'51 Hudson Hornet Pt. I

(ANNOUNCER)>> ON THIS EDITION OF SEARCH AND RESTORE IT IS A RARE MACHINE INDEED. A REMNANT OF OLD DETROIT LONG GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN. WE'LL MEET A POWERBLOCK VIEWER WHO IS ALL ABOUT THE HUDSON. TIM SURPRISES THIS MICHIGAN MAN WHILE FULFILLING A DAUGHTER'S WISH, TO BRING JOY BACK TO HER DADDY'S LIFE BY SEEING HIS MIGHTY HORNET FLY ONCE AGAIN.

(TIM)>> HERE WE ARE, ANOTHER PICK UP. CAME TO CENTRAL MICHIGAN THIS TIME TO PICK UP A '51 HUDSON HORNET. I LOVE '50'S CARS AND I LOVE ODDBALL MAKES. GOT A FEW CUSTOM TOUCHES IN MIND, A LITTLE AIR SUSPENSION, MAYBE SOME WIDE WHITES, REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS PROJECT.

(ANNOUNCER)>> WITH THE HUDSON SAFELY SECURED IN THE BACK, IT'S DAY BREAK BY THE TIME THE BOYS MAKE THE 500 MILE TRIP BACK FROM MICHIGAN TO THE TECH CENTER IN TENNESSEE. TIM HOPES TO FIND AN EAGER FIRST WAVE OF VOLUNTEERS FOR PROJECT NUMBER SEVEN.

THERE IT IS GUYS, FRESH FROM MICHIGAN.

(KEVIN)>> I DON'T SEE ANY RUST ON THIS THING. THIS IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL MICHIGAN CAR.

(TIM)>> WE WERE THINKING ABOUT SOME OF THESE PROJECTS IF WE GET THEM THAT ARE REALLY, REALLY BAD. THIS ONE, GOOD THING, IT'S HAD A LOT OF WORK ALREADY DONE TO IT. SMALL WORLD, I STARTED LOOKING AT SOME OF THE RUST REPAIR AND STUFF AND WAS LIKE, MAN, RUST REPAIR WAS DONE REALLY GOOD. AND I ASK HIM WHO IT WAS, IT WAS A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, DAVE OUGHTAN JUNIOR FROM UP IN MICHIGAN NOT FAR FROM TOM. HE DID SOME WORK WHEN TOM HAD SOME MONEY HERE AND THERE. HE'S PUT THE BEAR CLAW LATCHES IN IT. HE'S GAPPED IT, HE'S FIT IT PRETTY GOOD. ( )>> SUPER SOLID, WAY BETTER THAN WE COULD HAVE EVER DREAM. ( )>> I THINK IT'S REALLY STRAIGHT. ( )>> THERE'S A FEW LITTLE DENTS IN THE BODY WORK, OR IN THE FENDERS THAT NEED TO BE STRAIGHTENED AND STUFF, BUT IT'S TYPICAL FOR A CAR THAT'S 60 YEARS OLD. BUT IT'S GONNA NEED A BUNCH MORE WORK OBVIOUSLY, BUT WHEN WE GET DONE WITH IT I THINK IT'LL LOOK GOOD.

(TOM)>> MY NAME'S TOM MOORE AND I LOVE MY HUDSON. MY GRANDPA WAS THE FIRST ONE IN OUR FAMILY TO BUY A HUDSON. IT WAS A BRAND NEW '51 HUDSON HORNET CLUB COUPE. MY DAD BOUGHT A '49 HUDSON THAT WAS BRAND NEW. PROBABLY OVER 100 MOPARS. I'VE HAD CHARGERS, AND CHALLENGERS, AND ROAD RUNNERS, YOU NAME IT. I WAS LOOKING FOR A HUDSON HORNET THAT WAS A CLEAN BODY. AND I LOOKED AT A LOT OF CARS, AND THERE WERE A LOT OF CARS I PASSED UP ON, BUT WHEN I SAW HOW SOLID THIS ONE WAS, I COULDN'T PASS IT UP.

