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Hudson 1938 Terraplane Owner's Manual

Hudson 1938 terraplane
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  • Page 3: To The Owner

    Considerable money and time have been spent in designing and manufacturing your new Hudson Terraplane car, and we believe it is your desire to protect the investment in your purchase to the utmost. Therefore, we have prepared this manual which incorporates com- prehensive information to enable you to render the attention that such a fine piece of mechanism as this motor car deserves.
  • Page 4 This sign is your assurance that the dealer is prepared to service your car with only "Genuine Hudson and H U D S O N T E R R A P L A N E Service Parts." The mechanics employed by this establishment are trained to Hudson factory practices and procedures.

  • Page 5: Warranty

    "This warranty shall not apply to any vehicle which shall have been repaired or altered by other than an Authorized Hudson dealer in any way so as, in the judgment of the Manufacturer, to affect its stability or reliability, nor which has been subject to misuse, negligence or accident."...
  • Page 6 H U D S O N T E R R A P L A N E These Items Are Important 1. Upon delivery of your new Hudson Terraplane car the dealer will furnish you with an Owner's Service Policy and Ownership Card, which entitles you to replacement of any faulty parts in accordance with the Standard Warranty.
  • Page 7 O W N E R' S M A N U A L...
  • Page 8 H U D S O N T E R R A P L A N E 500-Mile Inspection Service See provisions outlined in Owner's Service Policy. The 500-mile inspection includes the following operations: 500-MILE NEW CAR INSPECTION Lubrication and Inspection Procedure Install Fender and Scat Covers Check Fluid in Master Cylinder Check Window Regulator Operation...

  • Page 9: Breaking-In Period

    BREAKING-IN PERIOD The pride of ownership, trouble-free performance and maximum life and enjoyment you receive from your Hudson Terraplane car depends largely on the manner in which your car is operated during the "breaking-in-period" or the first thousand miles of driving.

  • Page 10: License Data

    H U D S O N T E R R A P L A N E LICENSE DATA Body Types DE LUXE MODELS SUPER MODELS 117" Wheelbase 117" Wheelbase Starting Serial No. 81101 Starting Serial No. 82101 3-Passenger Coupe 3-Passenger Coupe Victoria Coupe Victoria Coupe Convertible Coupe...
  • Page 11 Number of Piston Rings Compression, 2; Oil Control, 2 Width of Piston Rings Compression, 3/32"; Oil Control, 3/16" Piston Ring Gap .009"-.011" Lubricating System . Hudson Duo-flo Automatic Oil Pump Type Oscillating Plunger Oil Reservoir Capacity 5 Quarts Capacity of Lubricating System...
  • Page 12 H U D S O N T E R R A P L A N E Battery Make National Number Plates Capacity 105 Ampere Hours Dimensions—Length 10 9/16" Width 7 1/4" Height (over all) 7 15/16" Terminal Grounded Positive Lamp Bulb Specifications C.P.

