Opinions needed please
Hi everyone, I would like some opinions from you more knowledgeable guys if you don't mind. I am trying to arrange it so my wife and I can make the trip to the Eastern Regional Meet. It would be about 650 to 700 miles to Front Royal from my home. My 49 Super Six is not a show car by any means, but I have made a lot of repairs to it since I bought it two months ago. I'm not sure how good the engine's bottom end is. It had a valve job done before I bought it. It has a new Doug Wildrick clutch in it and all new brake system as well as new waterpump, rebuilt gen, and a bunch of other stuff. It drives Ok around town, but I am concerned about sustained highway travel, as it does not have overdrive. It is wound up pretty good at 55-60 mph. As I said, I have not had the car long enough to really know its reliability yet. Should I attempt a trip like that or wait for another time when I have had a chance to really put some miles on it? Thanks in advance for your advice, Richie.
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Comments
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Much as I'd love to see you arrive in Front Royal in your 'new' Hudson, I think prudence dictates that you hold off. (Who is Prudence, anyway?) You haven't had this thing long enough to become acquainted with its quirks. (That strange knock in the engine, for example; it could get worse over the next 200 miles, or you might still have it after 15 years of driving!) You really need to drive this car around town, travelling in ever-increasing distances from your home, until you've worked out the bugs.
If you want a 'Hudson adventure', see if someone you know is travelling to Front Royal in a Hudson and accompany them. They'd be happy for the company and you can lend a hand (and get valuable experience) if they break down!0 -
Was your car equipped with overdrive and now it's broken? If yes, I concur with Jon. Either fix the OD first or replace the rear end with the standard gear (don't ask me what it is, I've forgotten!). There's nothing worser than trying to dirve fast with the engine whining.
Enjoy it at slower speeds.
Tim0 -
Richie wrote:Hi everyone, I would like some opinions from you more knowledgeable guys if you don't mind. I am trying to arrange it so my wife and I can make the trip to the Eastern Regional Meet. It would be about 650 to 700 miles to Front Royal from my home. My 49 Super Six is not a show car by any means, but I have made a lot of repairs to it since I bought it two months ago. I'm not sure how good the engine's bottom end is. It had a valve job done before I bought it. It has a new Doug Wildrick clutch in it and all new brake system as well as new waterpump, rebuilt gen, and a bunch of other stuff. It drives Ok around town, but I am concerned about sustained highway travel, as it does not have overdrive. It is wound up pretty good at 55-60 mph. As I said, I have not had the car long enough to really know its reliability yet. Should I attempt a trip like that or wait for another time when I have had a chance to really put some miles on it? Thanks in advance for your advice, Richie.
Richie,
Drop me an email at NEChudsontech09@yahoo.com (drop the NEC) and I'll send you the 1948-1949 Mechanical spec sheets - which includes the rear axle ratios (those are, incidentally - standard 4-1/10 to 1 and optional 4-5/9 to 1).
Anybody else wants a copy drop me an email - I'll send back via email.
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
NEChudsontech09@yahoo.com (drop the NEC)0 -
If the basics are safe and you are comfortable with their condition (tires, brakes, brakelines, hoses, belts, lights etc. - why not drive it?
15 - 100 mile trips around your house will not replicate the same driving conditions as a 1500 mile round trip so your biggest comfort level gained would be being more comfortable driving the car - not whether it would perform on the trip.
I guess I'm more of one to take chances as I look at the journey as part of the experience so as long as I am comfortable a car is safe to drive I say why not drive it?
Besides no matter what you do you'll never be able to take the old girl out and know with 100% certainty that nothing will break down so having a AAA membership and a cell phone are cheap insurance if you do get stranded.0 -
Hudson was a very well build car.....considering it's 50 years old...well that's another matter but highway driving is good for it.....I'd say take the country routes instead of the interstate, caravan with another club member, stick some basic spares and tools in the trunk and have a AAA and a cell phone and go for it. Radial tires make a big difference too. I've done similar trips in cars FAR from perfect.... if you can settle in that engine on a country road at 55-60 mph it's a more relaxed pace of driving and not as stressful. .... Might be hot but the vent windows keep you from sweating as long as you are moving... put some insulation on the floor, it helps...... might be a little louder than a newer car but you get used it. I guess it all depends on your comfort level. You could opt to trailer it, but of course then you're looking at a lot more expense and we're a driver's club.0
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Jon B wrote:Much as I'd love to see you arrive in Front Royal in your 'new' Hudson, I think prudence dictates that you hold off. (Who is Prudence, anyway?) You haven't had this thing long enough to become acquainted with its quirks. (That strange knock in the engine, for example; it could get worse over the next 200 miles, or you might still have it after 15 years of driving!) You really need to drive this car around town, travelling in ever-increasing distances from your home, until you've worked out the bugs.
If you want a 'Hudson adventure', see if someone you know is travelling to Front Royal in a Hudson and accompany them. They'd be happy for the company and you can lend a hand (and get valuable experience) if they break down!
