More '51 Hudson Hornet Episodes

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Allstar Performance
Radiator, Fans
Auto Body Color & Supply Co.
Body Supplies, Sandpaper, Primers
Baer Brake Systems
Front and Rear Disc Brake Kit
Bowen Foam & Fabrics
Foam, Vinyl, padding and Coverings
Bowler Performance Transmissions
Performance Internals for our Torque Flight 3 Speed Automatic Trans
Chicago Driveline, Inc.
Custom Driveshaft
Classic Instruments
Gauges
Clayton Machine Works
Interior Door Handles, AC Vents, Interior Side Trip, Exterior Side Trim.
Coker Tire
BF Goodrich Silvertown Radial Wide Whites
Design Engineering, Inc. (DEI)
Boom Mat
DuPont Custom Finishes
Paint
FAST
EZ EFI Self Tuning Fuel Injection Base Kit
Fat Man Fabrications
Front Sub Frame, Control Arms
Flowmaster
HP2 Mufflers, Stainless Builder Kit
Gear Vendors Inc.
Overdrive Unit
Indy Cylinder Head
500 RB Street Wedge
JET
English Wheel, Planishing Hammer, Sheet Metal Break, Stand, Foot Shear & Sitting Shear
Kenwood
In-Dash eXcelon USB/CD Receiver with Build-In Bluetooth/HD Radio KDC-X896
KICKER
Coaxial Speakers, Wiring, Subwoofer
Krist Kustoms
Full Custom Vinyl Interior
Lokar
Shifter, Accelerator Pedal, Cables, Dipsticks
Mobil 1 Racing
Extended Performance Fully Synthetic 10W30
Motorhead Jewelry
Gauge Panel, Search & Restore Badge
NEVERDIE - Lithionics Battery
12 Volt 30A- G34 Lithium Battery
Night Prowlers Kustom Car Parts
Tail Lights, Steering Wheel, Bumper Plate Over Rider, Dash Knobs
RideTech
Air Bags, Shocks, Compressor, Rear Four Link "Air Bar"
Scott's Hotrods
Brake Pedal Assembly with Master Cylinder, Booster and Remote Reservoir
Steele Rubber Products
Weatherstripping
Stephens Performance
Chrysler 727 Torque Flight Transmission Core
Summit Racing
Chrome Smoothie Wheels
Summit Racing
Detroit Locker Trutrac 8.75 differential

Episode Transcript

(ANNOUNCER)>> DAY EIGHT, AND WITH MOST OF THE PRIMING AND BLOCKING COMPLETE, BUILD LEADER TIM STRANGE AND HIS VOLUNTEER TEAM GET READY TO REMOVE THE SUSPENSION SO WHAT'S UNDERNEATH CAN BE PAINTED.

(MICHAEL)>> WE ARE DISMANTLING ALL THE FENDER WELLS AND ALL THE TRIM SO THAT WE CAN NOW START DOING ALL THE DETAIL WORK ON THE VEHICLE NOW THAT THE CAR'S, BASICALLY ALL THE BODY WORK'S BEEN DONE.

(TIM)>> WELCOME TO THE GLORIOUS WORLD OF TV RIGHT THERE, THAT'S WHAT THAT IS.

(CHRIS)>> THAT'S WHAT HARD WORK LOOKS LIKE.

(TIM)>> WHY DON'T YOU LOOK RIGHT AT THE CAMERA. THERE YOU GO.

(CHRIS)>> THIS IS AFTER THE MAKE UP LADY.

(TIM)>> WHAT WE'VE GOT GOING ON HERE IS THE WHOLE FRONT END IS WELDED ON LIKE A TRUE CUSTOM CAR. I'VE GOT EVERYTHING PREPPED, BODY WORK AND SEALER, AND NOW WE'RE GONNA PUT LIKE THREE COLORS ACROSS THE FIREWALL CAUSE THERE'S GONNA BE THREE COLORS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. SO I'M GONNA SPRAY THIS FIRST COLOR DOWN, WHICH THAT'LL END UP LIKE THE PIN STRIPE COLOR. MASK OFF ANOTHER COLOR, LET THAT DRY. MASK OFF, PUT ANOTHER COLOR.

