Free at last, free at last, my 308 is free at last ...
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Wow - this was a big weekend. After 40 some odd years in a northern Maine potato field, and 3 weeks in my garage, my "new" '51 308 is freed up!
I can't tell you (although some of you probably already know) how exciting it was to feel that first budge and how exhilarating it is to be able to turn the engine by hand now.
Disassembly has begun in earnest, and although the block, cylinders, head, crank and cam appear to be pristine, my pistons and valves are pretty far gone (shot in some cases).
I was hoping some of you fellow Hudson people might have suggestions on a parts source for these parts and other random bits.
Also, the wet cork clutch: Is this completely outdated technology that can be replaced with modern parts? Is there a source for repop cork discs? Is there an adapter to mate a different tranny to the 308? It's got the overdrive which I'm pretty excited about keeping, but I have no idea where to find a clutch disc.
Thanks to all for reading and a big thanks ahead of time for any suggestions on where to find these miscellaneous parts.
Sam
I can't tell you (although some of you probably already know) how exciting it was to feel that first budge and how exhilarating it is to be able to turn the engine by hand now.
Disassembly has begun in earnest, and although the block, cylinders, head, crank and cam appear to be pristine, my pistons and valves are pretty far gone (shot in some cases).
I was hoping some of you fellow Hudson people might have suggestions on a parts source for these parts and other random bits.
Also, the wet cork clutch: Is this completely outdated technology that can be replaced with modern parts? Is there a source for repop cork discs? Is there an adapter to mate a different tranny to the 308? It's got the overdrive which I'm pretty excited about keeping, but I have no idea where to find a clutch disc.
Thanks to all for reading and a big thanks ahead of time for any suggestions on where to find these miscellaneous parts.
Sam
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Comments
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Click on the members list in this forum,then the "c" column go to page 4 of the C's you'll find "CLUTCH GUY" Doug Wildrick does rebuilding the clutch. KEEP IT KEEP IT He might tell you about the other stuff also.0
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lucky you!!! i wish i could say the same. ill get there. how did you do it? what did you use? thanks- john0
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You can get just about everything you need for your engine from Dale Cooper and Randy Maas. Dale has new pistons and valves and complete rebuild kits. Randy has some nice cams and better timing gears and chain.0
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37 Terraplane#2 wrote:Click on the members list in this forum,then the "c" column go to page 4 of the C's you'll find "CLUTCH GUY" Doug Wildrick does rebuilding the clutch. KEEP IT KEEP IT He might tell you about the other stuff also.
my understanding is doug is no longer doing recorking of clutches for stepdowns or those cars that use that clutch. He is still doing the earlier clutches, multi disc units, but has ceased this part of his operation. you can check out his updated website for the full line of services he still offers...
Doug Wildrick on the web
check it out, if anything is innaccurate, drop Doug a note...
hopefully soon there will come some updated and new features on the site...
(when I get a few spare moments! :eek: )0 -
Hi Sambone---Based on the questions you are asking, I would conclude that you are not a member of the Hudson, Essex,Terraplane Club which is a positive must for any Hudson owner. Prize winning bi-monthly publication with free ads for members & interesting stories about Hudsons. Check it out on the web.---Cliff Minard.0
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THEGREENHORNET wrote:lucky you!!! i wish i could say the same. ill get there. how did you do it? what did you use? thanks- john
Wow Guys, thanks for the tips. Too bad about Doug not rebuilding the clutch discs ... I'll have to check out what he DOES offer.
GreenHornet - I wish I could say I used some special formula to get things going, but it was more perseverance and luck than anything. I let ATF sit on the crowns of the pistons for a week or more, used liberal amounts of PB Blaster and Liquid Wrench penetrant, but I think the thing that worked the most was removing the rod cap on one of the pistons that was in the down position (which obviously means the crank was in the "up" position when the motor was turned upside down) This gave me access to the sides of the rod and all the hardware. I originally took off the cap to check the average condition of the bearings and crank ... I felt some give so I removed that piston. It was then that I felt the wiggle, and it all sort of landslided from there.
