Got my 54 Special

464Saloon wrote:

Neils and I picked up my Hornet yesterday, unfortunately it isn't in as good of condition as I was led to believe. I doubt I will ever by a car again online. It has a fair amont of rust around the rear windows, base of roof and down around the rear wheel wells. Doesn't look so far like any of it has gone through, but it is certainly a concern to me though Neils says it is normal for these cars. I plan to take it to my a buddy of mine who is a painter and another buddy of mine who is strictly a metalworker and get their opinions. I may be worrying too much, I don't know with these cars. Anyway, some other things are wrong with the car where I could use some guidance. The wipers don't work, the radio doesn't work, the temp gauge doesn't work and the clock doesn't work. The horn was also wired to a toggle switch for some reason which is pretty dumb when you consider a horn is generally used in a spur of the moment when it needs to be quickly accessed. So for all you old time Hudson experts, what should I look at first? Are parts available? None of these items are things I can't fix, I am just frustrated that I was looking for a low maintenance driver that I could restore down the road when I get some of my other cars already in process done.



Thanks

I echo what everyone else has said....solid frame rails is the single most important thing. The sheet metal on the floors you can patch yourself by riveting/welding in some panels if need be. Even some of the most solid '54s might have a little rot around the rear wheel wells just behind the skirt covers....having said that, step-downs are almost never in danger of falling apart as long as the frame rails are good. The first thing I do with almost every Hudson I've gotten is pull out the interior and carpets and Knock off all the loose rust and scale with a drill and wire brush and then attack it all with POR 15 or Eastwood Rust Stop. I give the underside of the car the same treatment ASAP. You need to stop any deterioration before you can begin restoration. As far as some of the other stuff you mentioned....Mechanical clocks seem to rarely work on Hudsons unless you have the fixed. Temp guages likewise rarely seem all that accurate in my experience. Wipers are vacum but a rebuild and /or a good cleanup/lube and a vacum booster go a long way. Horn shouldn't be difficult to figure out but down the road you may consider new wiring. Part are available!!! You just need to contact the right people but even so you'd be surprised what you can find at your local NAPA. Keep posting your aggrivations and I'm sure you'll get all the help we can give. Don't give up, a lot of these little fixes are perfectly within your capability to perform without farming it out.