60 MPH is a great speed for those 8's. Just make sure you are using a modern engine oil, like 10-40. Walt.

Thanks, Walt. Can you tell me why the speedometer changes from white/black letters to black/white letters at 50 mph? I thought that might be a warning or something. Appreciate your thoughts!

Scott, as you may know, a German lady by the name of Heidi Hetzer is now driving a 1930 Eight around the world. I understand that she is a former race driver (among many other accomplishments) and that she tends to drive at about 50 mph. (Or so I was told).

If she passes through your area, you could ask her what is her recommended cruising speed. (She is now in Michigan, headed east.)

Personally,I would think that 45mph was a common-sense cruising speed, though I would always defer to someone like Walt, who has been around a lot longer than I!

Scott, one of the great things about the U S highway system is that there are still a lot of the old highways, ie US 20, US 30, US 6, etc, that are still driveable at 50-55 mph. These are roads that a car of your era was designed to drive on. Usually not much traffic, you can plan your route to by-pass larger towns and cities on the Interstate, and so you can just cruise along and enjoy the scenery.
Just an example - I'm in Memphis and many times I've taken U S 70 between Memphis and Little Rock. Takes me about 15, 20 min over I-40 (this is driving a modern car). But it's just so comfortable, no heavy traffic, no big trucks trying to run over you. About the only part of the country I wouldn't recommend driving on the old roads is New England, especially southern part - it's stop light city and every thing is jammed together.
Just a suggestion.

Hudsonly,
Alex B

I run ours at 45 to 50 MPH it sounds comfortable at this speed but will go much faster but sounds very busy.I have had it over 70 MPH.
Just remember it is 85 years old so who knows what metal fatigue may be happening inside the engine.
Cheers Spencer.

Scott,

All the old cars I've owned would let you know what speed was just right, and when you were going a bit too fast (passing, etc, aside).
The original speed limits are a good start, but each car is in different condition with regard to wear, used parts, damage, etc.

The sound the engine and drivetrain makes will let you know. To determine the right RPM or speed, drive with the windows up and listen.
Windows down will mask a lot of noises.
For instance, with windows/curtains/top up on my 28 Ford, 52 mph was very comfortable, with the top down, 65 seemed good, but 65 with the top and windows up said too fast, too many odd noises, too much vibration.

Rob

That was a safety factor in those days. 45 was the posted speed and roads at times would not let you go that fast. My father in 1929 had the super six Hudson and we use to travel from Waterbury CT. to New Bedford MA at least twice a year and the roads were murder. In a snow storm my father would put a candle inside the car in front of the drivers side windshield and that was the defroster. We sat in the back with the rear floor heater pulled opened taken air from around the muffler. Had to keep the back windows opened at least 1 inch. AH, those were the days. Walt.

Walt
Loved the story. Your dad's defroster and muffler heater is a new one on me.
Thank you.
Lee O'Dell

70 on mechanical brakes = life in the fast lane. 😛

Hudsonly,
Alex B

Hi Alex,

Thank you for the reply, and I agree with your comments. The back roads are a joy to experience and this will be the way I will typically go and at that speed. However, I want to make sure I get home before it rains! See you on the road!

You know I have found this with the Hudson as well. It likes 50 MPH just fine. It will go faster, but it does start to make noises and act less happy! Thanks for the reply!

Great story, Walt. I'm afraid my family won't stand for either the defroster nor the rear seat heater! Thanks!

[quote="Lee O'Dell" post=13181]Walt
Loved the story. Your dad's defroster and muffler heater is a new one on me.
Thank you.
Lee O'Dell

Lee, that heating system was used as early as 1916, 1917. If I remember right there's a picture of the rear floor of a 1917 Hudson in the Hudson Family Album in the online library.
In the 1930's an accessory small 6 volt fan with rubber blades was available to blow air across the windshield. I forget how it was hooked up. I remember a 1936 Chevy we had during WWII that had one of these fans in it. As I recall there the blades of the fan just flailed away with no guard around them. Wouldn't take a finger off but it sure would sting for a while. LOL
Around the 1920's there was an accessory heater for cars that had a burner that you lit off. This was supplied by SouthWind (Google Gasoline Heater) I. can't remember the flyer I saw about this but it seems to me fuel was supplied from the gas tank thru a T fitting.
Any one of these, but especially the gas fired heater and hot air from around the muffler, would be dangerous to say the least. If the muffler developed a hole in it the fumes could come right into the interior of the car.

Hudsonly,
Alex B

Alex,

My 1928 Packard has a SouthWind heater! It gets gas by a thin tube which goes into the float chamber through a small hole near the edge of the float chamber. Some years ago it became cranky and would only work on high-test gas! With this being a very thirsty car, I couldn't face filling the tank with expensive gas, so I stopped using the heater. Now I don't drive the car in very cold weather anyhow.

I drive my '35 Hudson 8 at 50 miles an hour. I used to drive it as fast as 65 miles an hour, but that caused the compression ring grooves to widen, leading to blow by and oil burning, and exhaust valves also getting burnt. I don't want that to happen again. The engine runs smoothly, and so it is easy to feel comfortable going faster.

Per