(ANNOUNCER)>> THAT WAS 17 YEARS AGO WHEN TOM MOORE AND HIS BRIDE LISA FOUND THIS BEAUTY IN UPSTATE NEW YORK. HE'S THE SECOND YOUNGEST OF EIGHT AND THE ONLY GEARHEAD IN THE FAMILY. WHICH MEANT HE DID ALL THE WRENCHING. BUT WHY GO FROM MUSCLE CARS TO A HUDSON?

(TOM)>> BECAUSE THE CAR WAS SO MUCH MORE DURABLE AND THE ENGINEERING WAS SO MUCH BETTER THAN THE AVERAGE CAR THAT HAD THE LOWER CENTER OF GRAVITY AND A CENTER POINT STEERING, AND EXCELLENT HANDLING. 308 STREET SIX WAS AN AWESOME MOTOR.

(ANNOUNCER)>> BUT THE GEARHEAD IN TOM SAW SOMETHING BETTER. THIS IS THE GARAGE WHERE MY CAR'S AT. I WANTED TO PUT A DRIVETRAIN ON IT WITH A '70 ROAD RUNNER IN IT. I PUT, YOU KNOW, A 440 IN AND A TORQUEFLITE EIGHT AND THREE QUARTER REAR END. PUT SOME DISC BRAKES ON IT AND HOT ROD IT UP.

(ANNOUNCER)>> WHAT'S THE SAYING, LIFE GOT IN THE WAY. A SERIOUS FALL OFF A ROOF YEARS AGO LEFT TOM WITH A SHATTERED ANKLE AND A BAD BACK. HE LOST HIS NONUNION JOB AT CHRYSLER AND AFTER SEVERAL SURGERIES, LISA BECAME THE BREAD WINNER BY EARNING A DEGREE IN NURSING.

(TOM)>> IT'S BEEN ROUGH. I'M UNABLE TO WORK RIGHT NOW AND I CAN'T PASS A PHYSICAL TO GO BACK TO WORK.

(ANNOUNCER)>> THE COUPLE MOVED IN NEXT DOOR TO TOM'S ELDERLY PARENTS. HE TAKES CARE OF THEM FULL TIME WHILE THE HUDSON SITS IN THE GARAGE UNFINISHED.

(TOM)>> I'VE ALWAYS WORKED ON MY FEET, I'VE ALWAYS WORKED HARD YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS A COULD. IT'S THE EASIEST THING TO DO AND MADE ME HAPPY TO DO THAT. AND SO I REALLY DON'T HAVE THAT ANYMORE.

(ANNOUNCER)>> BUT WHAT TOM HAS IS A FAMILY WHO THINKS THE WORLD OF HIM, EVIDENT TO US BY THE APPLICATION VIDEO SENT IN. TESTIMONY FROM MOM AND DAD, BROTHER, SON IN LAW, LISA HIS WIFE, AND ESPECIALLY FROM 22 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TAYLOR, THE APPLE OF TOM'S EYE.

(TAYLOR)>> MY DAD'S ALWAYS BEEN A HARD WORKER. WHEN HE LOST THAT JOB, I THINK HE KIND OF LOST A PART OF HIM. I THINK HE FEELS LIKE LESS OF MAN NOW THAT HE CAN'T PROVIDE FOR HIS FAMILY. JUST TO SEE A REAL SMILE ON HIS FACE AGAIN IS MY DREAM.

(TIM)>> OKAY, CAR BACK TO WHERE IT WAS. SO HERE'S WHAT KIND OF THE PLAN IS. I HAD JIMMY SMITH, JIMMY'S HOT ROD DESIGN, DO THE ART WORK AND KINDA SEE WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO. IT'S GONNA HAVE WIDE WHITES, CHROME WHEELS, STEEL CHROME, SOME OF THE FACTORY HUDSON STUFF. WE'RE GONNA CHANGE SOME OF THE STAINLESS A LITTLE BIT, CHROME BUMPERS, STILL KIND OF THE STOCK HUDSON NOSE ON IT. SINCE HE'S SUCH A BIG HUDSON FAN I DON'T FEEL RIGHT ABOUT CHANGING THE GRILL AND STUFF ON IT. THIS IS MORE LIKE A PIRATE CODE. IT'S MORE OF A GUIDELINE THAN ANYTHING ELSE. SO PRIORITY ONE IS CHOP SOME INCHES OUT OF THAT TOP. THAT'S IT BOYS. ( )>> I THINK IT'LL LOOK AWESOME!

