ClassicCar

46HudsonPU

Finally back to the teardown - I have the rear of the '39 on jack stands, using a creeper to remove the rear fenders, and take the bed hold-down bolts out (from beneath), so I can get the bed off the truck.

The fenders needed to come off first - they hang lower than the bed, and I don't want to risk damaging them any worse than they already are. Right one took a bit more - damage to the rear, and the patch job consisted of welding the rear-end of the fender to the bed (to stop it from flapping in the wind).

Got some photos of the fenders (inside of the fenders, laying on the ground) - both in somewhat rough shape, but are quite salvageable/repairable, and the right fender will need some metal fab for part of the rear section which is missing. If you take a close look, you'll note the 'straight cuts' on the fenders, and the oblong holes cut for mounting. This is especially noticeable on the left fender at the rear, which had a secondary cut, in order to take advantage of the curve of the bottom-rear of the fender, incorporating it into the curved 'finished look' when installed.
IMO, Hudson used rear car fenders for this, with no real modifications other than some cutting away of un-needed metal and a hole for the gas filler.

The truck took some 'major' hits (at least one, probably more) at some point, the most evident being the right rear. This was evident as I was taking the right fender off, and it has 'old skool' lead repairs to the external edge of the wheel well. It also looks like the rear of the bed took a lot of abuse, on multiple occasions with what is left of the hinge mounts welded to the bed 'pockets', and some old-fashioned flat hinges bolted on to supplement the tailgate - which is missing (thought I had it, however the measurements on the one that came with the truck do not match-up with the bed - probably a 46-47 tailgate).

oldhudsons

here's a '39 BB PU I did a few years ago - tough to find any damaged or missing body parts - does yours have the "locker boxes"?

46HudsonPU

Hi Pete - I see you're having issues posting pictures. If you would, send me any pictures you have of your '39. Would love to have reference pictures of your progress in that project if you have them. If you 'click on Rick' below, it should give you my email address.

I'll take my digital camera out with me again today, and get some pictures of the truck & bed. As I go thru this, I'll try to take pictures of what's going-on & the progress - though I warn everyone that it will be boring and "slow going"...
No locker boxes, no tailgate, etc.. The bed has a lot of what I would categorize as 'back up' damage incidents - that is, minor damage, usually caused when backing up a vehicle and it hits obstacles. The floor of the bed ppears to be relatively good shape, as are the wheelwells.

46HudsonPU

Here's some pictures taken this AM. The 'shed' is a metal garage (20' deep x 18" wide) that I had put on my concrete parking pad last year, mainly for storage of this truck and other parts-n-pieces, to keep them out of the weather.

- As you can see, the rear end of the bed has taken a bit of abuse. If 'Bent_Metal' was close, I'd be keeping him somewhat busy. As it is, I'm looking for a local or somewhat local 'metal smith' with equivalent talents (?)...

I'll be doing another post a bit later, of some pictures of the cab and the areas there that need attention.

- And, found and removed the last six bolts holding the bed to the frame of the truck (17 total), so it is just 'sitting there'. Now, I've got to figure-out some way to get the bed off of the truck by myself - without damage or injury. Think I've got it worked-out, we'll see... ;-)

I have these pictures and a lot more posted to my Facebook account. They are 'public', so you should be able to see them and my preliminary comments if you have an account.

oldhudsons

Rick - I have a web page where my '39 BB PU & many other HET photos are, go to:
http://picasaweb.google.com/oldhudsons/peteshudsonpics

ArkieJazz

Speaking of '39 Big Boys, there was at least one '39 pick up built with the big car nose instead of the 112 shnozola. I have only seen it in a factory photo. Years ago, there was a '39 Big Boy panel truck or sedan delivery which also had the big car nose. When I saw the thing it was yellow with a black top.....I think it was in California. Maybe Pete remembers it? I always wondered what happened to that truck

46HudsonPU

@ArkieJazz - From what I understand, the '39 you are referring to had the Series 91 Pacemaker front end. No records exist of it other than the photo, so it was most likely a prototype.

There was at least one commercial series made with the Pacemaker front end, the '39 Panel truck.
See the attached picture (below) of that yellow '39 Panel truck with the black top that you were most likely referring to...

hudsontech

ArkiJazz wrote: Speaking of '39 Big Boys, there was at least one '39 pick up built with the big car nose instead of the 112 shnozola. I have only seen it in a factory photo. Years ago, there was a '39 Big Boy panel truck or sedan delivery which also had the big car nose

Attention class - time for a short history lesson for 1939 Hudson commercial vehicles. In 1939, in addition to the Hudson 112 commercials, there were also Hudson Model 98 (119" w/b) commercials. There was a 5 and 7 passenger sedan (most likely for taxi cab use), Panel Delivery (Body by Checker), and the usual pickup along with the Cab Chassis for those who needed to have special coachwork. These were all known as "Big Boy", a name carried forward to 1947.

In addition my research says there was also a Model 91 Panel Delivery (118" w/b), body also by Checker Cab. This is probably the panel truck ArkieJazz is referring to - I've seen a factory photo of the Model 91 pickup, and probably have it somewhere in my files, that says Model 91 on it. Was it built, or was it speculation on Hudson's part. Until one shows up, or somebody says they've seen one, we'll never know for sure. That's what's fun about Hudson research. For example, the 1927-1950 NUMERICAL PARTS INTERCHANGEABILITY RECORD lists parts for 1930 Dover, 1931 Dover-Express Phaeton and 1931 Essex Special Phaeton-Dover Truck. The Essex name-plate is closest to being right.

Hudsonly,
Alex Bur
Memphis, TN

46HudsonPU

Yup, understood @Hudsontech (Alex ;-) ). I neglected to mention the 98 series, mainly because I was focused on the 91 Series (Pacemaker) as it pertained to the commercial series. Honestly, I would love to see that 1939 Pacemaker pickup 'show up' or be discovered.

Essentially, the 1939 'Big Boy' 98 Series was very similiar to the 90 Series - or was it the other way around? For the 98 Series, the springs were heavier duty (increasing the rating to 3/4 ton), it had a longer 119" wheelbase (bed was 7" longer), and the larger 212 cu in engine.

As far as the term 'Big Boy' - The last time Hudson actually used the term 'Big Boy' in reference to their 3/4 ton pickups was in 1942, which was also the last year they produced a 1/2 ton commercial vehicle. The 46 & 47 sales literature do not refer to the Hudson pickups as 'Big Boys'.
However the term was & still is very popular, and has sort of 'stuck', with owners and Hudson enthusiasts referring any and all Hudson 3/4 ton pickups, including the 1946-47 pickups - as 'Big Boys'.

1946 Hudson Pickup Sales Brochure -
http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeryru7/id27.html

onerare39

Rick,

Know that we will be with you in spirit all the way. Keep us posted regularly and don't be afraid to ask for help from the armchair mechanics... that way we don't have to get our hands dirty. Make sure that you are up to date on your tetanus shot too.

See you in Gettysburg.

John Forkner

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