Russell's Ride

RL Chilton

Some folks have recently asked me for an update on the car. Today was the day for a good update, as she just had the suspension, brakes and steering completed. We then moved her out of the shop and into the garage where she gets finished.

(Thanks, Hudzilla for that last minute brake hose!)

Amazinglly enough, today was the first time she rolled under her own weight in the last 51 years.

Hard to believe that I currently have over 2000 hours in bodywork alone, with about 225-250 left to go.



This is a neat shot. If you look closely in the background, you can see the remains of one of the donors.






I think they're starting to get acquainted!;)



For those of you that are not familiar with this project, below is what I had to start (that was back in Sep. of 2006). Not an auspicious beginning, but a LOT of water has been under the bridge since then. Or, you can visit most of the sordid tale at: www.52hornetvert.blogspot.com , or click on the link at the bottom of my posts. As of this writing, the blog has not been updated with these and other pics, but will be in the next day or two.

The goal is to have her at the upholsterer's shop by March, so that we can make Gettysburg in July. Time (and money) will tell.

RL Chilton

I recently received an e-mail concerning questions about the suspension and available parts.

Unfortunately, I wasn't a lot of help. Very little of the original suspension was used, and none of the donor cars parts were really up to snuff. I located the following NOS suspension parts for the front:

Upper and Lower A-arms, kingpins, spindles, 2 shafts, upper spring silencers and coil springs. The rest of the hard parts for the front were used, like end fittings, bolts, eccentrics. All of the rubber parts were made by me on the lathe except the dust boots, which were cut out of rubber tubing, and the bump stoppers which I picked up in Pontiac a couple of years ago.

The rear suspension has new leaf springs from Russ and Randy Maas, re-built 2nd series (Dana) rear-end, with 3:07 gears, NOS U-bolts, rubber from Metro and Steele, used panhard bar. A 1" drop was utilized with a lowering kit (one of the few deviations from stock). I'll achieve a 1-1/4" complete drop with the 7-leaf springs, as opposed to the stock 8.

Every single brake component is either new or NOS, with the exception of the brake pedal itself, and 2 backing plates. By the way, the company selling brake shoes on the internet, I think it's Old Car Parts Source sells exceptionally well-built shoes for step-downs and other Hudsons at a reasonable price, and are endorsed by Doug Wildrick and myself. (Thanks Doug, for the tip!) All bearings and seals are new.

It's like a brand new, 60-year-old car. And, she's really starting to look like a car, finally!:)

RL Chilton

A shot of the rear of the car:

Terraplane33

:ohmy: Great job done here !!! Congratulations !!:)

hudsontech

You sure as hell have accomplished a lot in the year since I last visited your hacienda, old son. Great job that. You keep this up and you'll have it done in time for Gettysburg, no problem.

Keep up the great work.

Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN

Snailslayer

Looking good Russ. Its come a long way from the planter it started out at!
How about some pics of the blue sedan for us 4 door freaks :cheer:

bent metal

That's a lot of work Russell. Looks great, keep the updates coming.:)

Lee ODell

Looking good Russel. Be looking forward to updates. Keep up the good work. Lee O'Dell

onerare39

Nice, really nice.

What a great job Russell! With all of the NOS parts that you have collected it will truly look like a new production automobile right out of the Hudson factory. Keep up the good work, it's downhill from here (good thing you have brakes). Make sure you get you Albright Award paperwork completed for Gettysburg.

Can't wait to see it.

John Forkner

Kdancy

Looks like a lot of blood sweat and tears!
Great project!

essexcoupe3131

nice work Russel,you should be very proud of your achievement so far and you have come such along way
Mike

[Deleted User]

Russ:
Thanks for the update with pictures, really nice, hope you finish in time, would like to see it finished. Thanks, Bob P

J Spencer

hudsontech wrote:

You sure as hell have accomplished a lot in the year since I last visited your hacienda, old son. Great job that. You keep this up and you'll have it done in time for Gettysburg, no problem.

Keep up the great work.

Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN

Yes Russell, you have come a long way since I met/ visited you past November. Looking forward to more photos and completion.

Jim Spencer
WNY/Ontario Chapter
Rochester NY

[Deleted User]

Hi Russell
I have follow your project over the years I know that you have lots of works in the car i`ts gone beee a real nice car I hope that i gone see the car some day i have plans to go to a national meet .
Keep up the good work
Jan Sweden

[Deleted User]

Hi Russ,

Your professional skills/touch of restoration is great, knowing the attention to detail and quality of workmanship inputted will result in one fine new Hudson. Thanks for your past help, my car should be road worthy very soon.

Thanks again,

Ray

RL Chilton

Volksheime-

How about this one?

RL Chilton

Thanks everyone for the nice comments!

RL Chilton

Yesterday, I got the rest of the black on the sides and today I shot on the last two coats of primer on the body. One more block-sanding and she's ready for paint.

Richie

I agree with everyone else Russell, great work. Richie.

hudsontech

Only thing wrong with your reports is we have to wait to see the results!!!! You keep teasing us with bits and pieces. "Next week we're going to............."

Sort of like waiting for the WTN to come out!!!!!! :woohoo:


Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN

[Deleted User]

Russel, don't know if you will do this but when you install the side parts, rocker panels and rear fenders, put 2stainless thin washers between them and the chassis on the bottom This way water can drain out when rain or car wash. This I do, and my Hornet with 12 years on the road still does not show any rust. I paint all trim retainers silver engine enamel, use stainless screws, 1 thin plastic washer with Black RTV between trim retainer and body. No sign off rust coming from under trim. Walt.

RL Chilton

Walt-

Thanks for the tip. You and I had this discussion in the past and I made notes in my book to do exactly as you described it. Ken Schulte also added that sometimes various quantities of washers are needed at certain points to ensure that you don't bolt in a "wave" in the quarters.

RL Chilton

Alex-

You think you're impatient? Think of what I go through on this end!!

If I could only build Hudsons full time . . .

54SuperWasp

RL Chilton wrote:

Alex-

You think you're impatient? Think of what I go through on this end!!

If I could only build Hudsons full time . . .

Super nice job Russell. Well, if you get full time... There is another one here..
http://montreal.kijiji.ca/c-autos-et-vehicules-voitures-depoque-1950-Hudson-Pacemaker-Conv-W0QQAdIdZ314318551
I called the guy, very nice buddy. He is into Woodies for now but I talked to him about the HET Club and the people in it and he is interested. I will ask that a complimentary copy of the WTN be sent to him. Thanks for the pics. Michel.