  • Page 13: Front Axle

    O W N E R' S M A N U A L Front Axle Toe-in 0 to 1/4" Caster 1° to 2" Camber 1° to 1½º Brakes Type 4-Wheel Hydraulic Size 10 1/16" x 1 3/4" Clearance Between Lining and Drum .010"...
  • Page 14 The subject of lubrication is one of the most important items we deal with in this manual. Upon the interest displayed by the car owner on this subject, in co-operation with his Hudson dealer, depends the amount of trouble-free service he will derive from his car.
  • Page 15 O W N E R' S M A N U A L manual, and another quick reference lubrication and tire pressure chart will be found on the left side of the dash in the engine compartment. Study these charts carefully and be diligent in following the instructions contained therein. The lubricants placed in your car at the time of manufacture have been carefully tested and checked by our laboratory and NEED NOT be removed until the recommended change period has been reached.
  • Page 16 H U D S O N T E R R A P L A N E Engine Oil Capacity Under operating conditions, one quart of oil is retained in the crankcase, in addition to the five quarts in the reservoir. If the oil reservoir is removed, one quart of oil should be put into the upper crankcase tray and five quarts in the reservoir.
  • Page 17 O W N E R' S M A N U A L Generator The front and rear bearings of the genera- tor are also provided with oilers (A) and (B), Figure 4, and should be lubricated with engine oil every 1,000 miles. Do not over- lubricate.
  • Page 18 H U D S O N T E R R A P L A N E Clutch Throwout Bearing The clutch throwout bearing is lubri- cated through a fitting located on the right side of the clutch hell housing, Figure 7. This should be lubricated with one ounce of viscous chassis lubricant every 1,000 miles.
  • Page 19 O W N E R' S M A N U A L Automatic Clutch Control Governor (Optional equipment) The automatic clutch control governor adapter, Figure 9, located on the left side at the rear of the transmission, is fitted with a metered lubrication fitting. This fitting should be lubricated every 1,000 miles with viscous chassis lubricant.
  • Page 20 1,000 miles. Brakes Check fluid in brake master cylinder every 1,000 miles and add sufficient Gen- uine Hudson Hydraulic Brake Fluid to bring level up to within one-quarter inch of the top. See Figure 14. Use Genuine Hudson Hydraulic Brake Fluid No.
  • Page 21 O W N E R' S M A N U A L EVERY 2,000 MILES Air Cleaner—Carburetor The standard carburetor air cleaner filter unit should be cleaned in gasoline and re- oiled with S.A.E. 50 engine oil every 2,000 miles. Following extensive service, it may be advisable to replace the filter unit which is available at low cost.
  • Page 22 H U D S O N T E R R A P L A N E 5. Refill sump with one measured pint of new S.A.E. 50 engine oil in summer and 20 W in winter. 6. Check filter unit gasket, reinstall filter unit (E) and install wing nut (D). 7.
  • Page 23 Have your Hudson dealer drain and refill each unit with five ounces of Genuine Hudson Shock Absorber Fluid every 5,000 miles. See Figure 20. Figure 20...
  • Page 24 H U D S O N T E R R A P L A N E Brake Cables and Conduits To assure freedom of operation the rear wheel parking brake cables and conduits should be cleaned and graphite grease ap- plied every 5,000 miles.

  • Page 25: Steering Gear

    See Figure 25. At 10,000-mile intervals the universal joints should be disassembled, cleaned and repacked with viscous chassis lu- bricant. Your Hudson dealer is equipped to per- form this service. Figure 25...
  • Page 26 Genuine Hudson Shock Absorber Fluid. To lubricate, remove elbow (A), Figure 26, and inject one ounce of fluid. Avoid over-oiling. It is ad- visable to have your Hudson dealer Figure 26 perform this service. Automatic Clutch Control (Optional equipment)

  • Page 27: Care Of The Finish

    The use of a special Oil Bath Carburetor Air Cleaner, Figure 16, which is available as an option or may be purchased from Hudson dealers, will assist in large measure in protecting the carburetor and engine from premature wear.
  • Page 28 During the winter season when salt and calcium chloride are used on pavements to melt ice and snow, the chromium-plated parts should be wiped or washed off more frequent- ly. A film of Hudson Wax Polish will serve to provide added protection at this season of the year.
  • Page 29 Most spots which are apt to soil the car upholstery can be quickly and neatly removed by the use of Hudson Upholstery Dry Cleaner or Hudson Foam Solution Cleaner which are available from your Hudson dealer.

  • Page 30: Tires And Wheels

    Have your Hudson dealer make periodic hydrometer readings to insure good battery condition at all times. An occasional check of the battery and generator charging rate should also be made with an accurate voltmeter and ammeter by your Hudson dealer.
  • Page 31 O W N E R' S M A N U A L ply 16 x 6.00 tires are used as standard equipment on all models with four-ply 15 x 7.00 tires as optional equipment. Removal and Installation To remove a tire, deflate the tube. Starting directly opposite the valve stem and working in both directions to- ward the valve, press both beads of the...