Jon B, thank you for your advice. What you have said makes a lot of sense, I really haven't been able to drive it much yet as I have worked on it pretty steadly now for 4 or 5 weeks. Thank you again, Richie.0 -
hudnut1tmr wrote:Was your car equipped with overdrive and now it's broken? If yes, I concur with Jon. Either fix the OD first or replace the rear end with the standard gear (don't ask me what it is, I've forgotten!). There's nothing worser than trying to dirve fast with the engine whining.
Enjoy it at slower speeds.
Tim
hudnut1tmr, my car was not equipped with overdrive, and I agree that it is very uncomfortable listening to a motor turning high RPM for hunders of miles. I'm not sure of the condition of the internals yet, so it wouldn't be fair to run it a long distance on the highway, without first taking some short day trips to see how it handles them. I don't know the actual mileage on the engine either. Thanks very much for your opinion, Richie.0 -
hudsontech wrote:Richie,
Drop me an email at NEChudsontech09@yahoo.com (drop the NEC) and I'll send you the 1948-1949 Mechanical spec sheets - which includes the rear axle ratios (those are, incidentally - standard 4-1/10 to 1 and optional 4-5/9 to 1).
Anybody else wants a copy drop me an email - I'll send back via email.
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
NEChudsontech09@yahoo.com (drop the NEC)
Alex, I will e-mail you shortly, and thank you very much, Richie.0 -
rambos_ride wrote:If the basics are safe and you are comfortable with their condition (tires, brakes, brakelines, hoses, belts, lights etc. - why not drive it?
15 - 100 mile trips around your house will not replicate the same driving conditions as a 1500 mile round trip so your biggest comfort level gained would be being more comfortable driving the car - not whether it would perform on the trip.
I guess I'm more of one to take chances as I look at the journey as part of the experience so as long as I am comfortable a car is safe to drive I say why not drive it?
Besides no matter what you do you'll never be able to take the old girl out and know with 100% certainty that nothing will break down so having a AAA membership and a cell phone are cheap insurance if you do get stranded.
Rambos ride, I like nothing more than driving my old cars. I believe this car sat for an extended period of time and on the few times I drove it, it seems like something went wrong. Waterpump started leaking, gen stopped working, then on the next drive the reg. quit. All this has been repaired or replaced, just not sure about it yet. As I mentioned in an earlier post I also have a 47 Plymouth that I drove 2,500 miles this last sept, but I had rebuilt the engine and all other important parts, including installing an overdrive trans. I am a driver, I really enjoy the memories of these old cars. I will see how it goes. Thank you very much for your opinion also. Richie.0 -
Aaron D. IL wrote:Hudson was a very well build car.....considering it's 50 years old...well that's another matter but highway driving is good for it.....I'd say take the country routes instead of the interstate, caravan with another club member, stick some basic spares and tools in the trunk and have a AAA and a cell phone and go for it. Radial tires make a big difference too. I've done similar trips in cars FAR from perfect.... if you can settle in that engine on a country road at 55-60 mph it's a more relaxed pace of driving and not as stressful. .... Might be hot but the vent windows keep you from sweating as long as you are moving... put some insulation on the floor, it helps...... might be a little louder than a newer car but you get used it. I guess it all depends on your comfort level. You could opt to trailer it, but of course then you're looking at a lot more expense and we're a driver's club.
Aaron D. IL, After working on the Hudson so much I realize how well built it is. Taking the country roads is an option, just might take a bit longer. I put new radials on it and it rides good, very comfortable. All this hindges on whether my wife can get the time off from work, but I'm going on the assumption that she can. I have lots of food for thought now, thank you very much,Richie.0 -
Whatever way you go, don't forget to take your HET roster. That way, should you have a problem, you can reach out to a member who may be nearby and can offer assistance.0
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Richie, If you don't get to drive it to Front Royal, for the Regional, Consider driving it to Pigeon Forrge TN, for the Hudsons in the Heartland XVIII Meet October 26-28 2007. That would give you a few more months to get aquainted with the car.
Bob Hickson0 -
Richie wrote:Rambos ride, I like nothing more than driving my old cars. I believe this car sat for an extended period of time and on the few times I drove it, it seems like something went wrong. Waterpump started leaking, gen stopped working, then on the next drive the reg. quit. All this has been repaired or replaced, just not sure about it yet. As I mentioned in an earlier post I also have a 47 Plymouth that I drove 2,500 miles this last sept, but I had rebuilt the engine and all other important parts, including installing an overdrive trans. I am a driver, I really enjoy the memories of these old cars. I will see how it goes. Thank you very much for your opinion also. Richie.
Well - if you don't drive to this event it sounds like it won't be long before you will be able to.
I bought a 1976 CJ5 in 1990 (pre-Rambo) - the week I bought it I drove from Seattle to Tri-Cities - over 600 miles round trip...it had 304V8, 126k miles, no radio, short front seats and bias-ply re-capped tires!
The CJ got me there and back with no break downs and I sure got to know it well going over Snoqualmie Pass - a trip I'll never forget!0 -
Dave53-7C wrote:Whatever way you go, don't forget to take your HET roster. That way, should you have a problem, you can reach out to a member who may be nearby and can offer assistance.
