52 Hornet Dash Stainless Strip

[Deleted User]

Does anyone have a source for the stainless strip that runs along top the dash of the 52 Hornet?

lsfirth

hey Nils,



I bought a big box of Hudson chrome pieces at an estate sale about a month ago for 20 bucks. One of the Hudsons he owned prior to passing was a 52 (I'm pretty sure). If you can take a picture of the chrome piece you're looking for and give me some rough dimensions, I'll look through my box and see if there's any match.



This box has probably about 50 pieces and for almost all of it I don't know the application. Some pieces look familiar and I can match it up on my '49, but a lot of it is for '51+



Lee

[Deleted User]

I would think your upholsterer should be able to source this from the distributor he gets his trim supplies from.

[Deleted User]

Tom Drew wrote:

I would think your upholsterer should be able to source this from the distributor he gets his trim supplies from.

No luck yet... I may have to find an old one and refubish it.

ski4life65

What piece are we talking about?

RL Chilton

ski4life65 wrote:

What piece are we talking about?

It's the piece that sandwiches in-between the front of the dash and the back of the dash and goes along the joint at the top. Originally, was a stainless steel bead to seperate the two halves.

ski4life65

Anyone have a picture of this? I don't think I have ever had one of these in my cars (or I am confused.......)

RL Chilton

Take a look at the top of the front piece of the dash board where the leather grain ends and the vinyl on the top begins.

ski4life65

That's what I thought you were talking about. I wonder why it is missing on my 2 cars? Maybe they weren't attached very well originally......?

[Deleted User]

SKi... when the dash vinyl is replaced these get thrown away, also found that the metal bead easily detached from the fabric that holds it between the dash top and face ... lots get loose and the bead was thrown away. I have take apart well over 40 cars and many of those cars had the fabric intact but the bead was gone when I removed the dash.

[Deleted User]

They are attached well with a leather strip. They can really only come out if the dash disassembled. I suspect many were not put back in after a dash gauge repair was made. These were a one year only piece for the 1952 Hornet.

[Deleted User]

nhp1127 wrote:

They are attached well with a leather strip. They can really only come out if the dash disassembled. I suspect many were not put back in after a dash gauge repair was made. These were a one year only piece for the 1952 Hornet.

Actually, this bead was found in 1952 -1953 cars and not just the Hornets. I have attached two dash images for 1953 Hornet convertible and a 1953 Super Wasp Sedan. The attaching material was infact a hi density fiber material which might have been leather on some models, albeit all I have seen were of a fabric nature. Oddly while not consistant...throught the 54 models this bead also was found in several 54 cars I disassembled.

[Deleted User]

This is interesting. I have been told by multiple sources that this is specific to 52 Hornet models only. All stock 52 Hornets had this from the factory. 53's and 54's did not have it from the factory. I would suspect that they were added afterwards. A dealer added accesory perhaps?

bull_islander

I had two 53s which both had the bead on the dash. It seems like a lot of work to put one there if it wasn't there originally. I have to suspect you've been talking to the wrong multiple sources.
This piece has been the subject of a few threads on here that I remember and none of them have turned up any sources or leads on a replacement.

[Deleted User]

My sources could certainly be wrong ie: Bill Albright, Press Kale and a few others, but I think they are (and were) pretty knowledgeable. I'd be interested in hearing from others on this.

Unknown

nhp1127 wrote:

This is interesting. I have been told by multiple sources that this is specific to 52 Hornet models only. All stock 52 Hornets had this from the factory. 53's and 54's did not have it from the factory. I would suspect that they were added afterwards. A dealer added accesory perhaps?

