ClassicCar

mjsandbe

I need some help with a part I received when I bought my 1952 Hudson Hornet. It is a head that the previous owner had taken off of the 308. He refereed to it as a high compression head, but that is all that I know.

The pictures are of the only numbers I found on it. Anyone have any idea what it is?

esfoder

I think the high comp heads were all aluminimun???

Dusty

Ric West IN

Hi, Congrats on your safe trip home with your new Hudson.

Your head pictured is for the 1948-1949 262 engine. This is a "narrow block"

engine. This part number does not show up in my 48-51 parts book . It was superceded by another number which may have had slight changes made to it. My old eyes aren't perfect any more, but I believe the casting date pictured is July 11, 1949.

Hope this helps.

Ric

RL Chilton

Michael-

There must have been some confusion on the former owner's part. That head is a narrow block head (according to the above post) and will not be good to you for a 308 block. Sell it on E-Bay.

hudsontech

Interesting - I looked 301788 up in the 48-49 Group Parts Catolog. No go - but did list a 301765, Cast Iron, Standard head.

Strange these Hudson part numbers.

The 480-490 Group Parts book is available in the Hudson On-line Library @ http://www.hudsonterraplane.com/tech/tech_index.htm

Hudsonly,

Alex Burr

HudsonTech

Memphis, TN

SuperDave

Casting numbers and parts numbers are almost always different. Often just one digit difference. Don't know why, except perhaps the casting could be machined differently to make several different part numbers? Anyway, turn that head over and look at the combustion chambers and you most likely will see that #6 chamber is larger. They did this to eliminate an early problem of poor reliability in the #6 rod bearing..

Hudson308

Mike;

Richard E. in Escondido, CA was looking for just such a head in a previous post:

http://classiccar.com/index.php?option=com_jfusion&Itemid=62&jfile=showthread.php&t=19683

Most of the factory 308 high compression heads were made of aluminum. However, Hudson did sell some iron "Sever Usage" heads over the counter with higher compression. They had a metal tag attached to 'em, attesting as such. Dan Lydon in St. Paul has just such an animal. Most guys who want to boost the compression on their 308's go a much easier route, however... simply bolt on the stock head from a "wide block" ('51-'56) 262. This is likely what the former owner thought he had.

One more note on cylinder heads. Whenever buying (or selling) a Hudson cylinder head, it's important to measure how thick it is first. Original stepdown 6-cylinder heads all measured 2.00" thick from the factory, as measured at the bolt bosses. Generally the maximum you can have removed from the deck surface is .060" before you start running into gasket sealing and plug clearance problems. This is especially true for aluminum heads. Therefore, if you come across a head that measures 1.940" thick or less, it's basically good for garage sculpture.

mjsandbe

I just weighted this thing and it comes in at 50 pounds, a serious chunk of metal. I have no need for it, so I plan sell it. Before I throw it on eBay I thought I would ask the community here if anyone is interested? Any suggestion on price?

Unfortunatly I have not gotten a response from Richard E. who was looking for a head like this.

mdwhit

I know that Richard has been out of town. This may be why you have not heard from him. I think he will be back either this weekend or early next week.

Richard E.

Thank you mdwhit (Michael), I was back in NY City for a memorial for a cousin who passed away. He was from a pretty tought Irish neighborhood, Inwood. We floated his ashes down the Hudson and then we adjourned to a bar in the "hood" and raised a glass in his memory, it was a great event. However the weather was lousy.

I am in touch with Michael S. about the head. It looks like it is the correct head, it just needs to be measured for thickness and magnafluxed for cracks. And of course, shipped!

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