No, I am not a member of the Hudson Terraplane club. I'm hesitant to do so for one simple reason - I only have the 308 ... not the car. I've got a line on a 36-37 Terraplane (kind of hard to tell from the pics I was shown) but his price is out of my range right now.
Still, I'm in love with the engine and haven't yet decided where she will sit, but I'll burn that bridge when I come to it.
Thanks again for the advice.
Sam0 -
Join the club. Somebody will find you a car to put it in. I know where there are 2 51s right now that I don't even have time to go see. Ron Fellows is the new clutch guy. Sam Jackson will send you a free issue of the White Triangle News. That will get you going. email fortyqtpi@earthlink.net0
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Sam,
Car ownership is not a requirement for membership in the club and can, without a doubt lead to ownership! There are, in every issue of the WTN ( short for "White Triangle News" ) the clubs Bi-Monthly magazine a lot of ads for cars and parts for sale. We have, in the club many that do not own a car but they still love the Hudson brand. So I would encourage you to join the club. You may find yourself owning a Hudson sooner than you think.
Bob0 -
I have a 37-T,not for sale, I think you would have to do a lot of firewall cutting or somethging to get a 308 in one,someone get him up to speed on this so he gets started in the right direction0
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put it in some kind of roadster, a t-bucket. that would be fun.0
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Put it in something that originally had a Chevy 350.
There should be millions of Chevy carcasses out there missing their engines. LOL0 -
Ron Fellows in Texas is doing the cork clutches now0
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RON FELLOWS does clutches just put one of his in my 54 Wasp....Great workmanship and great clutch0
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I thought the cork clutch was an outdated piece of mechanical memorabilia.
Until I came to know them better. A very good thing when set up properly. You have to leave your previous clutch knowledge on the shelf and pay attention to details not normally on the radar.
I'm sure Doug will still help out on advice in setup, I do hope Ron Fellows garners the same reputation on the remanufacture of these clutches that Doug has.
Hudsonite Forever!
Congrats on the engine, have fun with it!
Mark0 -
Sam,
I echo to join the HET Club if your pondering owning a Hudson Car (or truck) to install your 308. There are many of todays technology available through the HET Club, plus invaluable Tech pages that interchange many original parts to now obtain from NAPA, Advance Auto, etc.
Adapters are available to convert to 4spd Std Trans or 7004R OD Units....
Incidently, a 308 will go into a Terraplane but requires notching the top of the firewall then trimming out the forward cross member (under the radiator) then sliding the radiator ahead into the grill shell. I did it, but it would be far easier to install a 308 in a longer WB Hudson especially an 8 cyl,where the Hornet motor would use the same mounts without cutting. Ebay is another resource to obtain a Hudson.0 -
Thanks for all the advice. I'll have to look into Ron Fellow's clutches ... right after I rebuild the 308. ($$$) It's kind of sad to say, but everything I'm doing these days is on a TIGHT budget. It doesn't stop me form enjoying what I love most (old cars) I just have to be frugal and look for that magical word, FREE.
I've got my hands full right now piecing this together, but my ear is to the ground and I'm on the lookout for a good body ... call me sacreligious, but I've humored putting the 308 where no 308 has gone before. It's funny, but I've got a 50 Chevy styleline business coupe that I'm slowly customizing. It has the original 235, which is a joke compared to a Hudson 308. I'm sick and tired of the 350/350 combo going in everything with 4 wheels and think it would be a blast to slip that 308 in somewhere different like Royer suggested.
Thanks again.0 -
Hudson's without a heart show up all the time on the WTN,E-bay and other classifieds, just waiting for someone to come along with a good transplant like a 308 with no body around it. Mine just went through major heart surgery. Most parts came from Randy Mass and Dale Cooper. Ron Fellows is doing my clutch now. Hopefully I will have it in the next couple of days and can fire it up in the next week. I can tell you that Ron is a very friendly and Hudson knowledgeable guy. Am looking forward to seeing the new clutch and getting it in there. He sounds to really know his stuff.0
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i wouldnt even think twice about putting it n that chevy. hell i would haqve had it in there for mock up already and then tried getting it unstuck.0
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ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ON THE COUPE, and even more so with the budget thing. BY all means, GIT-er-DONE boy!0
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