an introduction and a question

[Deleted User]
[Deleted User]
edited November -1 in HUDSON
Hello all. I'm a new member to the boards here and I thought I'd take a moment to introduce myself before throwing out questions...which I have a few.



My name is Chris Hudson and, yes, because of the name sake have been in love with Hudson automobles since childhood. For the past 6 or 7 years I have been working towards the purchase of my first HET car and finally reached the goal 2 weeks ago with the purchase of a 1952 Hornet sedan.



Since getting the Hornet home, I have been tearing through every website I can find to learn more about the car and my options for parts...which is how I found the forums here. I've looked through many posts and I hope the question that is bugging me the most hasn't been asked time and time over.



So, my question is what size engines came in the hornet? I was told by the previous owner that it was a 308...but after a little time under the hood I noticed a 232 on the head. Is there a way I can confirm the engine size?
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Comments

  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    Welcome to the Forum, Chris. I can't answer your question but stay tuned...you'll probably have an answer before the end of the evening.



    Meanwhile, I hope you've considered joining (or perhaps you've already joined) the H-E-T Club. More, here: http://www.hudsonclub.org/
  • nick s
    nick s Senior Contributor
    a hornet would have come with a 308. a 308 block can be identified by a cast rib an inch or two above the oil pan flange.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Jon B - Thank you. I have been planning to do just that. I hear the newsletter is very helpful.



    nick s - Would you be speaking of a number like 304539?
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    If I'm reading this correctly (and I'm probably not!), engine and serial numbers were the same in StepDowns. So, if your engine and car serial number matches, you should have the original block (which would indeed be a 308, in your '52 Hornet). Possibly the head was exchanged for a 232.



    But this is all wild speculation from someone with a pre-StepDown....
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Correct me if I'm wrong , but haven't I seen on here where the head swap was some sort of a HOP-UP job ?
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    232 heads are used to bump up compression and therefore performance. which brings me to ask is your car equipped with twin carbs or any other go faster goodies?
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    half baked wrote:
    232 heads are used to bump up compression and therefore performance. which brings me to ask is your car equipped with twin carbs or any other go faster goodies?



    No Twin carbs or any other go faster items that I'm aware of... The number on the drivers side of the block does not match the number on the door post. Neither does the stamped number (vertical) on the pass. side.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Type in "Hudson engine numbers " on your browser-- go to number 5 that comes up-- there will be a number of things to choose from,you will find what you need there
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    in case yours has been swapped for a smaller capacity engine, here is a quickly stolen and painted picture showing the rib cast into the 308 blocks only.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    half baked - the area pointed to in the image is exactly where I got the 304539 number from.



    So from the information I've given, would it be safe to say that it is, indeed, a 308 block with a 232 head (the 232 is on the head near the thermostat housing)? Or should the rib mentioned above actually say 308? I did notice as well, that the head has what appears to have been silver paint on it and the block is red (under all the dirt, grease and oil) This made me think that it was possibly a head swap.



    Thank you guys for all the help. I know from other forums how frustrating it can be to deal with newbs. I do try to find my answers before asking questions...I strongly dislike coming across as some "kid" without a clue looking for the easy way out.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Sounds like you have a 308 with a 232 head. Using the 232 head ups the compression so someone was trying to get more power out of that engine. Does it have Twin-H with the two carbs? try and post some pictures.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    dont worry hudson 13, im that crazy kid with all the stupid ideas. at 25 im just about the youngest on here...

    is it an aluminium head? that would explain it being silver.

    i dont remember ever seeing 308 cast into my block anywhere, that rib doesnt have any markings. the number you quoted is likely to be the casting no.
  • Aaron D. IL
    Aaron D. IL Senior Contributor
    Hudson 13, I've been the kid once in the past joined when I was 19 I'm 29 now and I've never gotten a condscending attitude from any of the veteran club members.



    As far your engine, Hornets only came with the 308. but the 232 head was and is a common thing to add to bump up performance. As far as you serial number I think it's stamped on the engine on the front passenger side edge of the block very close to the water pump, that's the number that should match your door post serial plate (which should start with 7B). Look close too it might've been painted over a little..... if that number doesn't match, probably someone threw in a replacement 308 at some point but as long as it's a 308 it's the proper (and desired) engine for you car.
  • faustmb
    faustmb Senior Contributor
    Chris,



    Welcome to the Hudson forum. You'll be able to find out about anything you want to regarding your Hudson on this site. You might also check your local area for a HET chapter. There may be HET members in your area that can help you out or just kick tires with you.