(ANNOUNCER)>> COMING UP, WILL THE MEN TURN THIS COUPE INTO A CONVERTIBLE? PLUS SEE TOM'S REACTION WHEN OUR RIG PULLS INTO HIS DRIVEWAY.

(TIM)>> WE'RE GONNA CHOP HIS TOP FOR HIM. I'VE NEVER PERSONALLY CHOPPED A HUDSON, SO THAT'S WHY I GOT ALL YOU GUYS HERE THIS WEEK. OKAY, WHO'S GOT THE TAPE MEASURE. ( )>> 18 AND FIVEEIGHTHS.

(TIM)>> ANY OF YOU GUYS EVER CHOPPED A HUDSON? ( )>> NEVER CHOPPED A HUDSON.

(TIM)>> IF YOU MOVE METAL, YOU MOVE METAL. ( )>> THE THING YOU LEARN MOST IS THAT THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO GO ABOUT IT.

(TIM)>> KINDA LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, I ALWAYS SAY YOU SNEAK UP ON IT, YOU STAND BACK, AND YOU LOOK.

(ANNOUNCER)>> THE MEN ARE CONFIDENT THEY MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR OUR PROJECT, BUT DID WE CHOOSE THE RIGHT VIEWER?

(TOM)>> I'D BEEN LOOKING FOR A HUDSON CAR FOR YEARS.

(ANNOUNCER)>> ONE WAY TO FIND OUT, MAKE THE 600 MILE DRIVE DUE NORTH TO FLINT, MICHIGAN, AND SURPRISE THEM AT HOME.

(TIM)>> THAT'S HIS HOUSE RIGHT THERE.

(TIM)>> TOM?

(TOM)>> HOW ARE YOU.

(TIM)>> TIM.

(TOM)>> NICE TO MEET YOU.

(TIM)>> I'VE GOT SOMETHING TO SHOW YOU OUT HERE. WE GOT THE TRAILER SO WE CAN TAKE YOUR CAR TODAY.

(TOM)>> THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.

(TIM)>> I'M HERE TO ACTUALLY TAKE IT TODAY. HI, I'M TIM.

(TOM)>> THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.

(TIM)>> WHAT'S THIS MEAN TO YOU GUYS, YOU SEEM AWFUL HAPPY.

(TOM)>> THIS MEANS EVERYTHING, IT MEANS EVERYTHING.

(TIM)>> PEOPLE THAT AREN'T REALLY CAR PEOPLE, THEY'RE JUST, OH IT'S JUST AN OLD CAR OR WHATEVER.

(TAYLOR)>> IT'S LITERALLY LIKE A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY. LIKE IT'S BEEN WITH US SO LONG.

(TIM)>> AND THE CAR'S AT THEIR HOUSE RIGHT, NEXT DOOR?

(TOM)>> YEP.

(TIM)>> LETS GO OVER THERE.

(LISA)>> THEY'RE PICKING UP THE CAR TODAY. [ horn honking ]

(TIM)>> HOW ARE YOU DOING.

(TOM)>> THIS IS TIM STRANGE.

(LISA)>> THEY'RE TAKING THE HUDDY TODAY. ( )>> THIS IS A WONDERFUL DAY, IT REALLY IS.

(TIM)>> WOW, UNLIKE THE OTHER ONES WE USUALLY START WITH, IT ACTUALLY HAS A FLOOR STILL IN IT, VERY COOL. MY MIND'S GOING 100 MILES AN HOUR RIGHT NOW.

(TOM)>> JUST LIKE MY HEART.

