ClassicCar

I recently received an e-mail concerning questions about the suspension and available parts.

Unfortunately, I wasn't a lot of help. Very little of the original suspension was used, and none of the donor cars parts were really up to snuff. I located the following NOS suspension parts for the front:

Upper and Lower A-arms, kingpins, spindles, 2 shafts, upper spring silencers and coil springs. The rest of the hard parts for the front were used, like end fittings, bolts, eccentrics. All of the rubber parts were made by me on the lathe except the dust boots, which were cut out of rubber tubing, and the bump stoppers which I picked up in Pontiac a couple of years ago.

The rear suspension has new leaf springs from Russ and Randy Maas, re-built 2nd series (Dana) rear-end, with 3:07 gears, NOS U-bolts, rubber from Metro and Steele, used panhard bar. A 1" drop was utilized with a lowering kit (one of the few deviations from stock). I'll achieve a 1-1/4" complete drop with the 7-leaf springs, as opposed to the stock 8.

Every single brake component is either new or NOS, with the exception of the brake pedal itself, and 2 backing plates. By the way, the company selling brake shoes on the internet, I think it's Old Car Parts Source sells exceptionally well-built shoes for step-downs and other Hudsons at a reasonable price, and are endorsed by Doug Wildrick and myself. (Thanks Doug, for the tip!) All bearings and seals are new.

It's like a brand new, 60-year-old car. And, she's really starting to look like a car, finally!

nice work Russel,you should be very proud of your achievement so far and you have come such along way
Mike

Hi Russ,

Your professional skills/touch of restoration is great, knowing the attention to detail and quality of workmanship inputted will result in one fine new Hudson. Thanks for your past help, my car should be road worthy very soon.

Thanks again,

Ray

Thanks everyone for the nice comments!

I agree with everyone else Russell, great work. Richie.

Russel, don't know if you will do this but when you install the side parts, rocker panels and rear fenders, put 2stainless thin washers between them and the chassis on the bottom This way water can drain out when rain or car wash. This I do, and my Hornet with 12 years on the road still does not show any rust. I paint all trim retainers silver engine enamel, use stainless screws, 1 thin plastic washer with Black RTV between trim retainer and body. No sign off rust coming from under trim. Walt.

Alex-

You think you're impatient? Think of what I go through on this end!!

If I could only build Hudsons full time . . .