(ANNOUNCER)>> OUR 20 DAY BUILD SCHEDULE IS DOABLE THANKS TO THE DOZENS OF VOLUNTEERS WHO SHUT DOWN THEIR SHOPS FOR THE CAUSE. ONE GREW UP A GENERATION APART, THE OTHER A HALF A WORLD AWAY. CHRIS SLEE OF KIWI CLASSICS AND CUSTOMS HAS BY FAR MADE THE LONGEST JOURNEY TO GET TO THE POWERBLOCK. CHRIS WAS BORN IN AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND.

(CHRIS)>> SO I MOVED FROM NEW ZEALAND, TO AMERICA, TO TEXAS, TO TENNESSEE, AND HERE I AM AT POWERBLOCK TV.

(ANNOUNCER)>> AND NO KIWI DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THE FRUIT.

(CHRIS)>> OKAY, A KIWI IS A SMALL FLIGHTLESS BIRD THAT IS UNIQUE TO NEW ZEALAND. IT IS OUR NATIONAL BIRD. IT'S BEEN ADOPTED BY THE COUNTRY AS I GUESS A SLANG TERM FOR NEW ZEALANDERS. SO IF YOU SEE A NEW ZEALANDER, CALL THEM A KIWI, THAT'S A NICE THING TO DO.

(TIM)>> WE GOT AL PETERSON, HE CAME IN FROM MINNESOTA. I HAVE KNOWN HIM PRETTY MUCH I THINK MY WHOLE LIFE. HE'S A FRIEND OF MY DAD. MY DAD'S '56 NOMAD CAME FROM AL'S SHOP.

(AL)>> I MET TIM IN FRONT OF HIS PARENTS HOUSE. HE WAS A YEAR OLD. HE HAD THIS BIG NICE SMILE ON HIS FACE AND I LOOK OVER AT HIM AND WENT, ARRRR, AND HE STARTED TO CRY, AND HE CRIED, AND CRIED, AND CRIED. AND I THOUGHT, WHAT A BRAT. HE'S TURNED INTO A REALLY FINE GUY AND WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SHOW IS NOT ACTING. THIS IS TIM STRANGE. TIM STRANGE IS WILD AND CRAZY, BUT HE'S A REAL COMPASSIONATE, REAL CARING PERSON. BUT DON'T TELL HIM I TOLD YOU THAT.

(ANNOUNCER)>> IT'S FOR SURE OUR COLMET PAINT BOOTH IS GETTING A WORKOUT. THE GUYS ARE LOADING IN ALL THE DRIVETRAIN COMPONENTS BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE UNDER THE CAR, THEY'RE STILL GOING TO MATCH THE PAINT SCHEME THAT'S GONNA GRACE THE TOP OF THE HUDSON. THEY MAYBE A PRETTY BLUE, BUT STILL VERY FUNCTIONAL.

(KEVIN)>> OUR GEARBOX STARTED WITH A VINTAGE CHRYSLER CORE DONATED BY STEPHENS PERFORMANCE IN ANDERSON, ALABAMA. NOW THE TRANSMISSION WAS BUILT BY BOLLER PERFORMANCE, AND IT'S AN ALREADY TOUGH 727 TORQUE FLITE BEEFED UP WITH THEIR HEAVY DUTY INTERNALS AND EXTRA LINE PRESSURE FOR A NICE FIRM SHIFT, BUT THE TORQUE CONVERTER IS MATCHED PERFECTLY WITH THE SPECS OF THE CAM. SO IT'S GONNA MARRY ITSELF AWESOME TO THIS CAR. BUT THE GEAR VENDORS OVERDRIVE COMPANY SENT THIS TAIL SHAFT OVERDRIVE THAT ESSENTIALLY TURNS THAT THREE SPEED INTO A SEMIAUTOMATIC SIX SPEED TRANSMISSION, GIVING YOU BOTH THE VERSATILITY OF THE STEEP GEARS OFF THE LINE FOR A NICE TAKE OFF BUT ALSO 15 TO 20 PERCENT BETTER FUEL ECONOMY ON THE HIGHWAY, WHICH MAKES IT PERFECT FOR THIS HUDSON CRUISER.

(ANNOUNCER)>> NOW THE PACE IS REALLY BEGINNING TO PICK UP. THE EIGHT AND THREE QUARTERS MOPAR AXLE HOUSING THAT OUR OWNER TOM HAD IS NOW PAINTED AND GOING INTO PLACE. FOLLOWING THAT THE MUSTANG TWO AARMS AND SPINDLES COURTESY OF FAT MAN FABRICATIONS. AND BACK IN THE PAINT BOOTH TIM IS LAYING DOWN THE SAME BLUE PAINT ON THE INNER FENDERS BEFORE THE SERIOUS PAINT WORK ON THE BODY CAN BEGIN. WE'LL JUST LET THESE DRY FOR NOW. UP NEXT WE'LL MEET A HUSBAND AND WIFE INTERIOR TEAM WHO LIKE TO DO IT ON THE ROAD. PLUS TIM BREAKS OUT THE PAINT CHART AND THROWS DOWN SOME COLOR, STAY TUNED!

