awesome Dave! Can't wait to see what you've done on it in person this year at Santa Maria. Mine will be there too, so you can finally smoke it over in person.
So with less than two weeks to Santa Maria I thought I would bust out some new rocker panels and skirts. The stock rockers and all the trim are butt ugly for a Kustom. So here's the start of me making some dies for the pullmax. Dave Hitch FBBF
Here's the crappy looking profile of the stock rockers and all the clip retainers for the three trims that went on it. See ya bitches Dave Hitch FBBF
Pic on the left is a sample I ran through the pullmax and the others show the new profile and fit to the frame. Yup that's the frame it's gunna attach to on the bottom. Dave Hitch FBBF
It's always nice to see someone with a keen eye & the skills to execute...subtle to anyone whoe doesn't have a Hudson...the envy of everyone who does. Good stuff Dave
hudsons have the chopped look with out chopping them. thats like painting a car the same color as it was. not many people will notice the difference. looks great though
One of my favorite customs. Ever. Your craftsmanship, attention to detail and the sheer subtlety of this build blow me away every time I see this car.
Studhud, Those Hudsons were already "channeled" from the Factory, You Just Finished It Out !...................Love IT, Man . How old am I ? I got to see "the Hudsons " run on tha' Beach, last time !!, before everything went to The "NEW " Daytona Speedway, It was an Exibition Race. Hell ! come to Think of IT, .............I've done quite "A Bit " in this cruel World ! Smokey II
Well I got the dies fine tuned this afternoon down at Bluecollar. I also made patterns off the stock skirts and off the stock rocker panel "see pics" ran both skirts thru the pullmax so they're roughed out. Gotta go home and fine tune the rocker pattern on the car to limit the amount of scrap metal I make. So far I made three skirts to get one-learning curve!! More to come Dave Hitch FBBF
Ok so I got some work done. I got some card stock attached it to the frame put the old rocker over it then marked both the rocker side and the frame side. This allowed me to fine tune the radius of the bottom of the rocker. This pattern was cut and will lay on a 4x10 sheet of 18 gauge AKDQ. I will make two off the pattern cutting then as close to the radius as possible clico them together and sand the sand the edges to make a perfect match. This is key because the pullmax die is made like a fence on table saw the radius of the rocker follows the edge of the panel. I got the pattern done and off I also put the skirt I made today on with some clico's and stood back. I moved the rear bumper back a while ago so this affects the length and radius the rocker panel in the back. This also gave me a chance to "really" look at the skirt opening. So I tweaked out on blue tape I think this looks way better than the box looking old opening. It matches the style line of the quarter panel. Matching lines always work. Weigh in on this wheel opening-I am looking for some input!! Check out the pics. Dave Hitch FBBF
Nice progress. I also agree that the stock "box" rear wheel opening doesn't work...it just doesn't have a finished look. I do like the shape you're putting in the wheel opening, slanting it to match the fender body line works. Are you planning on running a skirt, or are you running skirtless with re-shaped openings? I think the only thing you might want to play with is the wheel opening height. Am I looking at the top edge of the tape, or the bottom edge? It almost looks a bit too low in these pics, but I'm looking at the bottom edge of the tape I guess. The ass end is pretty visually heavy on these cars, and lowering the wheel opening might make it look a bit heavier. I think the shape is spot on, perhaps play with the height a bit?
Ok, looked at the pics again...you're obviously looking at the top edge of the tape. I think that looks great! So, fender skirts or no fender skirts?
Skirts! And I might cheat the tape up a 1/4" keep in mind thats about where the stock opening and subframe are and I'm not interested in cutting into that subframe box section. Thanks homie! Dave Hitch FBBF
So glad to see this updated and as usual you´re right on the money with these panels. The stock items are a horrible mess with all those ribs.
Looks great. I like the look of the new opening. When you get it all dialed in, make another set for me.
I'm making an xtra pattern in steel for just that reason is your car a long wheel base or short? Dave Hitch FBBF
You guys both want a set? Keep in mind it costs almost $100 in sheet metal to do two rockers two skirts and two panels behind the skirts. Ill do em for you guys either just pushing metal thru the pullmax or as clost to finished as I can more$$$ let me know soon. Dave Hitch FBBF
Got the loonnnggg parts made up in the process of making them fit using the shrinker. Dave Hitch FBBF