Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Hendon.
Hi Joshua, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Joshua “Josh” Hendon, and I have been fascinated by machinery for as long as I can remember.
Growing up on a farm in West Texas, I was surrounded by equipment, engines and things that constantly needed to be maintained or repaired. I was especially interested in anything with the potential to go fast. That early curiosity became a lifelong passion for understanding how machines work—and discovering how I could make them work better.
I eventually attended Texas Tech University, where I studied mechanical engineering. While completing my undergraduate degree, I was fortunate to meet people who were deeply involved in the automotive aftermarket industry. Being around them showed me that working on cars could be more than a hobby. It could be a way to combine engineering, creativity and craftsmanship.
In 2005, I filed a DBA for Hardcore Kustoms. At the time, I was primarily building cars for my own enjoyment. I wanted the freedom to experiment, learn and challenge myself without losing the excitement that had drawn me to cars in the first place.
Over the years, people began to notice my work. One project led to another, and recommendations from friends and fellow car enthusiasts gradually brought more vehicles to me. By 2016, I was taking on private customers through word of mouth.
Hardcore Kustoms grew naturally. There was no big advertising campaign or overnight success story. I built the business one project and one relationship at a time.
Then, in 2021, my life changed.
Like many people, I was affected by the uncertainty surrounding the COVID era. An unfortunate layoff in the oil and gas industry forced me to make a decision. I could search for another position and continue building cars on the side, or I could put everything I had into Hardcore Kustoms.
I chose the shop.
At first, I operated the business from my backyard. It was not glamorous, but it gave me the opportunity to prove what Hardcore Kustoms could become. I focused on doing quality work, treating people honestly and solving the kinds of problems that other shops were sometimes unwilling to accept.
In 2024, we celebrated the grand opening of our commercial location in Tomball, Texas. That milestone represented years of work, uncertainty, sacrifice and determination. What began as a passion project had become a full-service automotive restoration and performance business with a growing team and a regular book of customers.
Today, we restore and modify vehicles from different makes, models and eras. Our work includes engine rebuilding and tuning, LS, LT and Coyote engine swaps, electrical integration, suspension and driveline upgrades, bodywork, custom paint, glass and interior restoration.
Some of my favorite projects are the difficult ones.
We often receive vehicles that are incomplete, have been damaged or were left unfinished by another shop. Parts may be missing, incorrectly installed or no longer available. In other cases, the owner wants modern performance and reliability integrated into a classic platform.
Those projects require more than replacing parts. They require research, engineering and creative problem-solving. That is where I feel most at home.
We focused early on LS and LT swaps. Scott Baccus at Tejas Steelworks was a strong supporter of our C10 work and helped send customers our way. That support gave us opportunities to establish ourselves and demonstrate what we could do.
Over time, system integration became one of our strengths. Installing a modern engine into a classic vehicle is not simply a matter of making it fit. The mechanical, electrical and electronic systems must work together as though they were designed that way from the beginning.
The best work often disappears into the finished vehicle. People may not see the hours spent routing wires, correcting poor connections, fabricating a bracket or making a modern component cooperate with a decades-old platform. But those details determine whether the vehicle is merely impressive to look at or genuinely enjoyable to own and drive.
One example was my wiring work on a customized 1978 GMC C15 featured by CK Truck Magazine. The truck combined a modern LS-based engine with air suspension, upgraded brakes and extensive custom bodywork. It was a collaborative build, and I was proud to contribute my expertise to a vehicle that went on to receive recognition at multiple shows.
Although my engineering background shapes the way I approach a project, restoration is also an art form for me.
I find a great deal of satisfaction in historical recreation. I enjoy studying how a vehicle was originally assembled and bringing its character back to life. At the same time, custom work gives me the freedom to incorporate subtle details that make the finished vehicle unique.
My goal is not to add something simply for the sake of being different. The best custom details feel like they belong. They may not be obvious at first, but they reward people who slow down and study the vehicle closely.
Building Hardcore Kustoms has taught me that technical ability is only part of running a successful shop. Customers are trusting us with something that may carry financial, historical or emotional value. Some vehicles have been in a family for generations. Others represent a dream the owner has carried for decades.
That responsibility is something I take seriously.
I founded Hardcore Kustoms on the principles of quality, integrity and honesty. Those values guide the way we perform our work, communicate with customers and handle the challenges that inevitably arise during complicated builds.