(ANNOUNCER)>> FOR TIM AND THE VOLUNTEERS, THIS WEEK HAS BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF A MIRACLE.

(TIM)>> WE JUST GOT THE DOOR JAMBS PAINTED. PULLED IT OUT OF THE BOOTH, PUT IT BACK UP ON THE LIFT. WE'RE GETTING READY TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION, PART OF THE EXHAUST IN, AND THEN BOLT THE MOTOR TO IT.

TOM ALREADY HAD A REALLY GOOD START ON HIS HUDSON IN HIS HOME GARAGE AND HE HAD A LOT OF GOOD PARTS TO START WITH. WE ACTUALLY USED THESE BLOCK HUGGER HEADERS HE HAD. SENT THEM OUT TO NITRO PLATE AND HAD THEM COATED AND FRESHENED UP.

(KEVIN)>> SO WE'VE GOT TIM'S HEAD UNDERNEATH THE BOTTOM JUST IN CASE THE ENGINE DROPS. THAT WAY IT'LL CUSHION IT, IT WON'T SCRATCH THE PAINT. ( )>> YEAH, IT'LL BOUNCE.

(TIM)>> MAN GUYS, WE DID A TON OF WORK THIS WEEK. THIS THING WAS BARE METAL WHEN YOU GUYS WALKED IN. WE BODY WORKED IT, WE PRIMED IT, AND WE DID THE BOTTOM, WE GOT THE MOTOR AND TRANNY IN IT. THE BOTTOM IS DONE, THE FIREWALL IS PAINTED, I CAN'T THANK YOU GUYS ENOUGH. YOU GUYS KICKED SERIOUS BUTT THIS WEEK.

( )>> LOOKS GOOD, THEY DID A NICE JOB ON THE CHOP, ROUNDED THE CORNERS OF THE HOOD AND THE TRUNK, LOOK GOOD. THIS'LL BE EASY FOR US THIS WEEK.

(KEVIN)>> DO YOU SEE ANYTHING THAT YOU THINK NEEDS TO BE DONE? I MEAN RUN YOUR HANDS OVER THIS THING, THROW SOME LOVE INTO IT. ( )>> THE DRIP RAIL STILL NEEDS SOME WORK, BUT THE REST OF THE LINES LOOK REALLY GOOD.

(ANNOUNCER)>> 10 DOWN, 10 MORE DAYS TO GO BEFORE THE '51 HUDSON IS REUNITED WITH ITS OWNER, AND THE START OF WEEK THREE BRINGS MORE VOLUNTEERS.

(TIM)>> WHEN YOU'RE DOING A COMPLETE ONE OFF CUSTOM BUILD, THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF YOU'VE GOT TO DECIDE. YOU DON'T JUST ORDER AN INTERIOR KIT OUT OF SOME CATALOG AND THROW IT IN, AND ORDER A STEREO AND THROW IT IN. IT TAKES A LOT OF PLANNING FOR ALL THESE GUYS. WE HAD INTERIOR GUYS SHOW UP AND START DOING PLANNING. THE STEREO GUYS CAME OVER AND STARTED PLANNING WHERE THE SUBS AND THE STEREO BOX, ALL THAT STUFF IS GONNA BE SO WE MAKE SURE IT'S ALL RIGHT WHEN IT'S ALL DONE.

(ANNOUNCER)>> WHILE THE LEAD SLED GETS PREPPED FOR PAINT, SEAN AND JENNA CRIST GET STARTED ON THE INTERIOR.

(JENNA)>> IT'S ALREADY BEEN GUTTED FOR US. SO WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND CREATE A DESIGN FOR THE CUSTOMER, FOR THE CAR. WE'LL FABRICATE ALL NEW PANELS FOR IT. OVER THE COURSE OF THE BUILD, YOU'LL SEE US INSTALLING DIFFERENT ITEMS. DOOR PANELS, KICK PANELS, QUARTER PANELS, AND THEY'LL ALL BE COMPLETELY ONE OFFS, COMPLETELY ORIGINAL JUST FOR THIS VEHICLE.