  • Page 32: Spare Tires

    H U D S O N T E R R A P L A N E However, on the other hand, higher than recommended pressures reduce the shock-absorbing qualities of the tires, but increase stability at high speeds. For all-around average load and driving the following inflation pressures are recommended: Size Front...
  • Page 33 DRIVING HINTS FOR GASOLINE, OIL AND TIRE ECONOMY Gasoline Mileage Your Hudson Terraplane is capable of very good gasoline mileage under normal driving conditions. The mileage you obtain depends largely upon your driving characteristics. Sudden acceleration, long periods of idling the engine, accelerat- ing the engine while the car is standing still, and high-speed driving all tend to reduce gasoline economy.

  • Page 34: Operation

    H U D S O N T E R R A P L A N E OPERATION Through a thorough knowledge of the various features of your Hudson Terraplane car you can derive a great deal of pleasure and comfort in motoring. We, therefore,...
  • Page 35 O W N E R' S M A N U A L Instruments The instruments on your 1938 Hudson Terraplane car have been arranged to provide greater convenience and to place those instruments which are of greatest impor- tance as near to the driver's line of vision as possible. See Figure 32.
  • Page 36 H U D S O N T E R R A P L A N E Teleflash Oil Pressure Indicator The teleflash oil pressure indicator is located to the left of the teleflash generator charging indicator, and indicates at a glance the condition of the lubrication system. A small lens with the word "No"...
  • Page 37 O W N E R' S M A N U A L Fuses To provide for greater accessibility the fuse block, Figure 33, is separate from the main light switch and is located on the lower flange of the instrument panel. It has two fuses, one for the lighting switch and the other for accessories which may be added.
  • Page 38 An exclusive safety feature in the braking system of your Hudson Terraplane car provides for mechanical operation of the rear brakes automatically in event of derangement of the hydraulic system.

  • Page 39: Electric Hand

    O W N E R' S M A N U A L ELECTRIC HAND The Electric Hand Transmission Con- trol, which is a factory option, is a means of simplifying the method of shifting gears. An abutment indicator feature is incorporated whereby the driver's attention is called to the fact that a gear abutment has taken place in shifting into low or reverse...

  • Page 40: Starting The Engine

    Hudson Hydraulic Hill-Hold When the car is equipped with Hydraulic Hill-Hold, in addition to the Automatic Clutch Control, the clutch pedal must be depressed manually in order for the Hydraulic Hill-Hold to function with the car at rest on a grade.
  • Page 41 Failure of the engine to start when the above procedure is followed can usually be traced to improper engine tune-up or, in cold weather, a combination of this and improper lubricants. The car should then be thoroughly checked by your Hudson dealer for the source of the difficulty.
  • Page 42 H U D S O N T E R R A P L A N E Hudson Duo-flo Automatic Lubricating System, insuring proper lubrication from the first turn of the engine, combined with a fully compensated crankshaft, provides unusually long life and smoothness of operation.
  • Page 43 O W N E R' S M A N U A L Lubrication System The Hudson Duo-flo Automatic Lubrication System gives positive flow of oil to every working part of the engine from the moment of starting throughout the period of operation. It also, through in-built features, conditions the oil so that all oil supplied by the oscillating plunger pump is cooled and freed of solid matter and diluents.
  • Page 44 The grinding should be done in a special machine to insure proper seating. This operation can be performed by an Authorized Hudson Service Station. Filing or honing of the points will remove oxidization from the points but, due to the hardness of the tungsten alloy used, this method is not practical for removing deep pits.
  • Page 45 O W N E R' S M A N U A L I g n i t i o n T i m i n g The ignition timing is determined by the position of the piston when the distributor breaker points begin to open. In general, the points should begin to open when the piston reaches its highest position in the cylinder.
  • Page 46 H U D S O N T E R R A P L A N E Fuel Compensation The foregoing operations give dead center timing. This, however, due to variations in fuel characteristics (octane rating), is only approximately correct. To get the correct setting the car should be driven until the engine has reached its normal operating temperature.
  • Page 47 O W N E R' S M A N U A L run for 15 to 20 minutes indoors, should be 29 amperes, while the minimum should not be lower than 26 amperes. This high charging rate can be used safely, as the Voltage Regulator automatically reduces the charging rate when battery is fully charged.
  • Page 48 (C). Be sure to tighten nuts securely after valve is moved to prevent exhaust leaks developing. Carburetor—Super Models The carburetor, Figure 40, on your Hudson Terraplane Super car is of the down-draft Duplex type, incorporating Climatic Control (self-controlled choke), accelerating pump and automatic heat control.
  • Page 49 O W N E R' S M A N U A L The automatic choke valve is operated by a thermostatic coil spring contained in an insulated housing (A), Figure 40, which is controlled by hot air drawn off the exhaust manifold through stove (B) and tube (C) which lead to the insulated housing.
  • Page 50 H U D S O N T E R R A P L A N E As the air enters the cleaner body through the opening at the top, it is directed to the oil located in the reservoir at the bottom of the cleaner body. The air velocity and agitation of the oil due to movement of the car tends to keep the filter unit bathed in oil at all times.

