51 Pacemaker Coupe

51hornet · Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 4:57 pm Post subject: 51 Pacemaker Coupe

Here is a car that has been on before and not sold. Illustrates the point we were making about coupes. Here is a low end Pacemaker coupe with a POS chevy engine in it and the guy has a BIN of $10,750. Shows you that the stock Commodore was the better bargain at 11k the other day.

cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotor...0173876266

Dave53-7C · Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 6:22 pm Post subject: Re: 51 Pacemaker Coupe

Agreed. Why would anyone go through the trouble and expense to install a Chevrolaid straight six engine in a Hudson?

Zephyrmec · Hornet Joined: Aug 19, 2007 Posts: 623

I remember seeing that one a couple of months ago, I don't remember how high it went. I sure does seem like a lot of work to convert to the chebbie 6, without any real advantage except the O/D transmission. I'd certainly prefer it with a 308 and a Twin H setup. It sure would have been a lot less work, and he wouldn't be so upside down in it. (labor wise)

Dave53-7C · Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 9:29 pm Post subject: Re: 51 Pacemaker Coupe

Oh, this one's been around a few times. IMO, no advantage to using the Chev engine since Hudson offered OD on cars with a manual trans. Also, fourth gear in the Hydra-matic is geared somewhat like OD.

Upon further inspection, it looks like the chrome interior pieces got sand blasted. Man, that's the some dull metal there. This guy should just take the $500.00 we offered him and be done with it.

51hornet · Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 12:40 am Post subject: Re: 51 Pacemaker Coupe

The Hydramatic is a sweet tranny for something 50+ years old. The Hudson OD tranny is pretty nice as well as smooth an OD that your going to find. Putting a Chevy engine and tranny in here is just plain lazy. No reason for it.

Dave53-7C · Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 7:58 am Post subject: Re: 51 Pacemaker Coupe

I'd say. And when they say low gear they mean LOW gear. Between that and the torque the Hudson engine makes at low RPM's, these cars take off like rockets, albeit vintage ones. From the look of it, someone didn't want to spend thousands to properly rebuild the Hudson engine and the Chev 6 was probably a bargain at the local bone yard.

51hornet · Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:02 am Post subject: Re: 51 Pacemaker Coupe

Seems to me to be a pain in the butt to mod that stuff in there. I can't see replacing a straight six for a straight six what the heck was that about. I can't understand buying an antique car with a new engine in it. I bought my Hudson to get a Hudson car I wanted to drive an original car and see what that was like. If I want a new engine I will buy a new car.

Dave53-7C · Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:11 am Post subject: Re: 51 Pacemaker Coupe

Makes no sense to me either. I guess there are two lines of thought. Some people want to experience the car as it originally was while others are just going for a look that goes fast. As the price of Hudsons (in any shape) keeps climbing, we'll see a sharp decline in rodding and modifications. Case in point, seen any rodded or modified Duesenburgs running around lately? No, but you did at one time.

51hornet · Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:15 am Post subject: Re: 51 Pacemaker Coupe

I have seen some modded Packards at a show I went to. A 38 Convertible with a Mustang front clip, lowered, big engine. Guy just toileted any chance of making money on that car. Crazy crap. Just to rod around. At 3 bucks plus a gallon driving a car that sucks fuel seems idiotic. Me I like to cruise and the Hornet is plenty fast for me.

Dave53-7C · Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:22 am Post subject: Re: 51 Pacemaker Coupe

I'm not discounting the money and talent expended to mod/rod cars, it's just not in the cards for me. As I've said before, I feel it takes more talent to hunt down parts and info to make/keep a car stock. For me, NOS parts and accessories in original boxes means more than parts in a box from JEGS or Summit Racing.

51hornet · Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:29 am Post subject: Re: 51 Pacemaker Coupe

My daughter wants to build a rod with me. We are going to buy a frame and body kit. You can get a boxed 32 Deuce rolling chassis for about 5K now with everything. Rear end, brakes, suspension. We may go T-Bucket or buy a Willys body or a Deuce. Easy to build a rod without hacking a real car. We might even go 308 with triple carbs just to be different.

I will do all the paint and airbrushing but with her help. She likes helping out in the garage and she likes rods. She loves Chip Foose and thinks old Boyd is an idiot.

Like I say no need to hack an original when remanufactured components are readily available.

Dave53-7C · Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:50 am Post subject: Re: 51 Pacemaker Coupe

All I can say is watch out! Your daughter will be a car boy magnet if you keep involving her in the hobby. Laughing

Ah, nothing wrong with that as long as you can handle all the boys hanging around your garage while she fixes their cars...for a fee of course.

But it's true, you can get a host of cool replicars in kit form if you're in the mood to do a build. Lots less work and more time to enjoy it. I'll be waiting for pics of the build, especially those of the 308.

51hornet · Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:55 am Post subject: Re: 51 Pacemaker Coupe

Yup I am thinking that rodding it with a 308 triple carbs or fuel injection and a blower. Probably if I go fuel and blower I will machine the parts myself and make my own version only need 4Ibs of boost to make things hairy.

Be nice to pop the hood and see a long 308 under there and with header it will scream....

Dave53-7C · Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 4:27 pm Post subject: Re: 51 Pacemaker Coupe

While your daughter is still young enough to enjoy it, why not drop a blown 308 in a Go-Cart for her? You certainly wouldn't have to worry about it tipping over. Hmmm, but flipping head over heels is another thing.

51hornet · Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 8:46 pm Post subject: Re: 51 Pacemaker Coupe

And the first time she steps in it the whole rear frame would buckle from the torque....