(ANNOUNCER)>> JENNA AND SEAN ARE A UNIQUE COUPLE. THEIR CUSTOM HOT ROD INTERIORS ARE SECOND TO NONE, AND THEIR BUSINESS MODEL IS ALSO UNIQUE.

(SEAN)>> WE TRAVEL THE COUNTRY DOING MOBILE HOT ROD INTERIOR SERVICES. WE HAVE AN R/V AND A VAN WE PACK EVERYTHING INTO. AND INSTEAD OF CUSTOMERS BRINGING THEIR VEHICLES TO US, WE TAKE THE SHOP TO THEM. SHE PREFERS THE TERM GYPSY, I LIKE THE TERM NOMAD. IT TAKES TWO ODD PEOPLE LIKE JENNA AND MYSELF TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IT'S VERY ADVENTURESOME. WE GET TO MEET SOME GREAT PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY DOING IT.

(TIM)>> I HAD PICK ALL THE VOLUNTEERS AND THE PEOPLE THAT COME. I'VE USED THEIR INTERIOR SKILLS IN MY PERSONAL SHOP. ONCE YOU SEE THIS THING ALL DONE, YOU'LL UNDERSTAND WHY THEY'RE HERE. WE GOT THE CAR IN THE BOOTH. WE GOT IT ALL CLEANED OUT, PREPPED, MASKED. ONCE WE GOT THE SEALER ALL SPRAYED AND IT DRIED, WE ALL WENT IN THERE AND TALKED ABOUT THE PAINT SCHEME. OKAY SO WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE'RE GONNA LAY THE COLORS ON THIS THING. DUPONT HAS THE BOOK THAT THEY CALL THE SPECTRA MASTER BOOK. IT'S JUST FULL OF PAINT CHIPS. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHERE I PICK ALL MY COLORS FROM. SO I JUST FLIP THROUGH THESE BOOKS, TAKE THEM OUT IN THE SUN, HOLD THEM UP TO THE CAR, KINDA VISUALIZE WHAT IT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE IN THE OVERALL BIG PICTURE. WE HAD AN ARTIST RENDERING, I HAD AN IDEA, A COUPLE OF OTHER PEOPLE HAD SOME IDEAS. WE ALL CAME TO THE AGREEMENT THAT WE ALL WANT TO BE HAPPY WITH THE WAY THIS THING LOOKS. I KINDA LIKE WHAT WE CAME UP WITH. (CHRIS R.)>> NOW WHAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE HERE IS WE HAVE A DARK BLUE BASE, WHICH IS GONNA BE THE PIN STRIPE AROUND THE CREAM COVE THAT'S IN HERE. WE'RE GONNA MASK BOTH OF THOSE SECTIONS OFF SO WE CAN SPRAY THE ENTIRE CAR BLUE NOW.

(TIM)>> THE ARTWORK HAD LIKE A COVE, WHICH WE THOUGHT IT LOOKED TOO MUCH LIKE A '60'S CORVETTE. SO WE CHANGED IT AND BROUGHT THE COVE BACK A LITTLE BIT, GOT RID OF A COVE, AND BASICALLY MADE AN OLD PANEL. I CALL IT A WATSON STYLE. LARRY WATSON WAS A VERY TREND SETTING PAINTER IN THE '50'S AND '60'S, AND THE DID A LOT OF REALLY COOL PANELS AND REALLY COOL STRIPES AND COLORS ON A LOT OF ODDBALL CARS, AND THAT'S KINDA WHAT WE'RE PAYING HOMAGE TO.

(ANNOUNCER)>> NOW TIM BROUGHT BACK A PREVIOUS VOLUNTEER FROM THE '48 TRUCKS BUILD. CHRIS RYAN IS A SUCCESSFUL SHOP OWNER AND CUSTOM EXPERT. HE'LL ASSIST IN THIS TANDEM JOB OF LAYING DOWN THE THREE COLORS.

(TIM)>> THE COLORS WE'RE USING, IT'S KINDA A TRITONE PAINT JOB. FROM A DISTANCE IT'S JUST GONNA LOOK LIKE TWO COLORS, BUT YOU GET UP CLOSE TO IT AND THERE'S A LITTLE FINE LINE PIN STRIPE AROUND THE SEPARATING COLORS. JUST KINDA BREAKS IT ALL UP AND GIVES IT A LITTLE MORE COLOR.

