1954 Hudson rocker panels

bent metal
bent metal Senior Contributor
edited November -1 in HUDSON
Seems like a common thing for these to get rusty. I've heard that there are replacement panels being made. But I usually don't like to wait, once I get to a car, I can't wait.

Let me work on this picture issue. They seem to go in reverse order, and with no "preview" button I can't fix it till it's already posted.:dry:

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    You are correct about the rocker panels usually being rusty. The panels on the 54 model cars are spot welded to the car and they do not have drainage. So, dirt and moisture soon create ideal conditions for rusting the panels from the inside. Usually this will be accompanied by significant rust to the uni-body frame members too.

    Several decades back, Rick Venza an avid Hudsonite and owner of a fiberglass company marketed fiberglass replacements for these oft needed items. I have a set installed on a 54 Wasp 2 door sedan.

    While restoring a 54 Hornet sedan I utilized the talents of a metal bender ... tinsmith at the time to create a set of custom panels for the car. They were expensive, but made to match the rusty patterns provided.

    Several attempts have been made to create market ready examples of these panels in metal. Those I have seen do not have the correct curvature or end close outs.

    Recently HET member, Jim Copper who is located in Florida, had an NOS set of rockers advertised for sale in the WTN.

    Bent Metal, with your talents these panels should be quite easy to replicate. Viewing pictures of your work products tells the whole story. Quality Craftsmanship!

    The old saying scarce as hen's teeth applies to 54 Hudson rocker panels. Hope you will to share what you thoughts are about these recreating replacement 54 rockers.

    Good Luck
  • bent metal
    bent metal Senior Contributor
    Well thanks WildWasp!:)

    I already did this job and it's out of my shop. But I'm trying to organize the pictures in a way that makes sence. Also, it looks like I forgot to take before and after shots of a few things. I'm getting with the owner to see if he can help with filling in some of the blanks.
  • Chris Smith
    Chris Smith Expert Adviser
    It's my 54 coupe that Guy did the rust repair on. I hope he posts the pictures of his work. I told him that he turned the worst area of my car into the best. On to the floor pans for me.

    Chris
  • bent metal
    bent metal Senior Contributor
    img]DSC02299Small.jpg[/img]
    Excuse me while I fumble around with this image posting stuff.
    This is the rocker and a lower portion of the quarter panel.
    [img][/img]DSC02305Small.jpg[
  • bent metal
    bent metal Senior Contributor
    [img][/img]albumsDSC02298Small.jpg/m527/bent_metal/1954%20Hudson%20rockers/DSC02305Small.jpg[/IMDSC02300Small.jpgG][img][/img]IMDSC02300Small.jpgG][img][/img]DSC02305Small.jpg
  • bent metal
    bent metal Senior Contributor









    Ahh, one out of six pics. I'll post them another way.

    These are before shots. Rust in lower quarter and all along the bottom of the rocker panel.
  • bent metal
    bent metal Senior Contributor
    YES!!!! The pics went through, now I need to get the captions in order.:)
    Made a new piece for the quarter.








  • bent metal
    bent metal Senior Contributor
    So the rust has migrated. It's easy to get carried away. But I'm only doing the quarter, rocker, frame repair where need be, and a little bit on the A-pillar. The owner will do the floors and whatever else he wants to do.

    This is the A-pillar (within' the jamb).





  • bent metal
    bent metal Senior Contributor
    What I'm trying to do here is get to a solid foundation as I peal away the layers, so to speak. All the while remaking panels as I get deeper and deeper.

    We knew the frame had some rust but we didn't know how much. Not until the rocker came off.


    A peak inside.....


    Fold down the rocker....


    After a little poking with a screw driver....


    Uhh ohh, the rust extends to the inside....

  • bent metal
    bent metal Senior Contributor
    Hey "WildWasp", thanks for the help with the pics. It's working great now!:)
    New rocker.....


    A little shaping....


    cut out the bad.....




    New pieces ready to be welded in.....

  • bent metal
    bent metal Senior Contributor
    Ok, I'm done taking things apart. Time to put things back together.

    Looks like I forot to take pictures of the frame before the rocker went on. But you can see half of it sticking out past the rocker.




    All of the old stuff is on the ground. The rusty pile of debris is what came out of the inside of the frame.



  • bent metal
    bent metal Senior Contributor
    edited March 2011
    The door bottom still needs to be fixed. It's not '54 so it has the edge detail for a piece of trim.







