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'46 Hudson PU engine swap
  • Tom Drew
    Posts: 133Expert Adviser
    I was wondering about the possibility of swapping a late 90's Jeep 4.0L inline six into my '46 Hudson Pickup. I know this is off the beaten path, but you never know what some guys might have experience with!

    I kind of like staying with an inline six as opposed to a V8, and maybe wouldn't run into as many clearance issues with the steering and such.

    I welcome any thoughts and opinions, or other suggestions.



    Tom Drew
  • 66patrick6666patrick66
    Posts: 1,831Platinum Member
    One of our Chapter members has a '47 Hudson PU with a 300 Ford six with automatic, and it's a fairly stright-forward job. The Jeep engine is shorter in length than the Ford, if memory serves right, so it, too should be relatively easy to install.
    "The time has come", the Walrus said, "to speak of many things. Of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings. And why the sea is boiling hot,
    And whether pigs have wings..."
  • 46HudsonPU46HudsonPU
    Posts: 5,152Moderator
    Here's one for sale out in UT that has a non-Hudson six in it. There are a few pictures, one of the engine -
    http://www.oldride.com/classic_trucks/984146.html79069048574800_tmp_org.jpg

    Here's another 'option', as far as inline 6's goes - GM has a 4.2L Inline 6, connected to a 4L60e transmission (4-speed automatic). It can be found in the Trailblazer, Envoy, Bravada, etc., from 2002-present.
    Also -
    - GM is putting essentially the same engine into the Colorado & Hummer H3(minus one cylinder, it is a 3.5L inline 5).
    - And to top that, the standard engine on the Colorado is 2.8L Inline 4...
    All of them are the same bore & stroke - In casting the block, they just 'subtract a cylinder'...

    Problems with configuring these:
    - Electronics. These are modern engines/transmissions & require onboard computers, properly programed/tuned. You'll need the wiring harness & PCM.
    - "Throttle by wire", at least for the last 2-3 years. You'll need the throttle assembly and wiring harness for that as well.

    Availability: The I6 is readily available, and I've seen full 'drops' (engine, trans, alt, PS pump, Air Cond compressor, etc.) with less than 10k miles on them go for less than $2k on Ebay.
    - I hadn't really looked at the I5 or I4. However with 200+ HP, they should stil get you where you want to go, as long as it wasn't a 'short trip' (1/4 mile)... :rolleyes:
  • 50C8DAN50C8DAN
    Posts: 867Platinum Member
    It would be interesting to see someone use one of these engines in a engine swap project. My wife's new Rainier has the I6 in it and it is super quiet and very powerful, 291hp and plenty of torque.
  • tristansdaztristansdaz
    Posts: 624Platinum Member
    Rick, I've seen the truck you linked to. It's rougher than a cob and the guy is in dreamland with the price. The Chev six runs pretty good though and the installation is not bad. I think that the AMC/Jeep/Chrysler 258/4.0 would be a great swap into one of these trucks though.
  • Tom Drew
    Posts: 133Expert Adviser
    Thanks everyone for your ideas. Hadn't thought of the new GM I6 engines, seems like some real possibilities there. Please let's keep this going if people have more to contribute.



    Tom Drew
  • 46HudsonPU46HudsonPU
    Posts: 5,152Moderator
    Rick, I've seen the truck you linked to. It's rougher than a cob and the guy is in dreamland with the price. The Chev six runs pretty good though and the installation is not bad. I think that the AMC/Jeep/Chrysler 258/4.0 would be a great swap into one of these trucks though.
    Agreed. The truck pictured has been for sale for at least two years that I know of - I was going to mention that the guy selling the truck must have been 'smoking something' when he came up with that price. The price he quotes is for a category #1 or #2 truck, and his BARELY passes muster for a category #3. I've got a category #4 in my workshop that is in better shape than that truck.
    When the topic of an alternate 'six' was mentioned, I recalled that this truck had one - that's why the truck was part of my response.
    Some of these sixes are really good candidates for a swap. They're smooth running, quiet, and have the capability for a lot of power modifications - along with a lot more torque per cubic inch than a SBC or 289/302 V8.
  • 46HudsonPU46HudsonPU
    Posts: 5,152Moderator
    Tom Drew wrote:
    Thanks everyone for your ideas. Hadn't thought of the new GM I6 engines, seems like some real possibilities there. Please let's keep this going if people have more to contribute.

    Tom Drew
    BTW - These GM I6's have aluminium blocks (similar to the LS1/LS2), so they are significantly more lightweight as well...
  • 50C8DAN50C8DAN
    Posts: 867Platinum Member
    Rick the GM I6 may be too long for the Hudson Truck eng. compartment. The I5 might be a better fit, at 220 hp it is no slouch either.
  • hornet53hornet53
    Posts: 403Platinum Member
    I, personally, like the idea of the Cummins turbo-diesel. Think of the hauling possibilities...
    1953 Hornet sedan Twin-H
    Custom front springs, drop-blocks out back, Clifford 6-2 headers exiting out back shotgun style, Pertronix, and Flames!

    1964 Chevy C-10 Longbed, 396/TH400 lowered just enough and \"easy to touch up\" Black paint.

    2003 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor
    Caved in quarter and fender. Bad paint. Non-True-Trac heap. But it's paid for.
  • 50C8DAN50C8DAN
    Posts: 867Platinum Member
    Would be a great idea if it wasn't for the weight! Cummins is a brusier!