Drive-Master: Marvel or Junk?

[Deleted User]
[Deleted User]
edited November -1 in HUDSON
My '49 Commodore orginally had a drive-master installed but the owner before last removed it. I am considering trying to put a drive-master unit back on it, if I can find one. Is it worth the hassle of making all the necessary adjustments to make it work right? Do they ever work right?

Comments

  • Uncle Josh
    Uncle Josh Senior Contributor
    I have one I took off my 49 Commadore. Complete including wiring and dash switch. Car had 29,000 miles on it.



    $75 if you want it. email HETcramerlp@roadrunner.com for more info and pics.



    Like anything else, they work good if they're adjusted right.
  • Aaron D. IL
    Aaron D. IL Senior Contributor
    According to Dr. Doug when I talked to him about it, when it's set up right and all the linkages are in adjustment, it's great. You can clutch without shifting or shift without clutching or go into overdrive if so equipped. He also said he had successfullly rewired them for 12V.

    Lots of guys take them off the car though because they don't want to be bothered with it, or the linkage adjustments. Perhaps some out of intimidation. Personally I'm going to have mine working on my '47 C8. I think it adds to the historical interest of the car and preserves the engineering history from that time period before automatics were common. Plus I'll be the only kid on my block to have one. :)
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    They broke down because no one knew how to fix or maintain them, or cared to know. Like so many other gizmo's, these things require regular maintenance and people just aren't into maintenance anymore. If you take the time to work on one and get to know how it works, you'll become knowledgeable in its mechanics, so you can perform quick-fixes in case of trouble.



    So the answer is: no, it's probably not worth it from a totally logical and rational point of view, to spend the time and money getting something running that really doesn't accomplish that much in the first place. Frankly, from a totally logical and rational point of view, the whole act of restoring and driving an antique car is probably not worth it, either.



    But then, a totally logical and rational life isn't one that most of us would pursue.
  • Huddy42
    Huddy42 Senior Contributor
    I bought my 1942 Hudson Two Door Brougham in 1989 it is equipt with drivemaster, in all those years I have NEVER had to make any adjustments to the unit at all and still works a dream. It sure is a talking point at all make car shows.



    Les.P.
  • Clutchguy
    Clutchguy Senior Contributor
    Huddy42 wrote:
    I bought my 1942 Hudson Two Door Brougham in 1989 it is equipt with drivemaster, in all those years I have NEVER had to make any adjustments to the unit at all and still works a dream. It sure is a talking point at all make car shows.



    Les.P.



    Yeah,what he said!!!! :D
  • esfoder
    esfoder Expert Adviser
    If my car had one I sure would make it work. Hooking one up with out an example to go from might be fun?
  • Nevada Hudson
    Nevada Hudson Senior Contributor
    Kind of a Rube Goldburg set up ! The late George Schmidt wrote many articles on the Drive Master, Vacumotive and Supermatic drive in the WTN in easy to understand terms.Wish they could be reprinted and offered in our club store. It's really a point of interest at Hudson meets, and we were able to ride in Richard Griffith's '49 Commodore 8 with it, and it was a real treat.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    # 377 Drive-master Service Information. If anybody has manuals (in decent shape) that we don't have in the store send them to me, or bring them to the Nat. My offer is, the first copy is yours FREE and the stack of loose pages that was the old one.If wanted.
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    Drivmaster - if it's adjusted right and kept maintained it's a marvel.



    Otherwise it's junk.



    Hudsonly,

    Alex Burr

    Memphis, TN
This discussion has been closed.

Categories

In this Discussion