(TIM)>> AND IT'S A 1951. THAT THING'S LIKE SHOWROOM NEW COMPARED TO WHAT IT REALLY SHOULD BE. I'M PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. KINDA FEELING HIM OUT, WHAT HE LIKES, WHAT HE DON'T LIKE.

(TOM)>> YOU CAN PUSH IT OUT IF YOU LIKE.

(TIM)>> SO WHAT WAS KINDA YOUR PLANS ON THIS, WHAT KIND OF DIRECTION WAS YOU WANTING TO GO TO?

(TOM)>> I THINK SOMETHING LIKE A CANDY APPLE BLUE WITH EITHER SOME GOLD FLAKES SOMEWHERE, METAL FLAKE. I WANT TO KEEP THE ORIGINAL TRIM ON IT WITH THE PORK CHOP UP THE SIDE.

(TIM)>> DO YOU HAVE ALL THAT?

(TOM)>> I HAVE ALL THAT, YEP.

(TIM)>> HEADLIGHT CHANGE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

(TOM)>> YEAH, I HAVE A '55 OLDS HEADLIGHTS THAT I WANTED TO PUT IN IT TO GIVE AN EYEBROW CAUSE I THINK THAT WOULD LOOK COOL.

(TIM)>> WHAT ABOUT THE TOP?

(TOM)>> IT ALREADY LOOKS CHOPPED. I DON'T KNOW, YOU WANT TO CHOP IT?

(TIM)>> I'M JUST ASKING, I'M JUST FEELING YOU OUT HERE.

(TOM)>> IF YOU WANT TO DO IT YOU CAN DO IT.

(TIM)>> LETS LOOK AT THE PARTS YOU GOT IN HERE. IS THIS THE REAR BUMPER UP HERE?

(TOM)>> YEP, IT'S THREE PIECES. I'D LIKE TO GET IT ALL WELDED INTO ONE IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT.

(TIM)>> MAN, THE LIST JUST KEEPS GETTING LONGER AND LONGER DON'T IT? WHAT DO YOU GOT IN HERE?

(TOM)>> THOSE ARE THE CHROME PARTS IN THERE.

(LISA)>> YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS MEANS TO HIM, OH MY GOSH. HE NEVER THOUGHT HE WAS GONNA GET TO DO THIS AGAIN, NEVER. HE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS EVER GONNA HAPPEN. I'LL KNOW HE'LL BE ABLE TO COME LOOK AT THE CAR AND IT WILL, NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF DAY HE'S HAVING, THIS CAR WILL CHANGE IT. IF IT'S A BAD DAY, THIS CAR'S GONNA MAKE IT A GOOD DAY.

(TIM)>> DOING GOOD, STRAIGHTEN HER OUT.

WELL LET'S GET ON THE ROAD AND GET BACK TO THE TECH CENTER. WE'LL TAKE GOOD CARE OF IT AND SEE YOU LATER.

(TOM)>> HAVE A SAFE TRIP.

(TIM)>> THANKS!

I SAID EARLIER ABOUT AN INCH, INCH AND QUARTER, AND HE LOOKED AT ME AND GOES, WELL THAT'S A WASTE OF TIME.

(LARRY)>> HONESTLY WHEN I CHOP THEM, I TAKE ANOTHER INCH OUT OF THE BACK BACK THERE. I'D BE TAKING FIVE OUT IF IT WAS UP TO ME.

(TIM)>> TWO, I'M THINKING TWO. THAT WINDOW OPENING IS ABOUT 12 INCHES. IF WE GO DOWN TO 10 INCHES.

(PAT)>> I DON'T CUT THE WINDOW LOOSE, I GO TO HERE.

(TIM)>> SO THEN IT TIPS, YOU KNOW YOUR CENTERING'S ALL DONE TOO. THREE HERE AND FOUR BACK THERE. YEAH, DEPENDS ON HOW WE CAN GET THE ANGLE WITH THE GLASS TOO. I WANTED TO CUT IT JUST ABOUT AN INCH, INCH AND QUARTER. VOODOO LARRY LIKES THEM REALLY LOW. HE WANTED TO CUT LIKE SIX, SEVEN INCHES OUT OF IT.