My 52 Wasp and my 53 Hornet both had the stainless strip in the dash- doubt anyone added them to those poor junkers, the strips are around somewhere I put a 49 dash in my Hornet

bartibog1

my 53 super wasp came with this strip as i was in it the day it left the dealer.

i had started a thread about a year ago and did a lot of research looking for something that would work but to no avail. ended up polishing the old one and reinstalling it. it really came up well. also have one in my parts car but it is in rough shape.

steve

RonS

I wonder if you could use silver fender welting. Easy to purchase from many restoration supply houses. When I restored my 53 HH I thought about that idea but the stainless bead was in pretty good shape so I polished it out.

RL Chilton

RonS wrote:

I wonder if you could use silver fender welting. Easy to purchase from many restoration supply houses. When I restored my 53 HH I thought about that idea but the stainless bead was in pretty good shape so I polished it out.

Typically, this is too big of a bead and would appear cartoonish (to me). The stainless bead needed is about 1/8" diameter.

Haven't found the exact solution, but the stainless bead along the edge of old-time window moulding is the right size. Have to check my catalogs again, but I'm sure I can find a decent replacement, as I need one as well.

RonS

Was looking at the sweep moldings on my 53. Metro sells a 96" piece of this. Part # wc4-96. I wonder if this would work after the fuzzy is removed and flaten down the channel that crimps the fuzzy?

VicTor Z

RonS wrote:

Was looking at the sweep moldings on my 53. Metro sells a 96" piece of this. Part # wc4-96. I wonder if this would work after the fuzzy is removed and flaten down the channel that crimps the fuzzy?

Hello Ron, I sell these Belt Lines (Fuzzies) and this sounds like a good idea. The Ford belt lines stainless steal are a little larger than the belt lines for the Hudsons. The Ford belt line backing is twice as wide as the hudson . I can mail samples of each, mail me a pm with mailing address. :cool:

VicTor Zamora

RonS

Vic, one of the other guys needed 'em. Russ said he was going to look as well. Another idea was if this sweep stuff doesn't work, My Model A Ford uses a welt aaround the gas tank. It is only1/8" thick and about the same diameter as the Hudson dash piece. Ofcourse it will need to be painted and will be less durable as stainless. Sounds like a winner with the fuzzy sweep though.

RL Chilton

Vic-

That was my thoughts as well. Get one with the fuzzy's on it that is the right size stainless bead and cut the fuzzies off. I'd be interested in a sample, if you have some. Address is in the book.

[Deleted User]

Hi Vic,



Need a sample too. I'm in the book aswell. Thanks, Niels

VicTor Z

nhp1127 wrote:

Hi Vic,



Need a sample too. I'm in the book aswell. Thanks, Niels

Samples are in the MAIL!:p

VicTor Z

Hello Niel and Russ, did you receive the samples for the stainless Dash strip. Would they work ? Niel the dash came out great. VicTor

[Deleted User]

VicTor Z wrote:

Hello Niel and Russ, did you receive the samples for the stainless Dash strip. Would they work ? Niel the dash came out great. VicTor

Vic,



Would you be kind enough to send me sample also,



Ray Kadagian

11024 Arbor Pine Avenue

Las Vegas, NV. 89144



Thanks,



Ray

RL Chilton

Vic-

Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you on this.

Regarding the samples you sent, there were two 'U'-shaped channels. One has a white canvas strip on the bottom of the 'U'. The other is solid rubber on the bottom of the 'U'.

I believe the solid rubber one is ideal for making this piece. Only questions I have left are:

1. Can we get this in a 60" length?
and,
2. How much?

Providing we can get the length, I'm ready for a piece of it to prep it, attach it to a dash and show folks the results.

VicTor Z

Hello Russel, Yes! they come in 60 ", I will put one in the mail this week end. See pm!

VicTor

RL Chilton

Awesome! I'll get it prepped and installed and post pictures for the folks to see the results ASAP.;)

VicTor Z

Ray , lets see Russel comes up with, if you are not in a hurry!

VicTor

Ray wrote:

Vic,



Would you be kind enough to send me sample also,



Ray Kadagian

11024 Arbor Pine Avenue

Las Vegas, NV. 89144



Thanks,



Ray