I want customers to know where their projects stand. I want them to understand the decisions we are making and why we are making them. Most importantly, I want them to feel that they were treated with the same respect and consideration I would expect if the vehicle were my own.
I am also proud of the people who have helped turn my vision into a real business. Hardcore Kustoms has grown because of talented team members, supportive customers, industry relationships and people who believed in our work before we had a commercial location.
Nearly two decades after I first registered the name, I still approach the business with the same curiosity that began on a West Texas farm.
I still enjoy diagnosing the problem that no one else could solve. I still appreciate the moment when a restored engine starts for the first time. I still notice the small details hidden behind panels or underneath a vehicle. Most of all, I still feel fortunate that I get to build things that matter to people.
Hardcore Kustoms is more than an automotive shop to me. It is the result of my education, experience, setbacks, relationships and willingness to take a chance when life pushed me in a new direction.
The vehicles may bring customers through the door, but craftsmanship, trust and a shared passion for automotive history are what continue to move us forward.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Overall the road has been smooth, but like any business, we’ve experienced growing pains as outlined below:
1. Turning a passion into a business
Hardcore Kustoms began as something I did for enjoyment. Building cars was familiar; building a sustainable company was not. I had to learn how to estimate projects, manage expenses, communicate with customers and protect the quality of my work while meeting the demands of a growing business.
2. Growing without a traditional marketing engine
For years, the business grew almost entirely through word of mouth. That created strong customer relationships, but growth was gradual and unpredictable. Every project became a test of my reputation because one customer’s experience could influence several future opportunities.
3. Balancing the shop with a full-time career
Before committing to Hardcore Kustoms full time, I had to balance automotive projects with my career in the oil and gas industry. That meant long days, late nights and weekends in the shop. Progress often depended on how much time and energy remained after meeting my other responsibilities.
4. Being pushed into full-time ownership
My 2021 layoff created both an opportunity and a crisis. I had to decide whether to find another conventional job or rely on Hardcore Kustoms to support my future. Moving into the business full time was not a carefully timed transition. It was a leap made during a period of economic uncertainty.
5. Operating from my backyard
Building the business from home kept overhead manageable, but it also created limitations. Space, equipment capacity, storage and the number of projects I could handle were restricted. I had to produce professional-quality work before I had the facilities normally associated with a professional restoration business.
6. Establishing credibility
Customers often entrust a restoration shop with valuable vehicles, significant investments and deeply personal memories. As a growing business, I had to prove that Hardcore Kustoms could complete complicated work correctly and responsibly. That trust had to be earned one project at a time.
7. Inheriting other people’s problems
Many of the vehicles brought to us had already been taken apart, modified incorrectly or left unfinished elsewhere. Parts were sometimes lost, damaged or no longer available. These projects were difficult to estimate because their true condition could remain hidden until disassembly began.
8. Managing unpredictable restoration projects
Custom builds rarely follow a perfect plan. Rust, previous repairs, electrical problems and parts shortages can quickly change a project’s scope. I had to explain those discoveries to customers, adjust schedules and control costs without compromising the finished vehicle.
9. Finding parts and creating alternatives
Restoring older vehicles often means working with discontinued or poor-quality replacement components. When the correct part cannot be found, we may have to repair an original, modify an available component or fabricate a solution. This adds time, cost and technical risk to a build.
10. Integrating old and new technology
Engine swaps and restomod projects require modern mechanical and electronic systems to operate inside vehicles that were never designed for them. Making everything fit is only the beginning. The engine, transmission, wiring, fuel system, cooling, gauges and accessories must function together reliably.
11. Competing without lowering standards
Automotive restoration is a competitive industry, and customers do not always understand why high-quality work costs more. One continuing struggle has been explaining the value of proper preparation, quality parts and skilled labor without entering a race to offer the lowest price.
12. Pricing work accurately
Custom work is difficult to quote because every vehicle carries different problems. Pricing too low can hurt the business, while pricing too high can cost us the project. I had to learn how to estimate honestly while leaving room for discoveries that could not be seen during the initial inspection.
13. Managing customer expectations
Customers often arrive with an ambitious vision, a fixed budget and a desired completion date. Those three things do not always align. Part of my responsibility is helping owners understand what is realistic and guiding them toward decisions that protect the project’s quality.
14. Making the move to a commercial location
Opening a commercial shop in Tomball in 2024 was a major milestone, but it also brought higher expenses and greater pressure. Rent, utilities, insurance, equipment, payroll and regulatory responsibilities became part of the monthly reality. The business needed a reliable flow of work simply to keep the doors open.
