friend of mine owns a Hot Rod and Kustom shop here in CT. I dropped in a few weeks ago and he gave me the number of a guy who called him with a "2 door Hudson for sale" I gave the guy a called and he told me he had a " 1950 Hudson pacemaker that had been garaged for 20+ years, that was in excellent shape for $4000" I gave Bill Chapman a call. Grabbed my brother Greg and the three of us drove out to see this car. I was so siked I was ready to grab the flatbed ( the garage's I work for).........Its a damn good thing I didn't. The frame was so rotted on the car I would have split the car in two pulling it onto the flatbed. The frame was completely gone there are holes in the fenders that you can put your fist through and there isnt a solid panel on the car. The car is a basket case. The owner never showed up so I gave him a call. I informed him he was mistaken of the condition and value of his Hudson. He basically told me I could have the car for $2500. I told him $250 was a little more logical. I real kicker is that the car is a Brougham.
Stay Well, Stay Safe
Matt
If it was a solid body with good sheet metal with a crappy chassis you could transplant it all to a good frame that needed to be rescued or if you were an ambitous rodder you could drop the body and weld it on a different chassis but you'd be in for some major industrial work ...the kind you'd usually only reserve for a rare step-down like a convertible or Hollywood. You'd have to want to save her badly.0 -
mlheaton wrote:hi,
I just got some pictures of the georgia super wasp, looks pretty rusty on the frame to me, I am going to try and ad some pictures. Is it repairable or should I keep shopping.
Morgan
Morgan:
First of all thank you for taking the time to ask the opinion of those who frequent the Hudson BBS. The car in question is UNSAFE. As Ralph Nader said ... UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED. Hudson is a unit body vehicle. As others have pointed out the foundation is defective. But that is not the actual story... a unit body auto depends on the integrity of all of the pieces. If the frame members... stamped sheet steel welded into a box are rusted to the point pieces are missing there is NO doubt unseen other defects exist. There is NO easy method of repairing the frame. If you visit my website there is a section on Hudson frame repair. The pictures shown very clearly identify the necessary actions need to repair a failed frame. If you are still interested in a challenge contact Paul Schuster in Pittsburg ... a regular poster here and ask him what type of trials he went through to repair his 50 Hudson Pacemaker convertible... his car was rusted to the same or worse degree as this Wasp.
The car is what it is... a victim of corrosion and corrosion has caused nearly irrepairable damage.
Good Luck to you and please do not drive that vehicle.
Cheers from Texas0 -
Heart_Of_Texas wrote:Morgan:
First of all thank you for taking the time to ask the opinion of those who frequent the Hudson BBS. The car in question is UNSAFE. As Ralph Nader said ... UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED. Hudson is a unit body vehicle. As others have pointed out the foundation is defective. But that is not the actual story... a unit body auto depends on the integrity of all of the pieces. If the frame members... stamped sheet steel welded into a box are rusted to the point pieces are missing there is NO doubt unseen other defects exist. There is NO easy method of repairing the frame. If you visit my website there is a section on Hudson frame repair. The pictures shown very clearly identify the necessary actions need to repair a failed frame. If you are still interested in a challenge contact Paul Schuster in Pittsburg ... a regular poster here and ask him what type of trials he went through to repair his 50 Hudson Pacemaker convertible... his car was rusted to the same or worse degree as this Wasp.
The car is what it is... a victim of corrosion and corrosion has caused nearly irrepairable damage.
Good Luck to you and please do not drive that vehicle.
Cheers from Texas
Thanks Ken! you saved me a lot of typing!
You cannot disregard the importance of the unit body construction and the impact rust has on the 'frame' components of the body.
Plus just given the amount of rust through showing already - Guaranteed nothing on the body that is sheet metal will be any good to transplant. Maybe you could save some trim, mechanicals, or something but not a great car to start a project with.0 -
Get in touch with Lance Walker in Charlotte NC. He did a frame transplant on his 51 hornet sedan. It turned out great! He can tell you exactly what is involved and then you can decide whether the car is worth it or not. It is a ton of work but sometimes a ton of work results in a ton of gold! It all depends on what You are willing to undertake. Lance is in the roster and advertises in the WTN. Lance also rebuilds Ranco valves and works on clocks.... 704-792-9110
Bob0 -
This is almost exactly my sitch! But my doors, fenders, rockers, etc are all good enough to transplant. I bought a donor frame/shell and all my parts will move right over (I was lucky that I found an exact match donor car-thru Al Saffrahn). If you could get the car for a low enough price, you could find a good donor shell/frame, and the non-shell/frame parts were in good shape, it could still be a great car. This one actually has a worse frame then mine, mine at least has a bottom of the frame-you can just push a screwdriver thru it! Go on the Street Rod subforum and there are pics of my donor shell/frame I'm using on my '50 Pacemaker Coupe. And Coupes seem to be so hard to find, and especially at a decent price these days. But if the guy wants too much for the parts (and its not really a car, just parts) than I agree, pass way around this one!
Jay0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- 37K All Categories
- 106 Hudson 1916 - 1929
- 19 Upcoming Events
- 91 Essex Super 6
- 28.6K HUDSON
- 561 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise
- 993 Street Rods
- 150 American Motors
- 174 The Flathead Forum
- 49 Manuals, etc,.
- 78 Hudson 8
- 44 FORUM - Instructions and Tips on using the forum
- 2.8K CLASSIFIEDS
- 601 Vehicles
- 2.1K Parts & Pieces
- 77 Literature & Memorabilia
- Hudson 1916 - 1929 Yahoo Groups Archived Photos