"37 Terraplane Headlight bulbs and arburator

Hudsonrules
Hudsonrules Senior Contributor
edited November -1 in HUDSON
:)Good evening, I have been workng on my terraplane the past few days as time permits. One headlight is out both low and high beam, the parking light works, so how do I change the bulb, how to properly remove the door and lens. I noticed a bolt under the headlight, removed it and still could not remove the lens, any special way? I bought a carbrator kit, did have a new needle and seat and new accelerator pump, but the gaskets were used. aAny way I took the carburator apart cleaned it and put it back togther twice,it leaked both times, the gaskets were not torn, but once compressd they cnnot be reused, correct? Reaearching the casting number, this carburator is for a '1940 Hudson, I know things have been changed on this car over the years, but I really want to get in and drive it. The engine sounds healthy but the carburator is not cooperating. Any help, sujjestions advice will be appreciated. Thanks, and Have a Happy Easter. Arnie M.

Comments

  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    I'm not a carburetor expert so I'll leave that question to others. I will say that I have replaced the dual-throat 1937 carb on mine, with a postwar ('46-7) one. Number 501-S I think. Might be more easily obtained. It's almost identical but is said to work better. If you did use it, you would have to salvage the cross-shaft from the original carb and fit it in the 501-s because the linkages on the two carbs are different.



    Headlights: remove screw at bottom (actually you only need to loosen it, but take it out anyway). Push bottom of glass inward and down; stick a credit card of rigid piece of thin plastic in behind the top part of the lens (a gap will appear there) and "work it around" from side to side, gently pulling the top of the lens out of the headlamp shell. Lens can then be grasped and pulled out of shell. IMPORTANT: place numerous blanket and pillows on the fenders and bumper below the lens, for you are sure to drop it. AutoZone does not carry this item.



    Bulb: grasp glass and press inward, then rotate counter-clockwise until the three studs align with the larger openings in the keyhole slots. Pull out. If both high and low beams don't work, you may have a wiring or switch problem so use a continuity tester and run it between certain points to see where the problem lies. Also, various connections between the socket and the frame of the car may have become rusty and there is no longer any ground.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    hi jon, i need to do this also. how about installing the glass into the bucket??. any tips/tricks for that, or just reverse the removal procedures. thanks , dermott.:cool:
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    Just reverse. If by any chance your spring clip (at the bottom) is rusted, Duke Marley (he's in the HET roster) has had reproductions made.



    Frankly, removal and replacement (but mostly removal) is quite tedious because it's a "tight fit". I alway simply peel off the chromed trim around the opening to give more room, before removing the lenses. Not the "cowboy way" but it works for me.
  • Ol racer
    Ol racer Senior Contributor
    Hello, Regarding your Carb it doesnt matter if a 1940 and I have reused gaskets sucessfullyif they still fit correctly. However If they have shrunk they wont seal and naturally leak. Take it apart then look close if gasket covers whole bowl area. You could get a sheet of gasket paper at Auto Store and try making a new gasket but since there so small you should just buy another Kit then use what you need. Another thing to check if gasket looks good...

    If Gasket Ok your new Needle & Seat may have the float set too high and causing gas to seep thru the good gasket (looking for way out). Try 'Lowering' the float by bending the Tab so float is lower in bowl..(letting less gas in)...
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    I've had the carb on my 54 hornet apart so many times that I can do it in my sleep. Gaskets can be reused, as Ole racer stated but make sure they fit correctly and that the mating surfaces are flat I had to run my base over a sheet of fine sandpaper a couple of times to remove a nick. It worked for me maybe it will help you also. Just don't take off too much......
    Bob
  • Jay_G
    Jay_G Expert Adviser
    Regrading the headlight, I always have a difficult time getting the lense retainer to line up with the screw at the botton. no matter how hard I push the top of the lense in the bottom just never goes forward enough. I have tied a string in a loop around the retainer tab to be able to pull it forward enough to put the screw in. Then cut the string and pull it out.



    Oh, and the part about the blankets. if you think you have enough....use twice as many. I have broken two lense as they sliped from my hands. They come up on ebay but it may be a while.



    Jay
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    Jay G wrote:
    Regrading the headlight, I always have a difficult time getting the lense retainer to line up with the screw at the botton. no matter how hard I push the top of the lense in the bottom just never goes forward enough.

    Jay





    Sounds to me like the spring clip at the bottom is weak; it doesn't have enough strength to push the reflector (and lens) out, like it should.



    As I think I mentioned above, Duke Marley has had those clips re-made.
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