(ANNOUNCER)>> TO DONATE PARTS OR TO VOLUNTEER FOR AN UPCOMING BUILD, JUST GO TO SEARCH AND RESTORE TV DOT COM AND CLICK ON APPLICATION.

(TIM)>> I GET A LITTLE NERVOUS WHEN IT COMES TO LAYING DOWN THE COLOR BECAUSE IT'S CHEMICALS. YOU'RE SPRAYING IN THE AIR, YOU'RE HOPING IT'S GONNA HIT ON THE CAR AND STICK JUST RIGHT AND NOT SLIDE OFF THE THING. PRETTY MUCH HOW IT GOES. YOU CAN BE AS BEST AS YOU WANT TO BE, BUT THERE'S STILL STUFF THAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH CHEMICALS. I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS THIS MORNING. WE'VE GOT ONE MORE COLOR TO PUT ON THE WHOLE BODY. IF WE GET A LITTLE DUST IN IT, WE'LL GO BACK, SCUFF IT OUT, BLOW A LITTLE COLOR ON IT, LET IT FLASH OFF, AND THEN WE'LL PUT ALL THE CLEAR ON IT. WE DO ALL THE COLORS AT ONCE. THEN WE UNMASK IT AND WE CLEAR OVER IT SO YOU'VE GOT A NICE SMOOTH EDGE ONCE WE WET SAND AND BUFF IT. I PUT ABOUT SEVEN COATS OF CLEAR ON IT. THE CLEAR THAT I USE HAS NO REDUCER IN IT. SO IT DOESN'T SOLVENT POP. YOU CAN PILE THAT STUFF ON AND IT'S GOOD TO GO. YEAH, THERE'S SEVEN COATS ON IT NOW BUT WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA REMOVE ABOUT FOUR WITH THE SANDING.

(ANNOUNCER)>> BAKED AND REMOVED FROM THE OVEN, TIM AND OUR VOLUNTEERS GUIDE THE HUDSON TO THE MAIN FLOOR, TO BEGIN STEP ONE OF SANDING MULTIPLE LAYERS OF CLEAR TO PERFECTION.

(KEVIN)>> THE COLOR JUST POPS. IT'S DARK ON THE SIDE, IT'S BRIGHT ON THE BASE TONE, HECK YEAH, THAT'S AWESOME.

(TIM)>> THAT LOOKS THAT MUCH BETTER OUT HERE ABOVE THESE LIGHTS THAT ARE CLEAR UP THERE. I CAN'T WAIT TO GET IT CUT, POLISHED, OUTSIDE IN THE SUN. IT'LL LOOK ELECTRIC!

(JOSHUA)>> OH, IT'S BEAUTIFUL. YOU'VE GOT DARK BLUE, LIGHT BLUE, CREAM, WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR.

(JUSTIN)>> THE CAR'S LOW IN FAT LIKE ME. SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE I'M GONNA DIG IT.

(SHAWN)>> EVERYBODY TOOK A TURN ON PAINTING IT. IT WAS A FUN TIME.

(ANNOUNCER)>> IT'S ALL ABOUT THE VOLUNTEERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS WHO KEEP THIS PROJECT MOVING, MOST OF WHOM BRING VARIED SKILLS, FROM A GEARHEAD WHO BUILDS CUSTOM BOBBERS, TO A YOUNG AUTO DETAILER FROM MEMPHIS. THESE GUYS ALLOW US TO COMPLETE A CUSTOM IN AN UNHEARD OF 20 DAYS.

(JUSTIN)>> WE SAND MORE, AND MORE, AND MORE JUST TO GET IT THAT MUCH FLATTER, AND NICER, AND CLEANER.

(TIM)>> YOU'VE GOT A SCRATCH ON THAT ONE DON'T YOU?

(ANNOUNCER)>> WITH SIX LAYERS OF CLEAR ADDED, THE GUYS BUFF, BUFF, AND BUFF SOME MORE, LEAVING ABOUT TWO LAYERS OF CLEAR BEHIND.

(JOSHUA)>> WE'RE TAKING ALL THE SCRATCHES FROM THE SAND PAPER OUT OF THE PAINT AND WE'RE GONNA BE SLOWLY CUTTING IT LAYER BY LAYER UNTIL THERE'S NOTHING LEFT AND THE CLEAR COAT'S PURE.