(PAT)>> WE TAKE THAT, TAKE THIS CUT OFF WHEEL AND CUT IT. THAT WAY THE TOP IS THE SAME ON BOTH SIDES.

(TIM)>> PAT WANTED TO CUT JUST A FEW INCHES, SO WE COMPROMISED, TOOK ABOUT TWO IN THE FRONT AND ABOUT TWO AND A HALF IN THE BACK. WHEN WE CUT THE TOP OFF WE PUT A WHOLE BUNCH OF BRACING IN THESE THING TO HOLD IT TRUE AND SQUARE.

(ANNOUNCER)>> COMING UP, VOLUNTEER TALENT SHOW OFF THEIR INCREDIBLE METAL WORKING SKILLS WHEN TOM'S HUDSON GETS CHOPPED, STAY TUNED.

( )>> ANY FINAL THOUGHTS BEFORE YOU CUT?

(TIM)>> NOPE, I'M JUST GONNA START CUTTING. THIS THING IS FULL OF METAL. I THINK YOU COULD CRUSH OR MELT THIS BABY DOWN AND BUILD LIKE 14 PRIUSES OUT OF THIS THING. IF YOU JUST CUT A PILLAR OUT, IT'S NOT JUST ONE THICKNESS. THERE IS LAYERS OF STEEL EVERYWHERE IN THIS THING. THEY DON'T BUILD THEM LIKE THIS ANYMORE.

(ANNOUNCER)>> NOW WHERE DID THE IDEA OF CHOPPING THE TOP COME FROM ORIGINALLY? IT GOES BACK TO THE EARLY DAYS OF HOT RODDING AND RECORD SPEED RUNS ON THE SALT FLATS AND DRY LAKE BEDS OUT WEST. CHOPPING WAS AN ATTEMPT TO REDUCE THE FRONTAL PROFILE OF A CAR TO INCREASE ITS SPEED POTENTIAL. SOME RACERS CHOPPED THEIR CARS SO SEVERELY THAT THE WINDOWS WERE ONLY A FEW INCHES TALL, AND PRETTY SOON HOT RODDERS EVERYWHERE WERE ADOPTING THIS LOOK FOR THE STREET AND THE DRIVE IN.

(TIM)>> SO WHEN YOU'RE SLICING THE TOP ON ANYTHING, YOU'VE GOT TO GET GUYS THAT KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

(LARRY)>> ALRIGHT, IT'S ALMOST LOOSE.

(TIM)>> SO I DID A LOT OF RESEARCH. A LOT OF THESE GUYS I'VE KNOWN FOR YEARS OR HAVE RESPECTED THEIR WORK, OR SEEN PICTURES OF THEIR WORK IN MAGAZINE OR ONLINE. I'VE GOT THE RIGHT CREW THIS WEEK.

(ANNOUNCER)>> WITHOUT A DOUBT THE MOST EXPERIENCED VOLUNTEER THIS WEEK IS PAT KEATING. PAT'S GOT MORE THAN 50 YEARS UNDER HIS BELT DOING THIS KIND OF WORK.

(PAT)>> CHOP THE TOP IS REALLY WHAT I SPECIALIZE IN. FOR ONE GOOD REASON, YOU DON'T HAVE TO CRAWL AROUND UNDER THE CARS. IN SCHOOL I WAS ALWAYS DRAWING CARS. I DON'T KNOW WHY WE REALLY NEVER EVEN HAD A CAR UNTIL I TURNED 16. NATURALLY HAD TO LOWER MY FIRST CAR, HEAT AND CUT THE SPRINGS, STUFF. IT WAS JUST, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THE '50'S.

(ANNOUNCER)>> FROM THOSE SIMPLE BEGINNINGS PAT HAS BUILT QUITE ORE RESUME OF CUSTOMIZING WORK, INCLUDING THIS AWESOME '50 MERCURY FOR BILLY F GIBBONS OF ZZ TOP. BUT DON'T MISTAKE ANYTHING HE DOES FOR RESTORATION.

