254 distributor swap

Unknown
Unknown
edited November -1 in HUDSON
i know i have seen where people have modified current electronic distributors to the 6 cylinders . has anyone done this for the 8's ? mine is a 51 . once i get mine running if i decide to keep it i would like to go to a more current one for dependability as i will go 12 volt anyway .

mike

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  • 50C8DAN
    50C8DAN Senior Contributor
    I tried to find along the lines of a Petronix setup for my '50 8 as well. I talked to Petronix and even sent my distributor to them for examination. After a lot of study I thought that one might be able to get the Packard 8 unit to work since it also is a 6V positive ground unit and the base distributor is the same as the Hudson. However, it was a no go since the Packard unit turns the opposite direction to the Hudson 8 distributor. Petronix said they would do a one off for about $350, which was too rich for my blood and more to the point if I wanted a second one it would have not been much less. If something happened on the road I would have been SOL. I finally had mine gone through and rebuilt by Buffalo Machine in Colorado who did a fine job. He also talked to Petronix since they do a lot of conversion and he said it was not worth the effort.



    As for 6V if done right it will be just fine unless you want to run a CD player, CB radio or the like that needs 12V. My C8 seems to be just fine with 6V. If you want more current for the lights see several of the post over the last month on that issue, you can take care of that situation without the 12 V conversion.
  • Fred
    Fred Expert Adviser
    Crane cam makes a universal unit that I have used in a four cyl. Gray Marine and my 48 Comm. 8. I think it was a little over $100. a few years ago.

    Fred
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    what i was going for was using a different distributor ie a chrysler ot chevy and machining it to work . wondered if anyone has done that yet . i have read on here where they did that for the 6 cylinders with a chrysler slant 6 distributor.

    mike
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Use a distb. from a mopar 318, Body of distb. has to be machined to match the Hudson 8. Press on and pin the Hudson Distb. gear and you are good to go, EXCEPT for all the mopar wiring which looks hoky. Same thing can be done to Hudson Distb., Use Mopar internals, turn the dist. cam lobs to fit the Mopar reluctor and mount pickup on your plate. Still a lot of extra wiring. Really not worth the trouble unless you plan on driving a real lot. Good set of points and a proper 12V set up works as well, But here again unless you plan on a lot of driving, 6V setup works great. IF you have it right. I.E. Good batt., proper cables, good gen. and starter , and decent wiring. I have plenty of miles on 6V with no problems in lots of cars. My 33 T8 is currently 12V as I originally on driving it more, But I am going to change back to 6V some time in the future.
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