  • Page 51: Engine Tuning

    Road test for final ignition timing as described under "Fuel Compensation," page 44. If the above operations, properly performed, do not give normal engine per- formance, the car should be taken to your Hudson dealer for mechanical inspection. COOLING SYSTEM Operation The cooling system has been designed to provide proper cooling under all operating conditions.
  • Page 52 Stop the engine and drain all water from the system. Dissolve the contents of a container of Hudson Radiator Cleaner in a bucket of hot water (be sure the material is completely dissolved). Pour the solution into the radiator, then fill the radiator almost full of water.
  • Page 53 O W N E R' S M A N U A L After thoroughly flushing the cooling system, the addition of Hudson Rust and Corrosion Inhibitor to the water will neutralize the action of any cleaning compound which may not have drained out. It will also prevent corrosion of the cast iron and other metals in the cooling system.
  • Page 54 H U D S O N T E R R A P L A N E...

  • Page 55: Clutch Control

    46, incorporating helical gears to give a silent second gear and involute spline mainshaft and countershaft to provide easy shifting, is used in the 1938 Hudson Terraplane. All gears are made of nickel chrome molyb- denum alloy steel, carefully heat-treated for strength and case-hardened to resist wear and provide long life.
  • Page 56 H U D S O N T E R R A P L A N E Figure 45...
  • Page 57 O W N E R' S M A N U A L Figure 47 The steering gear, Figure 47, is of the hour-glass worm and roller tooth type, with a maximum ratio of 18.2 to 1 in the straight ahead position to provide ease of handling.
  • Page 58 H U D S O N T E R R A P L A N E Now loosen instrument panel gear bracket and allow it to shift to match gear column position and retighten. This will correct any misalignment of gear column. Worm Shaft and Worm The main or worm shaft is carried on two taper roller bearings which are maintained in proper adjustment by a shim pack (B) which is properly selected when...

  • Page 59: Springs And Shock Absorbers

    O W N E R' S M A N U A L Wheel Position To raise or lower steering wheel to suit the requirements of the driver, loosen three gear housing bolt nuts (A) (one not shown), Figure 48, as well as steering column bracket nuts under the instrument panel.

  • Page 60: Front Stabilizer

    The fluid, however, should be main- tained at the proper level to obtain satisfactory control, and it is, therefore, recommended that this be checked by an Authorized Hudson dealer at least twice a year or every 5,000 miles.
  • Page 61 O W N E R' S M A N U A L...
  • Page 62 H U D S O N T E R R A P L A N E FRONT AXLE AND SPRING SUSPENSION The front axle design used on the Hudson Terraplane car is of the Radial Safety Control type, whereby the axle is attached to the chassis frame by two...

