Hey everyone! My name is Jeremy. I have come across a 1950 Hudson pacemaker that I've been offered on trade for my non running 241 red ram hemi. It comes with no motor or Trans but everything else plus extra sheet metal and a lot of Hudson parts. This will be my first Hudson build if i decide to do the trade. I am having a hard time finding history and information on the pacemaker. Could some one let me know about the Hudson pacemaker or Hudson in general? I would really appreciate it. It is a four door but the previous owner lengthened the front doors and shortened the back doors to give it a double cab truck look. Opinions on the trade would also be very much appreciated.Thanks Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
http://www.cl***iccar.com/forum/categories/hudson updates hourly. I've owned 13 Hudsons only Pacemaker was a 50 convertible. Photos would help. Sounds like your trading one non running car for another non running. Quality of the work would make a difference.
I'm trying to figure out how to post them on this app and I'll put some up. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
These were the pics sent to me. They aren't good pictures but it is 100% steel..no bondo. All the parts are there except backseat. I'm just trying to figure out more about the pacemaker... I've seen an article that called it the Hudson pacemaker/hornet but i'm not sure. If like it to be rare. The way he did the doors grew on me. I was thinking of just doing suicide doors. I'm getting better photos tomorrow. I'm also trying to figure out a v8 to put in, i'm just not sure which motor to go with. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Pacemaker is the budget line Hudson , first came out in 1950 . It has a 6" shorter wheelbase, the front end is shorter, the rest of the car from firewall back is the same as the Super six and Commodore models as far as sheet metal goes. The hood and fenders and rockers are unique to the Pacemaker/Wasp. Wasp came out in 1952 . Trim on Pacemaker is much simpler. Looks like it doesn't matter on that car , it's been modified. A Hornet engine, 308 CI , bolts right in. They came out in 1951 and are easily modified to 200 + HP. Original Pacemaker motor was 232 CI , apx 120 HP. If you don't have a lot in your trade piece , I'd say you have a start for a unique car. First I've seen modified that way. If the roof is straight , I'd go for it if you have the funds to finish it. Be sure to check the frame rails , the rear frames around the wheel area and behind the rockers rust badly. This is a unit body type of car , one of the first. Pacemakers aren't rare and aren't highly sought after, but they have nice clean lines and are a great road car. Any engine that can clear the steering will fit, but the firewall is already recessed 6" so you don't have a lot of room. The Chrysler small blocks seem to be the easiest fit. Good luck.
Lostmind thank you so much. I don't have anything in the motor. I bought it as a bundle with my Dart. I am also getting a motor...either a 413 from a motorhome that's dis***embled or a 360 dodge motor that ran when removed last week. It's my choice. So you think the 360 would be a better fit because if the 6"? I also have a 225 slant 6. I know that Hudson company was bought by nash in 54, i'm just curious which company it falls with now. But with the motor he's wanting 200$ and he will deliver the car and motor to me. It's a good deal. I've already made it official. I just am curious if the 413 ,360 , or slant 6 would be better. Fully restored to a brand new 1950 Hudson peacemaker would bring in how much $ do you think? I'm going to keep it because it's so awesome and unique but i'm just curious of a ballpark number if anyone knows. Sent from my LG-MS910 using H.A.M.B. mobile app
Here's the motor i'm trading. The heads are completely rebuilt... Brand new water pump, alt, and carb included. Just needs cam and pistons reinstalled which I have. Sent from my LG-MS910 using H.A.M.B. mobile app
The slant 6 is common fit for step down Hudsons , 48-54. There was one fellow I know that put 125 ,000 miles on his conversion. It will give you performance near what a stock Hornet engine (308) would. The 413 may take some doing , but I have seen early Hemis in the long wheel base Hudsons. 360 V8 seem to be done quite often. The value of the car when you are done depends on you and the person that want's to buy it from you. It certainly will have less value to a Hudson " purist" than to a HAMB minded person. It's your money , build what you want and enjoy. I believe Chrysler( Fiat) , owns all the rights to the Hudson name and products. AMC was formed in 1954 from Nash and Hudson merger , Absorbed by Jeep? and than Chrysler when they bought out Jeep?
