Hotrodding a Hupmobile?

I just picked up a basket-case 1935 Hupmobile Aerodynamic model 518D that is virtually complete with many NOS parts. The PO had completed a lot of nice restoration work on the frame, suspension and drive train but decided after 8 years that he wasn't going to be able to finish it.

The car has a 245 cubic inch flathead six with a 5.75:1 compression ratio that was rated at 91 hp. The machine work is all done on it, including re-babbiting and line-boring the mains, but it hasn't yet been assembled. The engine came with all the new or rebuilt parts necessary to put it back together. The transmission has been completely rebuilt and someone in the past has converted the car to use an open driveshaft. The Hupp came with hydraulic brakes and the brake parts are all new or rebuilt.

I'm going to keep the car stock looking on the outside. Since so much money has already been spent on it (and since I think it will be cool) I will also keep the original engine. My plan is to hop the engine up enough to handle a higher rear axle ratio (currently 4.25:1) or an overdrive unit so I can keep up with traffic a little more easily. I plan to mill the head, buy or build a two-carb intake manifold and split the exhaust manifold. I will probably also have the cam reground if I can find someone experienced enough to do it right.

My research so far tells me that a Hupmobile powered car placed 5th in the 1932 Indianapolis 500. Also, in 1933, the very same engine powered the Comet Speedster that ran 145.6 mph at Bonneville.

Anyway, my question is: Does anyone know whether speed equipment was ever produced commercially for Hupmobile engines of the 30s and, if so, where I might find some? Also, can anyone recommend a cam grinder who has experience with this engine?

 

Man you are up to a challenge. You might have to make an intake and headders . And as far as a cam grinder....

 

Very cool!!, as for speed equipment, anyone have an early eddie edmunds catolog?? He'd be the guy i'd guess that would have produced go fast goods

As for experience grinding a cam.... good luck, Luckly most cam grinders can figure out roughly what you need, but it might take some serious guessing

 

My first instinct would be to swap in something bigger, then build a speedster/special around the original engine.

 

Nice looking cars.

 

Even if speed equipment exists for that motor, it would be faster to build your own. But you could measure the ports and compare and see if any motor that it's easier to find hop-up stuff for is close - say a Chevy or Plymouth six, for instance.

A lot of these smaller carmakers farmed out certain parts, so it might be worth seeing if the motor, trans or rearend were shared with anybody else. Probably the best source on that is going to be like a 1st-3rd year Motors Auto Repair manual, which covers back to '35 and anything that was shared usually got it's own chapter, or you were directed to where in the book it was already covered. If that's the case it may make finding say an OD unit a little easier.

And I don't think anyone would fault you for putting up the original motor and slipping something else in it that fits easy, particularly if it's not a small block Chevy V8.

 

Im with James. They are sweet. lus, how many do you see around? custom or stock that is.
Theres a hamber w/ a super nice baby blue one that is slammed and lookin real good.

 

It looks like Hupp engines were their own design, not proprietary. I wouldn't be surprised if they bought in gearboxes and axles, though. They were buying a lot of body parts from Ford at the time; perhaps drive train components too?

 

That was also my first reaction, but I realized I would want some speed goodies for the Hupp engine in a speedster anyway, so the question in my initial post remains valid. Besides, I still have an unfired '52 Buick straight 8 engine that I rebuilt several years ago for a car I no longer own. The Buick could be the basis for a cool (but big) speedster, so I have that one covered already.

Aah, so many projects and so little time! Life is still good!

 

The short answer is no - no speed equipment known to have been made for the Hupp Straight 6 engine. I own three 1936 Hupps and have for quite a few years. Ed Farrell in Vista CA has put a Chevy OHV6 in his 1936 G 618 sedan - that might be a logical way to go. I have dreamed of everything from a Talbot Lago DOHC6 to a Jag XK 6 in mine but my reality says a V8 is the answer. Still dreaming of the jag six in one of them though. these are wonderful but overlooked cars that make bitchin hot rods. I am 100% with you on the stock look - that's the way I am going too.

Hupster here on the HAMB has an LS1 in his 1935 Hupp (don't worry Gary - your secret is safe with me!)

Here's a hot rodded 1936 sedan that was built in the 1970s by Marvin Rice - runs a 454 BBC/TH400....

 

Thanks, Weasel, you confirmed my suspicion about the speed parts. Thanks also for posting the pics of the '36. It's beautiful.

I've checked out Hupster's '35 here and in the Rod & Custom article. That is an impressive project that turned out really well.

It's interesting that you mentioned the Jaguar engine as a possibility. I bought an '87 XJ6 for the IFS and IRS to use in another project. It has a sweet running engine and I actually gave serious consideration to using it in the Hupp. I decided it would be better in my '34 Nash Big Six project which will probably get the Jag suspension anyway.

 

If you really want to hotrod this engine, I would give some consideration to higher compression pistons from a different make engine; and possibly a 2x1 intake manifold that fit something else. Find an old gasket book (McCord, etc.) and compare intake to cylinder head gaskets. You might find something close.

Just my 2 cents, but I would try changing compression with pistons (if possible) rather than ruining a cylinder head that might be very difficult to replace. I would try to make reversable changes.

