That's better than a '60 biscayne anyday. I found some lapbelts at a swapmeet. Used some 3/16 steel plate on the underside of the body. Put a bolt thru it and mounted the belts to them. Works great. I almost be the floats are stuck on the carbs. Mine sat for nearly 30 years when I bought it. I pulled the carb apart, cleaned everything and put it back together with no new parts. It's been working perfect since 2005.
Beauty! I've never owned a Hudson, but I hear those Twin-H motors are the tits. lower the rear, throw on some WWWs and your set.
Once it runs for a minute it idles nice, it is a little rich and there is dripping from the carbs. I hope to get a video of that tomorrow and post it for ideas. Here is a short video of it running for some reason it cuts out 1/2 way through the video but you get the idea. Sounds pretty mean to me. http://smg.beta.photobucket.com/user/raidmagic/media/photobucket-84020-1349361440628.mp4.html
That's a helluva nice ride! Mike it safe and driveable (tune up, brakes, shocks, tires etc.) and enjoy. Jim
Great Car!! I have the exact same model, '49 SuperSix and have changed to a 308 Twin-H also. Three speed straight stick trans. You might want to check out the rear end ratio--Stock ratios were around 4.1/1, best move I made (other than 308) was to find a stock R/E from a later ('51-53) automatic-transmission Hudson. Simple bolt-in replacement, including brakes ratio is nearer 3.2/1. Slowed that big ol' torquin' 308 down about 25% and made highway cruising a whole lot easier Also, two suggestions: Classiccar.com has a Hudson forum that is the unofficial Hudson forum. (Has both Stock and Modified sections.) Might take a while to find the Classiccar forums but highly recommended perusing. Save that visor!! Visors normally sell for somewhere near $400 to the Hudson Owners that want them! Try HET.org for marketplace. Welcome to the Hudson crowd--- Remember, when anyone asks, and you will be asked, what year MERCURY that is, just tell 'em it's a 1948!! (1948 Huds were exactly same as your '49, body-wise, so Hudson was there first !!)
I must be getting old. The off brand stuff looks better and better to me... Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
I had one of those for a while, too, they're nice cars. Certain 53-54 Hudsons have a Dana rearend, a 44 I think, so even if you get one with the same ratio, it's not unobtanium to change the gears themselves.
As a guy that was around when the stepdowns were new (young, but I have a good memory) I have to say it is about time they receive the recognition they deserve. Great looking car. Give it a proper interior in the Hudson spirit and it will be stunning. Bill
I'll second that (and I've always been a Hudson man). Some years after these recently found shots were taken, I flunked my driver's test in a '49 Commodore Six by backing into the guardrail.
i think you def traded up on getting the hudson! i saw your car on the hudson forum as well. Walt Mordenti still rebuilds those twin h carbs i believe. he is in the wtn and on the hudson forum. i'm with everybody else that hudson looks great! congrats on the buy!!! by the way fleetside66, i love those pictures!
Thanks, I was directed to that forum from here and figured it would be smart to join up and do some learning.
I'm with you I like the look of the visor on the Hudson's, people give me shit about mine but I figure its only 6 bolts bolts if you don't like it. Nice car, hope you are enjoying it.
Rocket88NZ, i just picked myself up a 53 Super Wasp Coupe... not nearly as nice as yours but still a complete car. My sons name is Hudson and i picked it up as a future Father/son project..
Nice - there are quite a few of us Hudson guys here on the HAMB...Looks like your car is much nicer than what I started with! Good score!
Awesome score! I like the color combo and the visor. IMO the visor helps complete the illusion of a chop, and on a Hudson which has the low roof to begin with, I think it looks primo.
I see you don't have the rear fender well pieces on your car. Why? Personal choice? I've played with mine off and on and can't make up my mind which I like best.
Does it have the Twin H 308 six? If so you have a real tough engine and they ruled the NASCAR (dirt era) tracks long after some pretty high performance V-8's made their appearance. There is one here in a '39 Hudson pickup that makes a good accounting of how fast they can be. Normbc9