Greetings HAMB. I just joined your forum because I am wrapping up a four year complete restoration of my 1979 GMC 7000 truck/motorhome. I am a young aspiring architect who has a passion for diesel engines and old vehicles. Although my truck is not finished yet, I am dreaming up the next big project. I want to build a car, and not just any car, a Hudson. For some reason the 1950-53 4 door Hudson Commodore 8's and Hornets are the only cars which intrigue me. I have never actually laid my hands on a Hudson yet, but the gears are already turning. I would like to repower one with my 1977 Detroit Diesel 6V53T which I pulled out of a Sheridan Tank. The engine is a 5.2Liter V6 two cycle diesel making 330hp @ 2800rpm and 770lb/ft torque @ 1600rpm. The engine weighs about 1500lbs as it sits. If I get serious about the build I will swap the cast iron block out for an aluminum one, and make my own lightweight aluminum flywheel housing to get the engine down to about 1100lbs. I would like the engine to retain its Jacobs Engine Brake and Ingersoll Rand air starter. Yes the engine is a bit overkill, but it is what I love. What I like about the Hudson's is that they were large comfortable cars with big wide engine bays. Because of the excessive engine weight I would like to have a rear mounted transmission similar to a modern day Corvette. Because of the engines low upper end rpm, I am going to need lots of overdrive to make the car go. I am looking at coupling an Allison 3000HS with 0.65 overdrive to a 3.07:1 Dana 135 rear axle. That combination would net 65mph at 1570rpm, and 125mph at 3000rpm with a 28" diameter tire. The engine makes peak torque at 1600rpm so the car should be very responsive. I am not sure of the complexities of a rear mount automatic transmission, but I am open to the idea of running two flywheels, one on the engine and one on the transmission to make it all work. I plan on shortening the rear axle and running the largest disc brakes possible with the original size tires/rims. The amount of work will likely take a decade to complete but that is okay with me. The end goal is to have a clean Hudson which looks unmolested and factory until it is started up. The car should be able to run 110mph like a factory car would have, and must be as simple and clean under the hood to avoid it looking like 10lbs of shit in a 5lb bag. I think the repower is possible, but would like to meet and hear from some folks who have Hudsons. I photoshopped a picture of my somewhat dream car, albeit missing the front clip, chrome and fling of what a Hudson should have. What do you guys think? I live on Long Island, New York, and would love to meet up with some of you Hudson owners in the New England area. Thanks in advance, Christopher Kouttron
That's a unique project. Any problems that arise within the next ten years will be a challenge for you to overcome, as nobody else has tried exactly what you have in mind, and advice will be hard to come by. Some thoughts: The Hudson is unit construction, and depends on the body for its strength. Most Hudsons still around these days are compromised by rust in the floor and lower body structure. If you buy such a car, and reinforce these parts (or even construct a perimeter frame for it) you will have a useable platform for the powertrain. I once saw a picture of a stepdown Hudson body mounted on a Dodge 4x4 Power Wagon chassis. It was high, and obviously intended for rough terrain, but didn't look bad at all. Maybe a full frame is the way to go?
Do you have a Hudson yet? I have a '49 Super Six 4-door that needs a new home. Too many projects and not enough time.
This has to be the stupidest idea I have ever heard, and this site specializes in stupid build ideas. But what the hell. Go ahead. There's nothing stopping you but reality.
The Jalopy Journal
