ClassicCar

If you hit the main Clifford site, you can download their current catalog. All the Hudson stuff is still listed in there.

Stock availability, I don't know...

Nuts, you're right. Last I looked they still had Hudson In/Ex manifolds listed in the pdf catalog on the main page. Not anymore.

Yikes, just looked at the Clifford site and the headers for Hudson are indeed gone :woohoo: . They were there several months ago. Not good if true, I was going to get a set. Got to find out if they no longer make them or make them as a special order.

Well, I just got off of the phone from a 45-minute conversation with Larry at Clifford Performance. The purpose of the call was to let him know that I would be interested in a set of headers and to put my name on the list if he intended to do a run of Hudson Headers, and if he got enough orders to warrant the run in the first place.

Fortunately, he told me that he has all ready placed the order for a run of 25 sets (which gets farmed out to a local mfg.). There is a Jeep order in front of the Hudson order, but the Hudson Headers should be ready in 2-3 weeks. He took my name, address, phone number and told me he would call when he received the headers for stock. No money has changed hands, but he told me I could pay for them when he had the headers in hand. Price was $359.00 + shipping (shipping is $70 to Texas, and varies accordingly to locale).

What a great guy! We then talked Hudson shop for the next 40 minutes or so. Some information I gleaned on the headers is that Jack used to make changes on the headers whenever someone complained about something. Every time he made a change, he would assign a new part # to the new design. So there wasn't only a "long" set and a "shorty" set, but there were actually about a dozen different designs. Larry, has taken one of the "long" sets, shortened it, and only makes the one style of header now. Beneficial to everyone, this new standard set of headers is designed to work in both the LWB's and the SWB's. Additionally, the headers are coated in a High-Temp black paint before they are shipped to the customer.

In my infinite wisdom, I forgot to ask whether or not a gasket (header to block) is needed for the headers, maybe one of y'all can fill me in on that one.

Additionally, Larry told me that even though Hudson parts are not in the catalog, there are scores of parts available for Hudsons, including lifters, pistons, valves, heads, headers and cams. One needs only to call him and give him one's needs. Also, he told me that Jack often didn't list Hudson parts in his main catalogs, but usually had a supplement that listed all the Hudson-specific parts. In my ignorance, I assumed that they used to only make Hudson parts, as I have an old Hudson catalog from Clifford, which, it turns out, is apparently one of the supplements.

Larry is still very much interested in continuing to supply the Hudson folks with parts, but realizes, especially as time goes on, the Hudson market is getting smaller and demand is not what it used to be. But he, and his family are still rooted in Hudsons, and the family still owns several of Jack's old cars. He was extremely helpful and I look forward to buying many more parts from him in the near future.

Thank you, Charlie, and yes, you are right on the money.

Good to know they plan on producing Hudson parts into the future. Soon as I am able, I plan to get a set of headers. Hell, I got a whole list of Ford Big Six stuff I need from Clifford too.

esfoder wrote:

I bought a head from Larry about 2 months ago and found him easy to talk to. I would buy a NEW TWIN H from him if they get made. Mine with the exhaust manifold weighs a ton.

Dusty

I'm curious as to what what you think of the head? Have you installed it yet? I drove 80 miles to see Larry at Clifford a day ago. He has alot of neat Hudson stuff. I saw the last two heads he has in stock. They are true eye candy. I still may spring for one... they are about $795.00. They don't sell many so I would'nt hold my breath if he doesn't make any more but who knows. He has three different Hudson cams and ofcourse, he has the headers. They also have a fuel injection unit that can be used for the Hudson.
I had driven my 51 Hornet Coupe so he could see it. He really is love with the Twin-H units. After seeing the big red aircleaners he said "None of the Hudson guys will want to get rid of their Twin-H's" "They work darned good and look bitchen".

Larry also has some manifold adaptors that allow you to mount Webers on a twin-H unit if you are so inclinded. On a last note, he mention that one of Jacks relatives has four of Jacks Hudson race cars... one was a wold record holder and won Pikes Peak. I guess Jack Clifford and Bill Albright knew each other pretty well. Cool stuff. Niels

Got a few photos from Empire Motors (13451 Montana Ave, El Paso, Texas 79938-9616 915 856 9507 www.empiremotorsinc.com )yesterday of his finned Aluminum (356-T6 By the way, that is the Aluminum we would use on the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster Nozzles--hard stuff...) cylinder Heads (weight 15 pounds) Looks like there is someone else in the business?

Browniepetersen wrote:

Got a few photos from Empire Motors (13451 Montana Ave, El Paso, Texas 79938-9616 915 856 9507 www.empiremotorsinc.com )yesterday of his finned Aluminum (356-T6 By the way, that is the Aluminum we would use on the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster Nozzles--hard stuff...) cylinder Heads (weight 15 pounds) Looks like there is someone else in the business?

Pics or it didn't happen Brownie!

Browniepetersen wrote:

Got a few photos from Empire Motors (13451 Montana Ave, El Paso, Texas 79938-9616 915 856 9507 www.empiremotorsinc.com )yesterday of his finned Aluminum (356-T6 By the way, that is the Aluminum we would use on the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster Nozzles--hard stuff...) cylinder Heads (weight 15 pounds) Looks like there is someone else in the business?

No pics on their website yet but it looks as if they have a number of other uncommon heads already.

These guys are in the foundry and mold biz.... I bet someone could get a nice run of reproduction porkchops made..hummmmmm?

FYI

Ironically, I just received an Update from Rudy Bennett today with a few pictures which look great.....

One new Head is to be final test fit to a Hornet Block this wknd then shipped out. Four more new Heads are arriving next week.

Additionally,
An Aluminum dual 2bbl Intake Manifold is already in the Mold Process.

Great looking head...

Regarding headers, I have a customer coming in for a engine swap among other things we are putting in headers to his 49 hudson. He brought out a short tight set with dual outlets tht he got in less than two weeks from a company out of Californis. It was not Clifford. I had not heard of the company and can not recall it at this time. the fellow will be back within a week and I will get the product info for you guys and a picture of the headers.

Regarding the headers, they looked like the ones silva was producing one piece except with dual outlets and these heades were mig welded not tig. I believe they ran around $375 for the set. Well worth the buy IMO

russ maas

I recently bought a set from Larry, and mine took about six months from the time I ordered them. At that time he was just cutting loose another batch, so I knew it was going to be a while. I called him after several months and he told me that they were waiting for the flanges to be welded on, and because his supplier had to cut back and lay off employees, it was taking longer than anticipated. But I got them a few weeks ago, and they look great.

Bottom line is they are a fantastic product for a great price, and I give credit to Larry Clifford for keeping his Dad's Hudson connection alive today, and still offering parts.