    Post some pictures of you car if you can,



    Matt
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The rib spoken of is a flange type rib molded with the block about 1 1/2 or 2 inches above the oil pan flange. Runs the length of the block. Only on the 308. The 232 and 262 does not have it. The 52 engine was painted Gold. The motor # is on the pass side front of block thrue 54. On drivers side top of block 55 and 56. I think that is correct.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    I'm feeling pretty confident that it's not the original 308...not that I mind. I was just worried that I'd been mislead about the engine size.



    as for pictures...I took some yesterday but have put them anywhere to link to them yet
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    I'm not sure if you were aware of it, but we maintain an MSN site for people to post photos of their Hudsons, at http://groups.msn.com/HudsonEssexTerraplaneBulletinBoard/_whatsnew.msnw . A simple sign-up is necessary (no charge) and they let you put your pictures together into an album format. There's a limit of X number of pictures, but for most people it seems to work out okay.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    I didn't know that... Thank you !http://groups.msn.com/HudsonEssexTerraplaneBulletinBoard/52hornet1.msnw?Page=Last
  • nick s
    nick s Senior Contributor
    not sure you quite got what we are calling a rib. check out the pictures in this thread
    http://www.classiccar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7423

    the two numbers you referred to are: the serial number of the engine stamped vertically in front of the exhaust manifold, and the raised numbers on the left hand side are just a casting number. having a "232" on the head and the vertical serial number indicate that it is a 51-54 block the red paint may indicate that it is a 54 (if it had not been repainted). the serial number will tell the year for sure.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    I didn't at first...I was thinking that rib was some term for casting numbers that I wasn't familiar with...but I got it all figured out now. The block does indeed have the 308 rib an inch or so above the oil pan.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Are those two patches of surface rust on the underside of the hood or the remains of insulation pads?
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    it's the leftovers from insulation



    edited because I was half asleep when I read your post, Dave
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    it is a blast to drive! I drove it 100 miles to get it home and it ran great.



    Anyone from the Cincinnati area here?
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    HI welcome to the greatest bunch of old car guys there is. I'm not across town , 100 miles down the pike at Salem In. Got a 37 Terraplane like the one I had back in 1952. Had several Hudsons in my time but it has allways been THE CAR OF MY LIFE. Gonna get a step down if I ever run accross one I can afford that can be fixed up on a SLOW STARVATION income.
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    Dale Cooper is (from the Cincinnati area). http://www.hudsonmotorcarco.com/ Your friendly local source of Hudson engine parts and gaskets!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Hudson13 wrote:
    it's the leftovers from insulation



    edited because I was half asleep when I read your post, Dave



    Thanks. That's interesting because it seems that Hudson did not used hood insulation...or did they?
  • faustmb
    faustmb Senior Contributor
    Dave53-7C wrote:
    Thanks. That's interesting because it seems that Hudson did not used hood insulation...or did they?



    Didn't we just go through all this :)



    http://www.classiccar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8904&highlight=hood+insulation



    Matt
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    faustmb wrote:
    Didn't we just go through all this :)



    http://www.classiccar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8904&highlight=hood+insulation



    Matt



    Sure did...just like everything else. :)
  • Clutchguy
    Clutchguy Senior Contributor
    Sometime in '52 the cars started getting insulation under the hood instead of the sprayed on sound deadner.Hudson was probably tied of installing a hood that weighed 100Lbs.!! LOL. They still used the pads under the rear hood brace though.:)
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Clutch guy wrote:
    Sometime in '52 the cars started getting insulation under the hood instead of the sprayed on sound deadner.Hudson was probably tied of installing a hood that weighed 100Lbs.!! LOL. They still used the pads under the rear hood brace though.:)



    Either that or the insulation was cheaper. Did they really use spray on sound deadner on the underside of the hood? I don't think I've ever noticed that on any pre 52 Hudsons.
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