couple days newbie here

[chris1450]

Been lurking and posted a few... Great site from what I can see, other than having a hard time figuring out how to make the post sort from accending order... I just bought a 1951 hudson hornet that I want to make a lead sled out of. I am picking it up next weekend, 700 miles from me. Should be a fun trip. Here are a few pictures of my field car find..... Hope it is as solid as the pictures seem to indicate....


http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj223/chris1451/hudson6.jpg


http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj223/chris1451/hudson2.jpg


http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj223/chris1451/hudson1.jpg

[Jon B]

Chris, you might want to post this down in the "Hudson" forum instead of here. If you intend to modify it you could go to the "street rods" sub-forum under Hudson (the regular Hudson forum is patronized more by folks who tend to keep theirs stock).

[chris1450]

Thanks for the tip. I already have posted there.. not much traffic. So I figure I would get some exposure in the general section LOL. Anyways, great site.

[37 Terraplane#2]

Chris, somebody should have told you this allready, GET THAT THING UP IN THE AIR AND CHECK THE FRAME FOR RUST OUT defore you spend another dime. The area from in front of the rear axle on back and up over it seems to be the most vulnerable, but check it all. Poke around on it hard all over for soft spots. They can be fixed but you'll need to come back to the Hudson forum for the know how.. Take pics of any damage to post . And welcome to the world of HUDSON, some of these guys are experts on them and readily give all the tips you'll need. Bud

[chris1450]

Thanks bud. I am buying it sight unseen... the pucker factor is high. Only giving up $300 for it so I'm not out much. I will have more than double that in gas to get it, but wife has never been east of spokane wahington. It is located in Great falls. So it will be a good trip. The owner is a Pastor and invited us to stay at the parsonage while we are there. Very nice fellow. If it turns out to be too big of a project for me to tackle, I am sure I can sell it for more than $300 in the Seattle area. If you don't take a few risks, you might miss out right??

[37 Terraplane#2]

Hi Chris, another tip, tow dollys cause damage on these things , get it up on a trailer

[chris1450]

yup... got that covered. I wouldn't dare tow it wheels down. No one knows how long it has been since it moved. I would have to change wheel bearings and get new tires if I did that. Going over 2 mountain ranges pretty much makes it mandatory for a good trailer with good brakes. Fortunately a freind is letting me use his. I figure I will be close to 6,000 lbs all up with the trailer and car. Once home, I am going to dissasemble quite a bit. I have read you have to support the body to keep it straight when taking off the rear fenders? I figure 6-8 jack stands from front to back on the frame rails would do the same thing until the fenders go back on.. what do you think? I am lucky as where I work I can put some pretty large parts into the media blaster, and hot tank other large parts. I would love to have the whole body dipped, but haven't researched where yet.

[37 Terraplane#2]

Sounds like you got it covered pretty good, right on with the good trailer and brakes. And from an old trucker, start down hill SLOW, let the engine carry the load as much as possable, even brakes that seem good can overheat and you got nothing. Bud

[rambos_ride]

yup... got that covered. I wouldn't dare tow it wheels down. No one knows how long it has been since it moved. I would have to change wheel bearings and get new tires if I did that. Going over 2 mountain ranges pretty much makes it mandatory for a good trailer with good brakes. Fortunately a freind is letting me use his. I figure I will be close to 6,000 lbs all up with the trailer and car. Once home, I am going to dissasemble quite a bit. I have read you have to support the body to keep it straight when taking off the rear fenders? I figure 6-8 jack stands from front to back on the frame rails would do the same thing until the fenders go back on.. what do you think? I am lucky as where I work I can put some pretty large parts into the media blaster, and hot tank other large parts. I would love to have the whole body dipped, but haven't researched where yet.

Welcome to the forum.

There's no reason to brace the car unless it is structurally weak from rust or your are doing a floor pan or trunk replacement.

Honestly do yourself a favor and make a really good rust assesment before you get too far.

Take a GOOD look at my website - my car didn't really look too bad when it was delivered, maybe a little better than your pictures show..

In 2004 ~ I bought my 49 for 1600.00 + 500.00 = 2100.00 initial investment.

I've now replaced both front floor pans and the entire trunk pan - plus numerous "frame" patches on the rear perimeter frame and every other sheet metal panel - every one...I probably have at least 150-200 hours in rust repairs and fabrication alone.

With time and materials I'm easily into this car 5k+ and its 2 years away from completion and 20k at least - with myself doing 98% of all the work!

Last year I bought a 1950 Super 6 for $3500.00, ostensibly for parts, but realized it was in such nice shape compared to the 49 that I couldn't part it out so it's going to get a little hot-rod and driver level restoration to the tune of 4-6k and be on the road this summer.

I'll drive it while I finish the custom 49 - but what I learned is that I should have got a better car to start with, or at least a donor car for the shell as although I've done my best - the 49 will always have rust problems and the extra time and money of the rust repairs will force you to cut corners in other areas or lengthen the time it takes to complete.

Having said all this - please don't let any of these comments dissuade you from building a Hudson - they're a real piece of engineering history and you'll have a ton of fun going through the journey of learning and working on the car and meeting and interacting with all sorts of Hudson lovin' characters like us yo-yo's on this forum :D

[bent metal]

Here goes my two cents. Everyone seems to be saying don't build the car if it's real rusty, find another car. I say build it if it's within your capabilities or even if you need to get a little help from someone. I think it's a shame to see another Hudson end up as a parts car when it could be saved. Yeah, I know it could end up costing a lot of time and money. But, don't think of it as an investment to make a profit. Your preserving a piece of history, not trying to make money. And as far as the 'frame' goes, even if it is rusty, as long as the car is not deformed and sagging in the middle or twisted or something it isn't that hard to patch. I look at it this way, it's a great opportunity for you to get some practice in on welding. Even if you mess it up a little your not going to hurt anything that most people haven't already considered a lost cause. I think you should look at some of the stuff that Dan/Rambo has done. Like he says, he's got a web site with good pictures and discriptions of how he fixed different problems. Bottom line for me is don't trash the car just because the frame has some rust, and don't let that scare the heck out of you. It can be fixed.

[chris1450]

Beautiful job on your web site Rambo. Where are you in Washington? I am near Buckley. If your not to far, maybe we can get together for some tips...I apreciate the help I am reading here. Thanks all.

[chris1450]

Well we picked up the hudson last weekend. It is in better shape than I was hoping it is. I am happy with it. It has a little rust on the rear most perimeter frame.. I have seen the repairs for that and it shouldn't be to hard to fix. The floors and the rest of the frame look to be in very good shape. The trunk floor is split down the middle... I think the fuel tank had a little to do with that. It is kind of curious that it would split like that.

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj223/chris1451/P4270850.jpg

This was in the back seat. The car sat for at least 18 years, and who knows how long before that. I have the wheels off to get some rolling rubber on it so I can get it off the trailer easier. The lug bolts came right off... no rust.

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj223/chris1451/Nicefind.jpg

[chris1450]

I need some help here with Montana history... Does anyone know what colors the Montana state patrol used in the early 50's? Or the Great falls police department? I am thinking my Hudson was an ex police car because of spotlight holes in the a pillar, and holes in the roof where a cherry could have been mounted. Any help is greatly appreciated.