(PAT)>> RESTORATION, YOU'VE GOT TO FIND THE RIGHT PART, THE RIGHT NUMBERS. AND ONE GOOD THING ABOUT CUSTOMIZING IS IF IT'S WRONG, IF YOU DON'T TELL NOBODY IT'S WRONG, IT'S NOT WRONG. YOU PUT A HEADLIGHT IN TOO LOW, AS LONG AS YOU PUT THE SECOND ONE IN TOO LOW IT WORKS. I AM AMAZED, THE QUALITY THAT'S GOING INTO IT. SEE I'VE BEEN DOING TOPS, LITERALLY, FOR 55 YEARS. I THINK I'M PRETTY GOOD AT IT, BUT AFTER SEEING A COUPLE OF THESE GUYS, WHOO, IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD REALLY CAUSE THEY'RE A LOT YOUNGER THAN ME. THERE'S SOME TALENT OUT THERE.

(KEVIN)>> WHAT'S REALLY REFRESHING AND WHAT MAKES US ALL FEEL GOOD IS THAT THERE'S YOUNGER GUYS. THERE'S GUYS THAT ARE IN THEIR 20'S THAT ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE FOUNDING FATHERS OF HOT RODDING. PAT'S ONE OF THOSE GUYS.

(PAT)>> THIS IS GONNA BE ONE NICE CAR.

(TIM)>> THAT'S WHAT'S COOL, WE ALL GET HERE, COME TOGETHER, BUILD A REALLY COOL CAR FOR A GOOD DUDE. ( )>> READY, SHOULD BE LOOSE.

(TIM)>> AND WE ALL HAVE A BLAST AND WE ALL LEARN A LITTLE THING FROM EACH OTHER. WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK ABOUT MAKING THIS JUST A ROADSTER?

(ANNOUNCER)>> NEXT, A LOT OF DETAIL WORK GOES INTO BUILDING A CUSTOM LEAD SLED. MORE METAL MAGIC WHEN SEARCH AND RESTORE CONTINUES!

(TIM)>> WE MIGHT GET A LITTLE GRIEF FOR CUTTING THE TOP ON THIS OLD CLASSIC CAR, BUT ANYBODY CAN RESTORE A CAR. IT TAKES A REAL MAN TO CUT ONE UP. ( )>> BPILLAR'S NOT GONNA CLEAR GANG. CUT THE BPILLARS OUT.

(ANNOUNCER)>> DAY TWO OF THE BUILD, AND MAJOR MODIFICATIONS ARE WELL UNDER WAY, INCLUDING A TWO INCH CHOP, ALONG WITH CUSTOM HEAD LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS. ALL MODIFICATIONS OUR OWNER TOM MOORE HAD IN MIND WHEN HE BOUGHT THE CAR 17 YEARS AGO. FOR THE EYEBROWS ON THE FRONT, DANIEL VALJEVAC AND BRAD WESTERGUARD TACKLE THE CUSTOM FAB.

(TIM)>> WE'VE GOT '55 OLDSMOBILE HEADLIGHT RINGS GOING IN. WE'RE GONNA MOVE THEM AROUND, DROP THEM DOWN A LITTLE BIT. AND THEN IN THE BACK WE'VE GOT '39 LINCOLN ZEPHYR LIGHTS, AFTERMARKET LED LENSES, AND PUT IT ALL TOGETHER. SO IT'LL BE COOL.

(DANIEL)>> WE'RE TRYING TO FOLLOW THE CONTOUR OF THIS FENDER, THE SHAPE OF IT. SO WHAT I DO IS PUT THE SHARPEE ON THERE AND LOOK FROM THE SIDE AND MAKE SURE IT'S GOT A NICE CURVE TO IT. YOU SEE IF YOU HAVE TO GO UP OR DOWN.

(TIM)>> YOU CAN'T JUST PUT THEM ON. YOU'VE GOT TO DO A LITTLE METAL SURGERY.