(SHAWN)>> WHAT I LIKE TO DO IS TAKE EACH SECTION AFTER I REMOVE IT FROM THE BOX.

(TIM)>> WE GOT THIS GUY THAT CAME ALL THE WAY FROM IOWA. ONE OF MY GOOD FRIENDS WORKS AT HIS SHOP AND HE WANTED TO COME AND HELP, AND HE'S AWESOME. HE DOES GREAT PAINT, GREAT WIRING. HE JUST TOOK THE WIRING UNDER HIS CONTROL ONCE WE GOT OUT OF THE PAINT BOOTH AND HE'S DOING AN AWESOME JOB. SO HE KEEPS ASKING ME HEY, WHAT ABOUT THIS, WHAT ABOUT THIS? I WAS LIKE DUDE, I TRUST YOU, JUST DO WHATEVER. HAVE YOU NOTICE HE KINDA LOOKS LIKE MISTER BURNS FROM THE SIMPSONS. WELL IF YOU LOOK BEHIND ME, WE HAVE THIS GUY KEVIN FROM THAT TRUCKS TV SHOW. YOU CAN KINDA LOOK, SEE HOW HE'S STANDING UP ON HIS TIPPY TOES TO REACH THE CAR. IT'S KINDA MEAN HOW WE'RE DOING THAT AND, UM, SORRY.

OW!

(ANNOUNCER)>> JUST WHAT IS IT ABOUT THAT HUDSON THAT MAKES IT COLLECTIBLE? PLUS ITS RICH RACING HISTORY ATTRACTS NASCAR DRIVER SAM HORNISH JUNIOR TO CHECK OUT OUR PROGRESS, STAY TUNED.

(ANNOUNCER)>> DAY 13, AND AFTER 2,200 MAN HOURS, TOM MOORE'S CLASSIC '51 HUDSON HORNET HEADS INTO THE FINAL FITMENT STAGES. THE MEN ARE CRAFTING A FULL ON CUSTOM, WHICH MANY GEARHEADS FEEL WAS IN THE ORIGINAL SPIRIT OF THE BRAND. FROM THE 1909 MODEL 20 ROADSTER TO THE EARLY '50'S COMMODORES AND HORNETS. THE CAR WAS AHEAD OF ITS TIME. A STEP DOWN FRAME HELPED LOWER THE CENTER OF GRAVITY. THE HIGH COMPRESSION HORNET SIX WITH TWIN "H" POWER WAS TORQUEY. HUDSONS WERE BUILT FOR PERFORMANCE. (MIKE W.)>> THE HUDSON WAS A VERY, LOTS OF PEOPLE SAY OVER ENGINEERED CAR.

(ANNOUNCER)>> COLLECTOR MIKE WHITED HAS SIX OF THEM. (MIKE W.)>> WHERE FORD, OR CHEVY, OR CHRYSLER PRODUCTS MIGHT HAVE A HALF A DOZEN BOLTS HOLDING THE FRONT FENDER ON, A HUDSON'S GOT A DOZEN OF THEM. IT WAS AN EXPENSIVE CAR, HUDSON WAS AN EXPENSIVE CAR. SO YOU KNOW, THERE HAD TO BE REASONS FOR IT TO BE EXPENSIVE. IT WAS BUILT VERY WELL.

(ANNOUNCER)>> AND THE LOOKS? (MIKE W.)>> MOST PEOPLE ARE SHOCKED BY WHAT AN ODD LOOKING CAR THEY ARE. CALL THEM UPSIDE DOWN BATH TUBS AND ALL KINDS OF NAMES.

(ANNOUNCER)>> ONE NAME THEY CALLED IT WAS NASCAR CHAMPION. IN 1951 FIVE DIFFERENT DRIVERS TOOK THE FABULOUS HUDSON HORNET TO CHECKERED IN 13 GRAND NATIONAL RACES. THE FOLLOWING YEAR 27 VICTORIES. SO WHEN FORMER INDY 500 CHAMPION AND CURRENT NASCAR DRIVER SAM HORNISH JUNIOR HEARD WE WERE BUILDING A HUDSON, HE CAME BY TO CHECK IT OUT.

(SAM)>> WHAT KIND OF POWERPLANT ARE YOU PUTTING IN?

(TIM)>> ACTUALLY IT'S A 440 DONE BY INDY CYLINDER HEAD WITH SOME FAST FUEL INJECTION.

