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In this Discussion
- Jon B February 2012
- Kevin C. February 2012
- Uncle Josh March 2012
1950's 4speed OD gearbox for 1939 212"
-
Hello!
I was thinking about getting a 4speed overdrive gearbox from a 50's hudson and putting it in my hudson six from -39.
I was wondering how much modification is needed to get this to work properly?
The gearbox i was looking at is from a -53 hornet with a 308" engine in, and i have the 212" engine in my car.
The things i think i know is that i will need another (I don't know what they are called in english, but the axle beetwen gearbox and differential, "Kardan" in swedish, and maybe som modifications to the gear shifter linkage. But is the shaft from the gearbox to the engine going to fit? Or may i have to change to the bigger clutch? And what more may i have to change? -
"Drive shaft" is what we call the long tube that goes between the transmission and the differential. You can have this shortened, by a company that does work on heavy trucks. Be SURE to have it re-balanced afterwards.
You will need to carefully measure the available space between your engine and the "X" member of your frame. If you choose a transmission longer than that which was used in your 1939 when it left the factory, it may have difficulty fitting into the X-member and it will be difficult to remove the universal joint (the connection between the drive shaft and the transmission output shaft) if the "fit" is too tight.
Are you looking for more power, or are you hoping to be able to drive your car at faster speeds? If faster speeds, you might look for a rear axle with a gear ratio more favorable to highway speeds. Some people have installed the entire rear axle (with housing) from a Mustang or Chrysler Corporation cars from the 1960's. An article about this, was written in the White Triangle News some years ago. In the future you could remove the "new" rear axle and replace the old one, for authenticity, if you desired.
Another possibility (if you desire to drive the car faster) is to fit an overdrive transmission from a later Hudson (1940 or newer) to your car. The easiest ones to find are the 1941 and newer transmissions. If your car now has a floor shifter, you will have to convert your car to use a shift lever on the steering column, since that is the way these newer overdrive transmissions were shifted. I know of a fellow with a 1941 or newer Hudson overdrive transmission in his 1938 Hudson, so I know that they will fit.
If you are looking for a 4-speed (for power) or an overdrive (for speed), you will probably wish to consider a larger, 10-inch clutch for your car. These are easily exchanged with the standard 9 inch clutches. -
In addition to what Jon mentioned, the advantage of finding a 3 speed transmission with overdrive from a 41-42-46-47 is that the bell housing will bolt to your 212.
You will also need a flywheel, pressure plate and clutch disc for a 10" assembly.
Those same items that you have on your 39 are for a 9" assembly. They are not strong enough to use with a 3 speed O/D transmission.
If you very lucky you might be able to find someone who has changed out the 212 engine with a 3 speed O/D from their 41-42-46-47 for a newer engine/transmission and you can buy the entire drivetrain.
Please post pictures of your 39 and the VIN of your car. The VIN is a metal tag riveted to the right front door post about the level of the dashboard.
Kevin C. -
You might want to place this message at the "regular" Hudson forum at http://classiccar.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&func=showcat&catid=13&Itemid=129
(It is now on the "Discussions" forum which is where non-Hudson things are discussed. Therefore, fewer people may see this and respond to it.) -
I believe that if you used a 'single lever' tranny/OD used thru early 52, it would bolt up to your 39 bell housing. You'd have to take the bell housing off and remove the existing tranny (6 bolts from the inside of the housing).
The late 52 and later double lever Borg Warner will not bolt up as they use 4 bolts to the outside of the bell housing.
Jon has a valid concern as the governor will be really close or interfere with the frame, but nothing you can't cure with a hack saw or torch.
You'll have to shorten the drive shaft 8 1/2 inches.
You might be better off with a higher speed gear set. First with that 4.55 rear end is kind of a 'Grandma gear' anyway. In the later Hudsons with the semi-automatic It was recommended to start in 2nd gear anyway. The cork clutch made that possible.