(BRAD)>> SEE WHAT THE DEAL IS, THESE RINGS, THESE HEADLIGHT RINGS AREN'T ROUND, THEY'RE MORE OVAL. THE SIZE OF THE METAL IS A HARD TIME MATCHING.

(TIM)>> YOU CAN'T JUST PUT THEM ON BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT THIS COOL LITTLE ARC FORWARD. SO YOU KINDA GOT TO BRING THEM FORWARD, BRING THEM DOWN, BRING THEM BACK OUT. AND DO A LOT OF METAL SURGERY TO MAKE THEM WORK, BUT THE LOOK'S GONNA BE WELL WORTH IT. ( )>> I'M GETTING READY TO TACK THIS PLATE IN SO WE CAN PUT THE TAILLIGHTS IN.

(TIM)>> WE DID A LITTLE MORE METAL SURGERY BACK THERE, CARRY A LITTLE BODY LINE ON THEM BECAUSE IT'S GOING ON A ROUND CURVE FENDER AND A NICE FLAT TAILLIGHT, AND A LITTLE PIECE TO CARRY IN SOME BODYLINES THAT ARE ALL OVER THIS CAR.

(ANNOUNCER)>> WITH THE START OF THE DAY, VOODOO LARRY CUSTOMIZES THE HOOD BY ROUNDING THE CORNERS FOR A SLICK AND SUBTLE VINTAGE CUSTOM TRICK.

(LARRY)>> A NORMAL PERSON WALKS UP TO THAT CAR AND GOES OH, THAT'S PRETTY, IT'S SHINY, LOOKS GOOD. THEY'RE NOT GONNA NOTICE THAT THE HOOD CORNERS ARE ROUNDED. JUST THAT LITTLE BIT OF CHANGE, I'VE PERSONALLY BEEN DOING IT FOR OVER 30 YEARS, JUST NEEDS IT.

(ANNOUNCER)>> WITH CUSTOM MODS OF THE HUDSON UNDERWAY, TIM AND THE GANG SET THEIR ATTENTION TO THE BACK HALF OF THE BUILD.

(TIM)>> WELL IT'S KINDA CRAZY WITCHCRAFT TO CUT GLASS DOWN. SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE VOODOO LARRY'S GLASS GUYS COMING DOWN FROM CHICAGO TO CUT THE GLASS IN ONE OF THESE NEXT WEEKS COMING UP ON THE SHOW. FRONT GLASS IS TWO PIECE LAMINATE SAFETY GLASS, YOU CAN CUT IT. THE BACK GLASS IS A TEMPERED PIECE, WHICH MEANS YOU DON'T CUT THAT. YOU TRY CUTTING THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF LITTLE PIECES YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH.

(ANNOUNCER)>> THE REAR ROOF IS CHOPPED, KEEPING THE WINDOW PANE INTACT SO THE GLASS CAN BE REUSED.

(BRAD)>> SINCE WE CHOPPED THE TOP AND LEANED THIS WINDSHIELD FORWARD, THE CONTOURS OF THE METAL ARE NOT COMING TOGETHER. AND INSTEAD OF TRYING TO MANIPULATE THAT AND TAKING A CHANCE OF CHANGING THE SHAPE OF THE WINDOW, I'M MAKING A TEMPLATE. WE'RE JUST GONNA CUT ALL THAT OUT, FORM A PIECE, AND FIX IT ALL IN ONE SHOT INSTEAD OF ADDING A LOT OF PIECES TO THE ROOF. WE JUST WANT TO PUT JUST A SLIGHT ROLL INTO IT. THE BODY ALREADY HAS SO MUCH ROLL IN IT PREVIOUSLY THAT WE NEED LESS. SO JUST A SLIGHT BIT.

(STEVE)>> WHAT'S SEXY ABOUT THE CHOP? ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING! THOSE GUYS, THEY'RE STILL GOING CRAZY. THEY GOT THE TOP CUT OFF AND THEY'RE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO.