Restoration Update

The Hornet has been in Los Angeles the last month or so where the body work is being done. Here are a few pictures from about 3 weeks ago.






I haven't had a chance to go check the progress--but hope to have time next week to see how it is progressing. I think he is done with the entire passenger side and back. I would really like to have the body work and paint done by the end of the year.

The front fenders are both done and look great. Here is a picture of one that is done.



Also got the hood back. This still needs some work but is starting to look pretty good.



And yes, if you were wondering, I am keeping all the parts that are complete in the house. I would like to thank my amazing wife for letting me fill the extra room with car parts!

I also had the radiator re-cored a few months ago. Here it is:



Just about all of the chrome is done. I took some of the pieces out to look at and photograph. Here is just sample of the chrome that is ready to go:



Over the last several months just about all of the stainless steel has been straightened and polished. I tried to take a few pictures but they just didn't look that great with the light reflections. Also have all the glass and window channeling ready to go. In addition I received my order with most of the rubber pieces on the car. We also decided that the Hornet is going to be Coronation Cream. After looking at hundreds of cars at the Hudson National meet in Detroit, we have finally decided on the color. Here is a test shot that we did just to make sure that we really liked the color.



Well, that is all for now. Hopefully I can get some pictures this week and update.

Media Blasting Complete

The car just got back from being media blasted. The Stripping Shop in Peoria did a great job for a fair price. Here are some quick pictures. More updates coming soon.

Picked up the Powder Coated Parts

I picked up my parts from Radiant Powder Coating today. They did a really nice job on the parts. It is amazing looking at these parts that they are over 50 years old---they really look like they are brand new. Attached are a few pictures.

Completely Disasembled

So it has been a while since my last post--work and life seems to sometimes get in the way. Over the last several months we have completely dismantled the Hornet. With the exception of the front and rear glass it is ready to head to be media blasted.



Here is a picture of the inside of the car a month or so ago:





We located a powder coating company and dropped of a load of all of the inner fender well parts and the radiator supports last week. They should be ready to pick up in the next few days.

A few items have been sent off to have work done on them. All of the stainless was sent out to be straightened and polished.



Rick Monroe stopped off in Phoenix right after the New Year and picked it up. Should be ready in a month or so.

Also have just about all of the chrome on the car re-plated. We will picking up most of it at the Hudson meet in a few weeks.

The next big step is getting the car media blasted and then the body work done. There is minimal body work that will need to be done---but I am trying to figure out if it is best left to a pro or if it is something that I can have done at a reasonable price in Phoenix.

We are heading to the Hudson Western Regional Meet in Yosemite in a few weeks.

Engine and Transmission Complete

We picked up the engine a few weeks ago. Several months ago we located a NOS Borg-Warner transmission. I was contemplating making the switch to a hydro but was offered a deal that I didn't want to pass up. I know that most Hudson diehards hate the Borg-Warner as they are not as quick off the line---but I am going to be cruising around and not drag racing.

Below are a few pictures of the transmission after it was cleaned up, new seals put in it, filled with transmission fluid, and spun at the transmission shop.





Over the weekend we connected the engine to the transmission and did a little detail work. Below are a few pictures of the engine and transmission.





I have also picked up a media blaster that I am going to use to start cleaning the frame. I have spend a few hours working on it---and have created a huge mess in the garage. Over the new few months I hope to get the frame and undercarriage of the car cleaned and painted. I have been spending my free time reading up on all the different paint options. After a lot of consideration, we have decided that the car is going to be black.

Engine Rebuild Almost Completed

Took a trip to Mesa to see Joe Polkus and Max (his trusty dog). I had some miscellaneous parts that I needed to take to him to finish the engine rebuild. The engine is running! There will be a good amount of detail work to do on the engine--pretty dusty in these pictures but once we get it back to my garage I will go to work on in.







Next weekend we should be able to pick up the engine from Joe and continue to work on the car. Hoping to get the dash board out and the wires out the way so that I can go to work on the front end.

Here is a short video of the 308 running!

Engine is out!

On Sunday Lenny and I drove to Aurelio's house to pick up the engine hoist. Thank you Aurelio for letting me borrow the hoist. I will add a picture of the Hornet without the engine soon.

Side story: I met Aurelio last year at the car show and party that he hosted at his home. Great time as there were at 25 cars or so at the party at his house including Lenny's 1960 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 that he had just finished. See picture below:





If you are wondering why there is a poster from the movie Kingpin, it is because this car can be seen in some of the opening shots of the movie. Lenny has put together a nice display that has some stills from the movie as well as some photos of the car on the set.