  • bent metal
    bent metal Senior Contributor
    edited March 2011
    My helper doing the best steering job onto a roll-off that anyone has ever done....:)


  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Once again you have saved a Hudson and with repairs that are better than original. Thank you for the taking the time to post these pictures for all to see what it takes to do the repairs right!

    Best to you Bent Metal!
  • bent metal
    bent metal Senior Contributor
    I'm glad you liked it.:)

    This is the first '54 that I've done this kind of repair to. However I've had several people ask me about this kind of problem on their '54s. So I thought this thread would generate a little more interest then it has. hmm? Oh well...

    I also made the little under carpet corner piece. This is unique to '54s, I think. I've made these with the ribs in them, like original. But that doubles the work and the ribs don't seem important in this situation. So no ribs on these ones.



  • ski4life65
    ski4life65 Expert Adviser
    My next project is a 54 2-door that is in need of rockers. I would think there is a decent demand for these. As usual, your work looks spectacular.

    Don
  • brumac
    brumac Expert Adviser
    Hey Bent, It would be awfully nice if you would make up several sets of those corner pieces for a 4-door. I'd buy a set and I am sure that others would too. Bruce
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Wow. Beautiful work! I had to do the rockers on my 49, I only wish I had the skill to knock them out like you did. It took me forever to get mine right.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    edited March 2011
    Great sequence of pics and the fabrication was amazing as usual from you. I have two 54's so I am following this thread closely. I agree with everyone if you make rockers for 54's there will be buyers.
  • bent metal
    bent metal Senior Contributor
    Thanks for the nice comments!

    As for making replacement rockers, I usually don't do parts for sale that much. I like to make the pieces and fit them myself. I don't even save patterns anymore just because I end up with too much stuff sitting around in my little shop. Just about everything I do is one off work for that specific car I have at the time.

    I guess I could do a small run. Maybe six or so sets? But I'd have to do another car first, so I could get patterns and make sure all the radii are right. You can't tell from the pictures but there isn't a straight line on those rockers or the quarter panel. Even the bottom of the door is curved a little. Same with where it meets the frame underneath, it's curved. If you were to try and make these on a brake, it wouldn't look right.
  • ArkieJazz
    ArkieJazz Member
    edited September 2012
    I would be a buyer for a set of '54 2-door rocker panels. I have a driver side NOS one that I would be willing to loan as a pattern if necessary. If someone has a passenger side NOS rocker, we would have both sides covered. I also have one or the other NOS front fender extension for the 7D and 6D cars...can't remember which side it is.
  • ArkieJazz
    ArkieJazz Member
    Bent Metal, I sent you a pm, but I really don't think my pm's work. I would like to discuss this with you before the topic goes "cold" again. Email me and we'll exchange phone numbers. My email is grumpyoldtoadarkiejazz@aol.com. Drop the grumpyoldtoad.
  • bent metal
    bent metal Senior Contributor
    What is a "7D" and "6D"?
  • 54SuperWasp
    54SuperWasp Expert Adviser
    I found that:
    Hornet 7A 4-Door Sedan (1951-1951)
    Hornet 7A Club Coupe (1951-1951)
    Hornet 7A Convertible Brougham (1951-1951)
    Hornet 7A Hollywood Hardtop (1951-1951)
    Hornet 7B 4-Door Sedan (1952-1952)
    Hornet 7B Club Coupe (1952-1952)
    Hornet 7B Convertible Brougham (1952-1952)
    Hornet 7B Hollywood Hardtop (1952-1952)
    Hornet 7C 4-Door Sedan (1953-1953)
    Hornet 7C Club Coupe (1953-1953)
    Hornet 7C Convertible Brougham (1953-1953)
    Hornet 7C Hollywood Hardtop (1953-1953)
    Hornet 7D 4-Door Sedan (1954-1954)
    Hornet 7D Club Coupe (1954-1954)
    Hornet 7D Convertible Brougham (1954-1954)
    Hornet 7D Hollywood Hardtop (1954-1954)
    Hornet Special 6D 4-Door Sedan (1954-1954)
    Hornet Special 6D Club Coupe (1954-1954)
    Hornet Special 6D Club Sedan (1954-1954)

    Hope this help, Michel
  • ArkieJazz
    ArkieJazz Member
    7D is the '54 Hornet. 6D is the Hornet Special. Both cars have the same long wheel base

Categories

In this Discussion