ClassicCar

Old Bird

I'm looking at a nice 53 stepdown with all the right Hornet badges. This is pretty much the car I'm looking for, with the exception of the tranny. But in looking at the pictures the seller sent to me, I noticed the engine only has one carb. Didn't all Hornets come with twin twos?

Other than exterior badges, what other cues would I look for to determine if it is a Hornet or not? It's quite possible, of course, that the two carbs could have been dropped for one at some point in it's history, but I want to be sure I don't over pay for something that isn't a Hornet.

I don't have the serial number at this point, although I'm sure I could get it from the seller. If there is something specific that I might be able to see in the photos it might be easier.

53jetman

Tim - Hornets came standard with the 308 cid engine with one two barrel carb. The Twin H Power was an option. I guess the best advice I could give you would be to invest in some 1951, 1952, 1953 & 1954 dealer brochures. They have colored pictures or graphics showing in detail the differences in all models, including interior shots.

Jerry

53jetman

nhp1127

Jerry is correct, the twin-h was an option. It was first avail in 1952 (if I'm not mistaken). Many guys added it on after the fact. Get the VIN and it will also tell you if it is a Hornet or not. While you are at it also ask him for the engine serial number. You'll be able to see if it is original to the car or not.

Old Bird

Thanks guys. I'll have to ask him for the serial number. I guess my concern is unneccesary though, if the Hornet did come with a single carb as well. Any affect on horsepower with one carb v two?

Uncle Josh

The bigger concern would be if it's the 308 engine. It would have the double horizontal casting web the full length of the engine just above the oil pan and about 1.5 inches apart.

super-six

Old Bird wrote:

I'm looking at a nice 53 stepdown with all the right Hornet badges. This is pretty much the car I'm looking for, with the exception of the tranny. But in looking at the pictures the seller sent to me, I noticed the engine only has one carb. Didn't all Hornets come with twin twos?

Other than exterior badges, what other cues would I look for to determine if it is a Hornet or not? It's quite possible, of course, that the two carbs could have been dropped for one at some point in it's history, but I want to be sure I don't over pay for something that isn't a Hornet.

I don't have the serial number at this point, although I'm sure I could get it from the seller. If there is something specific that I might be able to see in the photos it might be easier.

Actually the Twin-H-Power option is two 1-bbl carbs. It added a rated 10 horsepower over the one 2-bbl.

hornet53

For a 53 Hornet, the serial number will start with 7C...

bent metal

super-six wrote:

Actually the Twin-H-Power option is two 1-bbl carbs. It added a rated 10 horsepower over the one 2-bbl.

Interesting, so if I have a 2-bbl Twin-H-Power style air cleaner then it must of come off an eight motor with Twin-H? Is that right? Or could the eights have a single 2-bbl with a single Twin-H style air cleaner?

I think when a six had a single 2-bbl the air cleaner was a thick disk shape, not the tube Twin-H style.

By Twin-H style air cleaner I mean the tube like ones that are red.

51hornetA

There was no Twin H for the eight. The eight used a single 2 barrel aircleaner that looked like the Twin H aircleaners but was black.

I have a 2 barrel intake manifold and carb from a 262. It came off of a 53 superwasp. Would it be the same carb that the hornet used?

super-six

The single dry-element air cleaner was standard which resembled the Twin-H-Power air cleaner, and as 51hornetA said, was black. Oil bath air cleaners were optional on both single and twin carbs., but each were designed completely different.

bent metal

Is it correct then that their was never a factory two-2-bbl set up? Only Edmond's type intakes like that were ever made?

super-six

bent metal wrote:

Is it correct then that their was never a factory two-2-bbl set up? Only Edmond's type intakes like that were ever made?

That is correct.

Uncle Josh

Your 262 carb should be a Carter WDO or WGD, both 2 barrels.

Aaron D. IL

I've seen some pre-war racing pics of guys who have a twin carb setup on their Hudson 8 cylinders but likely these were custom made for the races. Hudson never offered them.

As for stepdowns, anything else that is not Twin H was aftermarket speed equipment. Clifford, Edmunds, etc.

bigboy308

My 1949 SuperSix 262 had the 2-barrel carb and the "look-alike" Twin H air cleaner. A coat of Red paint, a decal and a short trip to the local muffler shop scrap bin for a sleeve makes a Twin-H air cleaner. Been on car for years, nobody has said anything yet! Of course, it's on the back carb!

Hudson308

bigboy308 wrote:

My 1949 SuperSix 262 had the 2-barrel carb and the "look-alike" Twin H air cleaner. A coat of Red paint, a decal and a short trip to the local muffler shop scrap bin for a sleeve makes a Twin-H air cleaner. Been on car for years, nobody has said anything yet! Of course, it's on the back carb!

I got it. You used the single-2bbl air cleaner for the rear unit on a Twin-H. The sleeve is inside the carb mounting flange to make up the difference in the 1-bbl carb throat diameter.

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