HI all , names jeff and I just purchased my 1st vintage project a 1951 hudson hornet . car was last registered very 25 years ago and hasn't Ran since the late 90s . thought the motor was seized because I tried to turn the fan blade and wouldn't budge so I turned the crank and it spins but the generator won't lol . this is my first hudson and first classic so I have some questions like should I pull the head off to see the shape of the cylinder walls before attempting of start? or should I just squirt oil down the cylinder ? are generators easy to rebuild if they are seized ? and other then cleaning the carb and the fuel tank are there any other steps I should take . I know I need to find a new 6v battery and positive ground strap . any other suggestions would be awsome
Good stuff. No need to pull the head at this point. Ask questions and read read read/ learn learn learn. Check the condition of the oil, check for signs of large amounts of water or antifreeze in it. The engine can be started without the generator but you need to go over it with a fine tooth comb before attempting to fire it off. Don't be afraid to ask questions and don't feel embarrassed about not knowing something. We all want you to succeed! Post some pics of the exterior and interior to generate interest. Don't get in too big of a hurry. Haste breeds mistakes!
No personal experience, but I know some guys run 8 Volt (tractor) batteries in their six volt cars, for a little extra cranking power. You may want to check it out.
That's one of the most corroded batteries I've seen in a while. Where are you from? Please post more pics of the car. Good luck....
Welcome to the Hamb. I own a couple of Hudson's, so I'm a little biased, although I'm a fan of most modified cars. What's your plans for this ol beast?
Welcome to the HAMB. Looking forward to following. I have a 52 project myself. Hope to get it on the road in the next couple years.
Sweet project. If I ever build my A or T model woody station car,I'd like to have an old flat head six in it.
Welcome to us guys throwing money at old cars.LOL. Cool start.Post some pictures when you get a chance. Bruce.
I started a 41 Hudson that hadn't run in 10 years. We squirt some mystery oil in each cylinder and let it sit overnight. Turned the motor over with the starter and new 6 volt battery. Did a compression test and pressure was low, squirt some 30 weight in and tried again. Rings will be very dry and need to lessened up to build compression. I did drain the oil and refilled with clean oil before starting. Once we were able to get it running we dropped the pan and cleaned the sludge out... wasn't too bad. Hudson motors are simple to work on and if there is nothing major wrong with it it should start up relatively easy. Go online and look for a repair manual for your model. I think I gave $20 bucks for an original manual for mine. Seek out members of the Hudson Essex Terraplane club (HET) online, there may be a chapter near you. BTW, you can crank over the motor with a twelve volt, just avoid cranking it too long. The typically problems you'll encounter trying to get it started will be: All the general issues with starting a car that's been sitting... Fuel pump not working (replace or bypass with an electric pump and an inline fuel pressure regulator before the carb) Bad fuel (use a gas can straight to fuel pump line) Carb Points stuck
welcome.....and slow and easy like was said.....pour some Marvell Mystery oil in it and let it sit.....when you first crank it over have the plugs out....might shoot some oil out but that's part of the fun....
Just getting ready to bring her home next weekend...1st things fist going to give her a comet bath and power wash her lol lots of rat droppings to get out of the trunk lol Sent from my SM-G903W using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Get the engine and drive train dialed in . Re do brakes suspension and tires and daily drive it as much as I can looking old and patina the way it is lol but clean Sent from my SM-G903W using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Previous owner bought it as a parts for car for his 52 but said it was to complete to part out . I had a add on kijiji looking for a hornet . He said he bought it from the original family hasn't been on the road for 30 plus years and hasn't run in about 10 but they said it did run ....fingers crossed Sent from my SM-G903W using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Yeah the guy I bought it off of thought it was seized beca8se he couldn't move the fan so I hooked a jumped the starter with a fresh battery and she started to crank buy it seems the gen might be seized ?? Will find out in one week when I get it over here Sent from my SM-G903W using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
If it moved and then went tight,it may just have stuck rings from rust,or the engine may have went tight from all the oil draining to the pan.I'd do an inexpensive dime store oil change and put a little oil down the cylinders.Then prime the engine through the distributor or oil pump drive.I'm not sure if that possible on the flat six,but I'd try it before spinning it over with the starter motor.
No Ithink spins over but seems the generator might be seized and that's why the fan and belt wouldn't move . Hopefully I can free it up Sent from my SM-G903W using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
You might consider changing the title so that other Hudson lovers might see it and be able to follow along. That or start a new thread.
That 6 V generator probably has small oil caps on each end. When you're Mystery Oiling the cylinders put a few drops in those as well. Might get lucky and break it loose.