Dave53-7c, That is a great idea, I hadn't thought of that. What a help that would be if a problem came up. Thanks, Richie.0 -
BJ__TN wrote:Richie, If you don't get to drive it to Front Royal, for the Regional, Consider driving it to Pigeon Forrge TN, for the Hudsons in the Heartland XVIII Meet October 26-28 2007. That would give you a few more months to get aquainted with the car.
Bob Hickson
BJ TN, Bob, I think by that time I will have everything under control, at least I hope so. I put some miles on it this afternoon and all went well. I went to Pigeon Forge about 10 years ago to the F100 nationals, had a great time. I will do my best to get to Front Royal, but if I don't, I will count on going to Pigeon Forge. Thanks for your input, Richie.0 -
rambos_ride wrote:Well - if you don't drive to this event it sounds like it won't be long before you will be able to.
I bought a 1976 CJ5 in 1990 (pre-Rambo) - the week I bought it I drove from Seattle to Tri-Cities - over 600 miles round trip...it had 304V8, 126k miles, no radio, short front seats and bias-ply re-capped tires!
The CJ got me there and back with no break downs and I sure got to know it well going over Snoqualmie Pass - a trip I'll never forget!
Rambos ride, Dan, that sounds like a good adventure to me. You are a brave man !! Sounds like you had no major issues during your trip though. I bought a 55 ford several years back over the net and drove to Dover Delaware and drove it back to Ga. No issues on the way back, I consider myself lucky to get through that. I've done some "not too smart things I guess". All is well that ends well they say. You are right, it won't be long before I am comfortable taking long trips with the Hudson. Thanks Dan, Richie.0 -
Richie wrote:Dave53-7c, That is a great idea, I hadn't thought of that. What a help that would be if a problem came up. Thanks, Richie.
Richie,
You're welcome. Look at all the support you're getting and you haven't left home yet! I say don't worry, but don't be careless either. Take all of the good suggestions you've gotten here (what to bring and how to travel) and take a leap of faith. Even if the old Hudson acts up, there's a world of Hudson folk around you who would be glad to help. Have fun and enjoy driving your Hudson.
Dave0 -
Dave53-7C wrote:Richie,
You're welcome. Look at all the support you're getting and you haven't left home yet! I say don't worry, but don't be careless either. Take all of the good suggestions you've gotten here (what to bring and how to travel) and take a leap of faith. Even if the old Hudson acts up, there's a world of Hudson folk around you who would be glad to help. Have fun and enjoy driving your Hudson.
Dave
Dave, it is really comforting to know that help is not far away while traveling. I have received lots of good suggestions and I appreciate that. I try to always be careful when traveling and take as many spare parts as I can, along with my tools. I hope to enjoy my Hudson for a long time, Thanks again Dave. Richie.0 -
Not to throw out another thought...but here goes. I both a 60,000 mile 49 super, NO OD. It was the typical old lady car. It had been in one family for it's entire life. I put a new exhaust system on it, changed the fluids, put in a new clutch and headed out for the st Louis HET National. I had the car about 3 months prior to the trip. A bit of a risk, yes,... bit I had a blast.. and the car made it both ways without a hitch. Oh and I live in Maryland... Nice drive...about 850 miles each way.
I'm not saying this to get you to drive the car if you are uncomfortable with it..just to let you know the car, if in good shape, will make the trip without a hitch. By the way. IF you don't want to put OD in the car, locate a 3.51 pumpkin out of a 51-2 with a Hydro. It will make the car run at real highway speeds at a more comfortable RPM0 -
EssexAdv wrote:Not to throw out another thought...but here goes. I both a 60,000 mile 49 super, NO OD. It was the typical old lady car. It had been in one family for it's entire life. I put a new exhaust system on it, changed the fluids, put in a new clutch and headed out for the st Louis HET National. I had the car about 3 months prior to the trip. A bit of a risk, yes,... bit I had a blast.. and the car made it both ways without a hitch. Oh and I live in Maryland... Nice drive...about 850 miles each way.
I'm not saying this to get you to drive the car if you are uncomfortable with it..just to let you know the car, if in good shape, will make the trip without a hitch. By the way. IF you don't want to put OD in the car, locate a 3.51 pumpkin out of a 51-2 with a Hydro. It will make the car run at real highway speeds at a more comfortable RPM
EssexAdv, that is a nice story and a happy ending too. I'm not too sure my car is ready quite yet. Took it for a drive the other day and had a vibration start. I had replaced the driveshaft center bearing support mounts and thought maybe I miss-aligned them, so I checked and found one had broken. I replaced it with one of the old ones that was not broken and started out again. After a few miles the vibration came back again, another broken mount. I finally jacked the car up, put it on stands and ran it in 3rd gear at 35mph. As soon as I slid under the car it was obvious the rear driveshaft was bent, so now it is sitting on jack stands til I get it replaced. I may have one shortly as one of our HET members is checking today. I do want to put overdrive in the car, and will at some point, but if that doesn't happen in the near future I definitely will consider changing the rear end ratio. Thanks for your comment and story, Richie.0
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