1922 Hudson Fair Grounds Racer

[DFeeney]

Hello my Speedsters friends.   I would like to encourage those who are thinking about a speedster project to take the "Plunge".   I am working on my 4th.   My projects are low cost, low tech , and a lot of fun.  I  use mostly scrounged parts and the  cost is  about $7. a day over a 4 yr period.  All the work will be mine except for the upholstery.   I bought a 1922 Hudson chassis, , 4 springs,hood and radiator shell for $750.  A  used 1949 Hudson straight 8 engine/ stand trans was found for a $1000. I had a 1928 Plymouth front /rear axle,  It now has 4 wheel hydraulic brakes.   The frame was shortened 20" to a 104" wheelbase.  As you can see, I am on my way.   The hard part is to see is  "The Vision".     As I move forward , the next step appears.  My Motor Head friends comment on what they see and make suggestions.  A lot of their idea's are a improvement of mine.   At 77 this will probably be my last.  I expect to have the body mocked up by spring.  Life is Good

[DFeeney]

Hello again John.  To my surprise I have not found any rear shackles.  I would have thought they used them over  several years.   When you  get you new ones installed I would like to purchase your old ones as they have the early look.   Think Spring,  Don

[Gary_Ash]

Don:  You apparently found the steering box you were looking for.  Where did it come from?

 

[DFeeney]

16 hours ago, Gary_Ash said:

Don:  You apparently found the steering box you were looking for.  Where did it come from?

 

Hello Gary,  I bought the steering box from a guy who had a collection of sprint car parts.  I have tried to find out who made  it and think it might be a early Schroder. The Hudson will be wide enough for one person.  I was looking for a box with a 13" off set.   Most steering boxes have a ratio of around 12-1.  This is a Sprint car box at 8-1.  I hope it will not be too quick for my use.    I don't plan to drive the car on the road.  Think Spring.   Don

Edited January 5, 2023 by DFeeney (see edit history)

[RansomEli]

Don, 

 

Looks like a fun project. What type of wood are you using?

[DFeeney]

The floor is 3/4 finished plywood .  The body will have several 3/4 finished bulkheads with horizontal stringers like a wood canoe.  I am mocking up the body and the bulkheads shown are temporary( made from scrap.  ) The plywood is $65. a sheet and I try not to cut it until I am sure of the shape.  Surprisingly there will be less than $200. in metal for the body once the skeleton buck  is made .  As mentioned these are low cost projects.  I am trying to make it look period correct for 1930.

[Gary_Ash]

Don, don't forget to take a look at a wire-form buck made from hot-rolled 1/4" steel rods formed to the shape you want.  It's cheap, easy, and quick to build, easy to modify and light enough to move around.  It has the advantage that you can clamp the metal to the buck to check fit and to weld the pieces together.  See Wray Schelin's ProShaper.com website for free videos about building bucks.  Here's the buck for the tail of my car and the cowl during the build.

 

Wire form buck for the tail.

 

Wire form buck for the cowl with aluminum pieces clamped for trimming and welding.

 

 

 

[alsfarms]

Nice work Don.  It always good to see how you did your project Gary.

Al

[Hans1]

Don, Thank you for the lead to see your work, I like it.

 

I never looked in this catagory, thought it was for four or more passenger open cars.