You have been so helpful lostmind. I appreciate all the excellent info. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
How easy is it getting in and out of the back now? Any reason it just wasn't made into a coupe? Either way Hudson sedans of this era are still cool. A 413 would be great, but a 360 would be fine and probably easier to get in there. AMC was bought by Chrysler in 1987 and Fiat just bought Chrysler.
sure is a different conversion. if they were going to all that trouble to lenthen the front door, why not just make it a brougham?
Not to burst your bubble, but I think the Red Ram engine is worth twice as much as that Hudson body. The conversion is odd/interesting, I don't see a seam on the front doors, does it use coupe doors?
The conversion is odd...he set it up as suicide doors like a pick up. They work. Notes he's offered to throw in a running 360 and nv3500 5 speed... The Hudson comes with 4 extra doors... 3 hoods... 3 grilles and a lot of extra sheet metal. I'm still not sure. I'd like to just get cash but this awesome motor isn't appreciated by most younger guys because it isn't a power house. They don't understand the history or the straight up coolness. Its pretty hard to sell. The body surprised me with how straight it is...there's just a lot of surface rust. And the pictures were awful...(taken by his wife) Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Yes they are coupe doors. The suicide thing is cool but I'd like to just weld that other door into the body and have a coupe. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Oh and where do you think this engine falls in value? The heads are rebuilt, water pump is new, comes with carb, alt...everything but flywheel and bellhousing. To run it needs the original cam and pistons reinstalled. A ball park figure would be awesome. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Thats is a nice custom thats gonna come out of it, if you Follow true! I dont f#ck @@l about that motor you are giving him but it does look really good! Are you a junkyard fix or a lers fix it and race guy? That is gonna be time consuming, but could turn out over the top!
Not a junkyard guy unless its my wifes wind up Honda. I'm a restoration guy. Frame off nut and bolt. The way i was seeing it as I'm giving a motor I'm not using for a 50 Hudson with enough extra parts to build two more with a 360 for my a body. I'm putting the slant 6 and 903 in the Hudson. I will have much better pictures of the car tomorrow. I know the pacemaker is the budget line and eventually became the wasp, but fully restored and have all the parts it could be worth a pretty penny. Its hard to say no to people giving you cars. I got the hemi for free basically. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I was thinking of cloning it to more sought after hornet or brougham with a smaller wheel base. With the door mods, even though they already work, it shouldn't be to hard to turn it into a coupe should it? To me it looks like just welding that"back door"to the body. Since hew used coupe doors it should be almost dead on. Oh and i will have the pictures tonight taken by him...not tomorrow. I appreciate everybodys help. I feel i need to start over not in the history category.. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
What I ment with the junkyard fixer or let's race guy is; Are you willing to except that this is a peace of junk that requires that you do everything from the Ground up? Or will you slap the engine in it, rustoleum on EVERTHING except rubber and gl***, and just ride it hard and put it away wet? I would, with the work already in it, do it from the Ground up, but as a custom. Go all in as a taildragger, with frenched light and and antenna, fenderskirts, coloumshifter and cl***y interior. But thats just me.
If I had both the car and the motor and wanted to sell both, I'd ask $1200 for the engine and $600 for the Hudson. Although if it comes with enough extra parts that you could resell and recoup the total value of the engine, getting your Hudson body for free basically, this might still be a good deal. Hoods and doors are hard to sell, but nice Hudson grilles and trim parts, ect. are easy to sell on eBay and bring pretty good money since none are reproduced. If the coupe doors close nice and are square with good gaps, I like the idea of welding in the rear doors and removing the pillar to make a 2 door sedan. The little extra doors are neat from an engineering standpoint, but they ruin the car's flow and proportions. I'm not convinced this deal is a bad one, depending on what the extra included parts are. But I'm not convinced it's a steal, either. More pics will tell the tale. Does he have gl***? A ***le?
He has all the gl***.And ***le. The only thing missing is the backseat but he said he knows where one is. I'll have more pics this evening Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Oh I'm def building it from the ground up. Its going to look amazing inside and out and drive awesome. It will just take time and patience. I like the step down design on these hudsons...but I'm just waiting on more pics. He said he had 90% of the body work done...we will see in a few hours. But i def think I'm gong to weld that back door and just make a nice cl***y coupe. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
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