some1 must have tryed this out .couldn't find any info in search feature. have oportunity to buy running parts jag 83 for 500 beans. just think of it discs all way around independent rear suspensions and steering to boot. will it fit ,i don't know . i need help cause winter is comin and i need to move some weight.
I don't think anyone has attempted this. There aren't many stepdowns around, and the factory suspension was good enough to clean house in NASCAR for four years. Some Hudsons had the Dana 44 rear end, which is still installed under Jeeps with disc brakes. So you may consider that. I've seen a few with a Camaro front clip and 12 bolt rear. Width is close so It's an easy splice. Now you have easily and cheaply available disc brakes all around. And there are actual disc brake kits for Hudsons made. Jaguar suspension seems like more h***le than it's worth.Not excatly on every street corner if you need parts. Modifying the Unibody for IRS is quite technical.
It's funny how this sort of swap was popular in the UK in the '70s-'80s, but although still getting done on '50s pickups, has fallen out of favour these days. The advantages would be that the front and the rear are complete units: if you do a search on here for Jag front on F100 pickups you should be able to find some pics, and I'm sure I've seen pics of rears too. I have no idea of the shape of the Hornet frame - they're relatively easy on the straight p/u ones - but using the subframe means all the geometry is kept intact, as long as you mount it with the correct caster angle. According to this feature an '83 rear would be 61" wide (pretty sure that's flange to flange), so front probably similar.
Here is a good link for Jaguar info and details: http://www.carfolio.com/specifications/models/car/?car=7678 .
don't know of the rear but i know the front has been done a few times,the rear i would be worried about the Hudson's fat A** sagging worse than the gal that was in front of me at Walmart! sorry i had too! but the rear at hand.... i have been told that some late 60's-mid 70's GM rears will fit,Granada,baby Lincolns,ford ranger,explorer,jeep Cherokee[low horsepower only], if ya want i can dig threw all my info & see what i have,chuck
mavericks,& the all too hated S-10's,some darts. but one thing to keep in mind is Hudson's had screw in wheel studs & later car/truck have fixed studs & different bolt patterns,if i remember right my 49's measurement were 59 or 59 1/2 outside-2-outside wheel mounting surfaces---chuck
Not sure that I'd go that route with it but just to clear this up... Parts are available at pretty much any regular parts place. Pretty much all the bearings and seals are standard GM parts that they sourced. The brakes and rotors are real easy to get as well. The rear end is a Dana center section. None of it is any more expensive than just about any other donor.
Measure measure. The Hudson had a wide track in front and a narrower track in back which might throw you. This was one of their handling secrets, another well known car that used the same trick was Porsche 356
thanks to all who have responded to my questions concerning the suspension mod. I think i am gonna do a double take on my idea for the suspension upgrade. back to the drawing board and ask more questions before i even attempt these major changes.
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