when i was very small my dad drove Hudsons. that had a clutch with cork face. in an oil bath. years latter i had a friend that was in the Hudson club. one of the old timers had a 8 cyl engine. that he would demo as to how slow it would idle. he calmed 200-250 RPM very smooth. MY point? just remembering the old days.
Hudson clutch
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Long stroke and small bore allows for very low idle RPM. The Hudson 232 had a 3.5625 bore x 4.375 stroke (I had to look that up) so its no wonder it could idle that low.
They probably felt the wet clutch provided smoother engagement with the low end torque.
Many V8's in the 60's had an idle spec of 500 rpm in drive or 550 with a stick.
They probably felt the wet clutch provided smoother engagement with the low end torque.
Many V8's in the 60's had an idle spec of 500 rpm in drive or 550 with a stick.
Originally Posted By: Trav
Long stroke and small bore allows for very low idle RPM. The Hudson 232 had a 3.5625 bore x 4.375 stroke (I had to look that up) so its no wonder it could idle that low. ...
If you're talking about a 6-cylinder, those dimensions would yield about 262 in³ not 232. I noticed the discrepancy because that's the same bore as the late Chevy "Stove Bolt," which came to 235.5 in³ with a 3.9375" stroke.
Model A's were good at that slow-idle trick.
Long stroke and small bore allows for very low idle RPM. The Hudson 232 had a 3.5625 bore x 4.375 stroke (I had to look that up) so its no wonder it could idle that low. ...
If you're talking about a 6-cylinder, those dimensions would yield about 262 in³ not 232. I noticed the discrepancy because that's the same bore as the late Chevy "Stove Bolt," which came to 235.5 in³ with a 3.9375" stroke.
Model A's were good at that slow-idle trick.
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Probably, I knoew it was a long block but didn't know the dimensions. I guess the 232, 262 and 308 L heads all used the same block.
I remember working on an Armstrong Siddley, the specced idle speed was 150 rpm.
...and they had ooomph too! The old timers of the day "didn't need no V-8".
I was talking with somebody the other day and they mentioned working on a friend's Hudson with a cork clutch - crazy stuff. I'd love to drive something with a straight 8 some day.
Hudsons are 20th century American literary icons. The Joads migrated out of the Dustbowl in a cut down Hudson touring car. Dean Moriarty and Sal Paradise crossed the country a few times before the Hudson was repo'ed .
I had a Hudson 308 with Twin H Power and 4speed Hydromatic. Great car. We once crammed 9 kids in that car en route from the church to skating rink. What a cruiser.
Had a buddy with a Twin H coupe. A lotta V8 boys called him out and lost big time
Always wanted to do a turbo on a 308 Hudson 6 in a little 53 Rambler. Would look a lot like a little Rambler 6 in the engine bay. Stick a Turbo400 tranny behind it and leave it shift on the column so it looked meek'ish grocery getter ... You'd be a fool to call that one out
Had a buddy with a Twin H coupe. A lotta V8 boys called him out and lost big time
Always wanted to do a turbo on a 308 Hudson 6 in a little 53 Rambler. Would look a lot like a little Rambler 6 in the engine bay. Stick a Turbo400 tranny behind it and leave it shift on the column so it looked meek'ish grocery getter ... You'd be a fool to call that one out
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A late Uncle once had a Buick Straight 8 with an automatic . He used to say the engine would wind up when you floored it , but it did not seem like you were going anywhere . But it would keep up with the flat head Fords , at least up to 60 MPH .
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