And if push comes to shove, you can always modify an older intake that was originally designed for something more common.

Jon.

 

Did you guys get these Jag XJR6 Supercharged 4.0litre motors in the US? Could be a good choice. 320hp.

 

I know it's the wrong year, but took this pic of a very Nice Huppmobile over in Peoria, Ill. Last summer. Think it's the first time I'd ever seen one. What a distinctive front end!!

Good luck!

 

There's something that feels very right about a Jag XK in a Hupmobile ...

 

James D,
That supercharged Jag engine would be awesome! I'm not a Jag expert and don't know if they are available here. Thanks!

CustomCab,
Thanks for posting the picture of the '39 Hupp. I've never seen one of that year in person. Beautiful car!

 

If the Hupp is like quite a few of the flat 6 powered cars, you might find the engine is pretty short, like 24 inches and maybe 27 inches overall. And Modern 6's like chevy jeep and others are 3 to 4 inches longer. You may want to do some measuring or decide up front that some fire wall surgery will be needed for more modern motive power.

For instance, my mopar L6 is 23 1/2 at the head. The Jeep 4.0 is fully 4 inches longer. Not much room infront of the radiator, so the additional length would need to encroach into the pass compartment.

You could up the compression by milling the head, and get an adapter to mount a 2 bbl and pick up 10 to 15 hp, but the long stroke, and babbit bearing lower end is going to limit performance no matter what you do.

 

I am also looking at a 1935 Hup Aerodynamic sedan. I think they would look killer with about a 3" chop! The one I'm looking at already has a sbc and MIi front suspension in it. Keep us posted!

 

OH man that car is going to be so cool.You will be able to go to any show and can bet yours will be the only one there.I have been to literly hundreds of rod runs and shows, never seeing even one. Good luck, sounds like you have a good plan for it.

 

I have a friend that has a coupe. Morrison susp. Small block chev air ride and a 5 speed one heck of a car. I also beleve there was a thread on Hupmobiles on here.

 

Good luck...but of course without any pics I'm calling B.S.

 

hot rod that hupp. i cut up a 32 3window hupmobile . just be ready for everyone to ask what it is. lol

 

OK, OK, here are a couple of pics from the seller's photo collection and one that I took of the grille shell emblem. The seller hadn't started on the sheetmetal yet, but had nicely restored the frame and front suspension after he took these photos. The yellowed wide whitewalls have never been on the road. They have been stored inside for years and will clean up great.

I just finished unloading my trailer and have been inventorying all of the parts which were carefully bagged, tagged and stored in nearly 20 large plastic storage boxes. Lots of cool stuff and quite a bit looks to be NOS like the pictured emblem

 

Nice,I also have a hot rod Hupp in the works,1917 roadster body,1923 Hupp grill shell,Merc v8 flathead w/twin 94's,I named "Hubba Hubba Hupp"

 

I had one like the one in your pic DUDE. Three piece windshield& rumble seat that was balanced so good that when you pulled a leather thong inside the cockpit the rumble lid just floated back like it was powered. It had what was called free wheeling (o'drive) . This was waaaay back in the day(1952). Sure wish I had it now. This the only pic I ever took of it. It's under the old oak tree in the background. I used it for a DD while reconstructing the chev vert that I had totaled.(16 guardrails & a telephone pole. Worst part of the wreck was getting aride home with a drunk.
Anyway if you wanted to keep your hup close to original look @ or for free wheeling a unit .

 

I bet you get that question all the time and am sure I will too. I already get it a lot about my '32 Desoto. I've been asked many times "What's a Desoto?" by middle-aged guys who have never heard of one. I can understand how a Hupmobile would puzzle people, but a Desoto? Then again, it has been more than 50 years since Desoto stopped production (and more than 70 since the last Hupmobile). Guess my age is showing.

 

yes when you say hupmobile they always saw a what???

 

Bob, I got kind of excited just reading about pulling that leather thong!

 

Well, I went and looked at a 35 Aero Sedan on Sunday. I'm going to pass. The chassis work that has been done on it was very good but the body work wasn't up to the same standard. The car has most all the parts but the doors don't fit well at all. Apparently, it was converted to a two door and then back to a four door. Also, the roof fill wasn't done very well and the bondo was already cracking.

These make neat hot rods but I just don't want to do all that would be required to build this one...........plus I already have two project cars. My wife would probably shoot me if I drug this one home.

 

I understand why you would pass on that one. I don't mind tough projects at all, but I hate fixing someone else's shoddy work. I've done enough of that to last a lifetime. The PO had not done a lot to the Hupp besides disassemby and parts collection. However, he did the best job I have ever seen of documenting the disassembly and labeling all the parts. He provided me with over 900 digital pictures as well as written descriptions. He had restored the frame, front suspension and brake backing plates and painted all those parts with POR15. What he did was done right.

Most of my cars are projects in progress. I'm fortunate to have a few storage buildings on a few acres so no neighbors complain. My wife just smiles and shakes her head when I bring home another one and tell her it's the last one again. She has seen a few of those "last ones".