  • Page 63: Front Wheel Alignment

    A special tool is required to make this measurement accurately. This adjustment is important for correct steering to prevent ex- cessive tire wear. Have your Authorized Hudson dealer check this alignment fre- quently. Caster The caster (backward tilt of the axle) should be from 1°...
  • Page 64 H U D S O N T E R R A P L A N E Figure 54...
  • Page 65 BRAKES The brakes on the Hudson Terraplane car are hydraulically operated, with sup- plementary actuation of the rear brake shoes from both the foot pedal and hand brake control.
  • Page 66 H U D S O N T E R R A P L A N E...
  • Page 67 O W N E R' S M A N U A L Fluid should be used at all times to insure against the use of brake fluid containing mineral oil or other fluids detrimental to the rubber parts which are apt to swell and become inoperative.
  • Page 68 The clearance at both ends of secondary shoe should not vary more than .003". Should the variation be greater than this it will be necessary to relocate the anchor pin. This work should be done by an Authorized Hudson Service...
  • Page 69 (9) Lower car and test for balance on a level road—avoid testing on side of crowned road. In the event the above instructions do not provide satisfactory braking, consult further with your Hudson dealer. HEADLAMPS The headlamps are designed to give maximum safe illumination under all driving conditions.
  • Page 70 H U D S O N T E R R A P L A N E Figure 61 Without passengers in the car, cover one headlamp to obscure its beam and place lighting switch in the high or country driving position. To Adjust the Beam Vertically: Turn both adjusting screws (A and B), Figure 60, with a narrow screwdriver the same number of turns clockwise to raise the beam, counter-clockwise to lower the...
  • Page 71 Replace bulb and press socket into socket hole. BODIES Hudson-built bodies are of all-steel construction with side panels welded and riveted to the floor section. The body is attached to the chassis frame at thirty-eight points to insure rigidity. Through Hudson unit-construction principle of building the body and chassis as a unit, your car is assured of freedom from squeaks and rattles throughout its life.
  • Page 72 H U D S O N T E R R A P L A N E closed. To open the wing, press button (B) on the locking handle and turn the handle in clockwise rotation. The handle will lock automatically when returned to its normal position.
  • Page 73 O W N E R' S M A N U A L Seats Seat cushions and cushion backs in Hudson-built bodies have been designed to afford the maximum of driving comfort to both driver and passenger. Cushions arc deep, have an unusually comfortable coil spring arrangement and padding effect to hold the cushion form in pleasing appearance after long service.
  • Page 74 H U D S O N T E R R A P L A N E Door Adjustments Door dovetail (male) (A), Fig- ure 63, is adjustable to center the door properly at the top and bottom. To adjust, loosen male dovetail screws (B) and move up or down as necessary so that dovetail lifts the door 1/16"...
  • Page 75 This equipment is expressly designed for Hudson Terraplane cars and can be easily installed by an Authorized Hudson dealer. Electric Hand The Electric Hand may be had on all models as a factory-installed option.
  • Page 76 By re-engag- ing the clutch pedal when starting, the action of the Hydraulic Hill-Hold is released. Your Authorized Hudson dealer only should be permitted to make adjustments on this unit.
  • Page 77 Terraplane interiors. Owners who live in areas where fog, heavy snows and rainstorms occur fre- quently will appreciate the installation of a HUDSON FOG LIGHT. The com- bination of the amber lens and low installed position prevents glare and reflection into the driver's eyes.
  • Page 78 H U D S O N T E R R A P L A N E TWIN OUTSIDE AIR ELECTRIC HORNS of high quality tone, heavily chromium plated, add to the pleasing front end appointments of Hudson Terra- plane cars.
  • Page 79 O W N E R' S M A N U A L If the tires are to he out of service for any length of time, they should he removed from the wheels. The inner tubes should be put in the casing with a small amount of air pressure and the tires stored in some cool, dark place, preferably where there is a slight amount of moisture, since, if they become too dry, the rubber will harden and lose its elasticity.
  • Page 80 Chassis Lubrication, Inside Front Cover Generator Charging Signal Cigar Lighter Governor—Carburetor Clutch 10-16-21-35-51-53 Clutch—Automatic Control Headlamps 17-24-35-73 Headlamp Adjustment 16-535-53 Clutch Control Heaters 10-53 Clutch Pedal Adjustment Hudson Approved Accessories Combination Fuel Pump and 38-74 Hydraulic Hill-Hold 48-75 Vacuum Pump Cooling System 9-49-50...
  • Page 81 I N D E X ( C o n t i n u e d ) Page Page Radiator Ignition 9-34 Radio Ignition Timing 43-44 10-22-61-63 Rear Axle Inspection Service Instruments Seats 71-75 Seat Adjustment 32-71 Keys Selective Automatic Shift 38-73 Shock Absorbers 21-57...

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