Thread: Headache Heirloom - 28 Hupmobile Century 6, Model A

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Well I started this build in 06 and have found everything to work on but this project. Ive grown tired of staring at it sitting in my garage and Ive decided to get back to work. Hopefully this time the motivation will see things thru.

A little history of the car.
Originally my great-grandparents. My father took possesion of the car in the early eighties with the intent of restoring it one day. I think the reality of it never being done sat in, so he passed it on to me. Initially I had no idea of what it would take to build this car and jumped right in. After tearing the car down and studying the needs of the car to build it into something I could enjoy, I found the project to be overwhelming and have had a hard time commiting to it. So to wrap up 5yrs of procrastinating:

I build sill plates out of steel to take the place of the wood ones. I tore the body down and watersand blasted the frame and some body panels. Ive framed the C pillars out of steel. The door wood has been removed and I plan to replace with steel.

Wetsandblasting the frame and body.




Here I have started applying POR-15 to the interior


Applying a little rattle can primer till I can get the body to a paint booth.


A sill plate contructed of steel to replace the orginal wooden ones. The interior of the car was originally framed in wood which included the sill plates (mounted between the body and frame), along with the floor boards. My plan is to replace the wood with steel as so to be able to weld in a metal floor along with being able to tie the A, B, and C pillars together for better strength.


The sill plates installed. They are just above the frame rails and under the rough framing.


A close up of the passenger side front quarter with the sill plate installed.


I put the hood and frame rail covers on to make sure that the body is still aligned.

I removed the wood from the doors and plan to replace it with wood.

Wood framing from the doors:

Door skins sat in:

Inside view of stripped doors:

I had to back up in an effort to go forward. Originally I was going to leave the top alone, but I decided to ignore my moral compass about cutting up this heirloom, and opted to make it more of what I wanted.

After photochopping 4", I decided to go with a 2" chop, and left the rear window original.

Subtle change, I think it should look nice. I still have to do the A pillars as well as cut the doors, then its break out the welder.

I have finished most of the welding from the chop. I also bought a stetcher/shrinker to bend up the angle to reform the inner doors with.

I stopped by 'U yank It' and bought an Explorer 8.8 disc rear. The width is a really great fit for the car. I hung the springs back under the car, but it has everything sitting way too high. Even with blocks and the springs under the axle I wouldnt be happy with it. It looks best in the last pic with the frame sitting on the axle. Guess I'll be notching the frame.

I sat the door skins in place, and built a frame to hold the body contour to the doors once removed. Plans are to reproduce the wood in steel, and build em back.

This post is up to date.

I built a roll around to hold the motor/trans. This way I can sort out the wiring since I plan to use the EFI. I was told this was a running motor, and I removed it from the wrecked truck but I have yet to hear it run. I removed all of what I thought I may need to keep the EFI. Ive stripped the wiring harness down to bare minimum for the EFI. Yesterday I put a battery to it and some fuel. Motor turned over and has spark, but has yet to bust off. I hope to figure out more this evening.

i thought i was the only person to use the term " bust off " .. may be hard to deliver the nescessary 80 or so lbs of fuel pressure to get it to bust off you think .. that looks like a ford truck 300

Good choice on the chop; much improved. This thing is cool; very different model to work with. Keep going and keep the pictures coming!

I did my 32 chevy 2dr sedan the same way...I hated all that wood. and putting steel in the doors was probably the worst part of the job. Used a station wagon roof and chopped the top the same way.

awesome build and what an unique make of car and with awesome family history,way to go. I like the idea of the straight six engine with fuel injection, will make a excellent cruiser.

Wow a three generation family owned restorod! Keep posting, I like what you are doing.

Thanks for the feedback.

Yesterday I almost got the motor running. It fired and cleared out the exhaust, then the starter gave out. Hopefully today with another starter I can hear it run. The motor is a 4.9L 300 6cylinder from a 91 F150. The transmission is from the same and is 5spd manual. I think it should be a nice set up for a driver. Using the EFI was a big challenge but after taking some time with it, and finding the right wiring schematic I think I might just be able to pull this off.

That project shows all kinds of elegance already. I like it. I would ordinarily disagree with cutting up a rare antique but that one is gonna look really good. Please keep us informed!

I worked with a guy in Iowa who had beautiful '34 Hup. I was admiring it one day and asked him what was involved in restoring it to its state of perfection.

He said "I washed it."

Some people have all the luck.


Jim