(SAM)>> I THINK IT'S PRETTY CRAZY YOU KNOW, BUT I GUESS IT'S PROBABLY PRETTY SIMILAR TO FLYING BACK AND FORTH FROM POCONO TO IOWA FOUR TIMES IN A WEEKEND TO BE ABLE TO RUN TWO DIFFERENT SERIES. BUT I THINK THAT IT'S GREAT THAT THEY'RE BASICALLY DOING IT ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS. A LOT OF THESE GUYS COME IN HERE AND WORK THIS MANY HOURS TO BE ABLE TO HELP FULFILL SOMEBODY ELSE'S DREAM IS REALLY COOL.

(BRIAN)>> ALRIGHT, HERE WE GO. THIS IS OUR BRAND NEW WINDSHIELD READY TO BE CUT. WE HAVE OUR TEMPLATE READY THAT WE MADE FROM THE ORIGINAL WINDSHIELD. WE'RE GONNA LAY OUR TEMPLATE ON AND THERE'S OUR MARK. HOPEFULLY NOTHING HAPPENS. YOU'RE ALWAYS A LITTLE NERVOUS WHEN IT COMES TO CUTTING GLASS. YOU SHOULDN'T BE CAUSE THAT'S WHEN MISTAKES HAPPEN. THIS IS A ONE SHOT DEAL. SO I HAVE TO ASK THE CAMERA GUY TO BACK AWAY AND GIVE ME A LITTLE SPACE. HERE WE GO. I TAKE MY GLASS CUTTER AND I RUN THE LINE. THEN I TAKE MY RUN PLIERS AND GET THE RUN STARTED, WHICH IS THE CRACK. AND THEN I TAP THE GLASS TO GET THE GLASS TO RUN WHERE I WANT IT TO. I TAKE MY PROPANE TORCH AND HEAT IT UP, WHICH IS MELTING THE LAMINATE BETWEEN THE GLASS. AND THAT IS HOW YOU CUT A CURVED WINDSHIELD.

(TIM)>> ON THE HUDSON WE WANTED A REALLY COOL SUSPENSION THAT WE COULD ADJUST THE RIDE HEIGHT. SO WE CALLED UP OUR FRIENDS AT RIDE TECH, AND THEY SENT US EVERYTHING WE NEED. FULL PROETHREE RIDE KIT. IT'S GOT THE VALVES, COMPRESSOR, THREE SETTINGS, RIDE HEIGHT ALL THE WAY UP AND DUMP. PULL INTO A CRUISE NIGHT, BANG, GOES ON THE GROUND. HEY KNOW US HOT RODDERS DON'T READ INSTRUCTIONS. SO ON THE INSTRUCTIONS ENVELOPE THEY PUT A DO NOT OPEN, SO YOU KNOW YOU'VE GOTTA OPEN IT.

(KEVIN)>> NOW IN KEEPING WITH THE '50'S CUSTOM THEME, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE WIDE WHITES. SO WE GOT THIS WHEEL AND TIRE PACKAGE FROM COKER TIRE. IT BLENDS ALL THE BENEFITS OF A MODERN RADIAL WITH THE CLASSIC LOOK OF A WIDE WHITEWALL. WE ALSO WENT TO SUMMIT RACING AND GOT THESE CHROME WHEELS. THEY'RE PERIOD CORRECT AND THEY LOOK PERFECT, BUT THE REAL ICING ON THE CAKE IS THE CENTER CAP.

(TIM)>> ON THE BRAKE KIT FOR THE HUDSON WE CALLED UP OUR FRIENDS AT BAER BRAKES. THEY SENT US A COMPLETE KIT FRONT AND REAR. WE GOT FOUR PISTON CALIPERS. THEY EVEN SENT US HUBS AND ROTORS, WHICH ARE DRILLED, VENTED, AND DIRECTIONAL. BIGGER'S NOT ALWAYS BETTER. ULTRA PERFORMANCE, FOUR PISTON, AND THEY STILL FIT UNDERNEATH OUR 15 INCH WHEEL.

(ANNOUNCER)>> WITH THE LONG WEEK OF HARD WORK FINALLY AT ITS END, THE GUYS CAN STAND BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT THEIR NEW CREATION.

(KEVIN)>> NOW THE VOLUNTEERS YES, OF COURSE THEY BRING SKILL. BUT YOU DON'T GET THAT KIND OF RESULT WITHOUT PUTTING A LOT OF HEART INTO IT. THESE GUYS KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK.
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