1947 Hudson Pickup Frame Found!

[46HudsonPU]

Managed to find a 'spare' frame for my 1946 Hudson Pickup truck!

Talk about luck -

Jerry (the guy I bought it from) got the truck from from a friend - the owner of Reliable Contracting in Crofton, MD - who happens to be a 'car guy', and saw a 1947 Hudson Pickup truck on the back of a flatbed, heading for the crusher. He called the towing company immediately on his cell, and arranged for the the truck to be delivered to him for 'scrap value'. He didn't really want it, but didn't want to see it go to scrap, either.
He offered it to Jerry, who 'brought it home'. Jerry contacted me some months ago with questions, and I stopped by his place to look it over. His initial plans were to 'drop' the Hudson truck body onto another frame, and make it into a 4x4, but after our discussion he changed his mind, deciding to keep the sheetmetal with the frame and do a 'retro rod' with a period engine and the original drivetrain.

Well, as we all know, plans sometimes don't seem to work out. Jerry hadn't yet started to work on it, and got caught-up in zoning issues, which caused him to get rid of it - along with the 20 or so other vehicles he has in his 50x100 yard...
By the time he contacted me, he had already sold the sheet metal(fenders, cab, etc..) to another buyer that didn't want the frame or suspension. I got a look at it without the sheetmetal, and it wasn't too bad, so... It is actually the frame, engine, drivetrain & suspension - even the radiator...

More later on this (to include pictures), once it stops raining and I get a chance to do some cleaning and pressurewashing.

Here's the link on my initial 'search' for a frame -
http://www.classiccar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11318

Oh, BTW - Did I tell you that the frame was less than 10 miles from my house?

[Aaron D. IL]

well heck, clean that chassis up and just tresure hunt for all the other parts and biuld a new Hudson pickup like a big jigsaw puzzle. hehe

[tombia]

I wonder were it originally came from. I remember several in Southern Maryland ,St Marys, Charles and Anne Arundel counties. There was one close to you in Churchton, Md. Originally belonged to Hawkins Electric in Hyattsville, Md. Be interesting to know.

[Hudson Dave]

Hi Rick Hudson Dave here . I think Aaron Is on to something . I have built things out of LESS . You have the photos to prove it LOL Hudson Dave :eek:

[46HudsonPU]

Aaron & Dave - I have some thoughts on that, however my first priority will be the '46 currently being torn down and getting anything I need, even if that includes the frame from my recent acquisition. That being said, I will be looking at trying to save the '46 frame and use that with the tan truck, if at all possible.

I plan on keeping everything on the frame as intact as possible. At first glance, the engine in the 'frame' is toast - no head, pistons, oilpan, etc.. There is no indication as to why the engine was torn down, no obvious damage to the block (other than VERY rusty cylinders), but haven't gotten a good look at the crank yet - Hasn't stopped raining since the frame was delivered Thursday evening.

As far as where the truck came from - Other than somewhat local, no idea... I couldn't even tell what color the truck was when I saw it some months ago, only that the body was rusty. The right door latch was broken or frozen and could not be opened, so wasn't even able to see a serial number.

[Hudson Dave]

Hay Steve I have some S/S trim pieces Like door , hood and grill bars If needed . Hudson Dave 352-564-4284:p