15. Building the right team
As Hardcore Kustoms grew, I could no longer perform every task myself. Finding people with the necessary skills was only part of the challenge. They also needed to share my commitment to honesty, consistency, craftsmanship and attention to detail.
16. Learning to delegate
The shop’s reputation was built around my personal work, so trusting other people with important parts of a project was difficult. I had to create processes, communicate my standards and allow team members to take ownership while ensuring that every finished vehicle still reflected the Hardcore Kustoms name.
17. Managing time and workflow
A restoration shop can have several long-term builds underway while also handling repairs, parts delays and unexpected customer needs. Keeping projects moving without sacrificing quality requires constant coordination. When one vehicle is delayed, it can affect the schedule for every project behind it.
18. Protecting craftsmanship during growth
Growth creates pressure to complete more work in less time. One of my greatest challenges has been expanding the company without allowing speed or volume to weaken our standards. A larger business is not a success if the work no longer deserves the reputation that made growth possible.
19. Carrying the responsibility of ownership
As an employee, my primary responsibility was my own work. As an owner, I became responsible for customers, vehicles, employees, expenses, deadlines and the future of the company. Problems do not remain at the shop when the day ends; I carry them home and continue thinking about solutions.
20. Preserving the original passion
Perhaps the most personal struggle has been protecting my love for cars while dealing with the pressures of running a company. The work that once provided an escape became the source of my livelihood. I have had to make a conscious effort to remember why I started: the satisfaction of solving difficult problems and turning an owner’s vision into something real.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
What We Do
At Hardcore Kustoms, we restore, repair and customize vehicles from a wide range of makes, models and eras. Our services include complete restorations, restomod builds, custom paint and bodywork, engine rebuilding, performance upgrades, interior restoration, glass replacement, electrical repair, suspension work and driveline upgrades.
We can manage nearly every stage of a project, from the first inspection and disassembly through fabrication, paint, wiring, assembly and final testing. Whether a customer brings us a complete vehicle, a collection of parts or a project that another shop could not finish, our goal is to create something dependable, functional and built to last.
What We Specialize In
We specialize in complex projects that require engineering, electrical integration and creative problem-solving. LS, LT and Coyote engine swaps have been an important part of our work from the beginning.
Installing a modern engine in a classic vehicle involves much more than making it fit. The engine, transmission, wiring, fuel system, cooling system, gauges, air conditioning and other components must operate together correctly. We approach the vehicle as a complete system rather than treating each component as a separate installation.
We are also experienced in completing stalled or abandoned projects. Vehicles often come to us after being disassembled elsewhere, with missing parts, damaged components or undocumented modifications. These builds can be difficult to evaluate and even harder to complete, but they are exactly the kinds of challenges we enjoy.
What We Are Known For
Hardcore Kustoms is known for taking on projects that other shops may not want to touch. Some require extensive troubleshooting. Others need parts that are no longer available or solutions that cannot be ordered from a catalog.
Our reputation has been built on quality, honesty, attention to detail and a willingness to solve difficult problems. Customers know they will receive a straightforward assessment of their vehicle and clear communication as the work progresses.
We are also known for treating small details with the same care as the visible parts of a build. The wiring behind the dashboard, the hardware underneath the vehicle and the fit of a concealed bracket all matter. A vehicle should not only look good in photographs—it should be safe, reliable and enjoyable to drive.
What Sets Us Apart
What sets Hardcore Kustoms apart is the combination of engineering, craftsmanship and accountability we bring to every project.
My background in mechanical engineering influences the way I approach a build. I want to understand why a problem exists before deciding how to correct it. We do not simply replace parts and hope for the best. We evaluate how the vehicle’s systems interact and develop a solution around the entire build.
We are equally committed to preserving the character of each vehicle. The best custom work does not always call attention to itself. Sometimes the most effective details are subtle enough to look as though they could have come from the factory.
Communication is another important difference. Restoration projects can uncover hidden damage, previous repairs and unexpected mechanical problems. We believe customers should understand what we find, what their options are and how each decision may affect the budget, schedule and final result.
We do not want to be the least expensive or the fastest shop. We want to be the shop customers trust to do the work correctly.
What I Am Most Proud Of
I am proud that Hardcore Kustoms grew from a personal passion into a full-service business without abandoning the principles on which it was founded.
I began building cars for enjoyment and gradually developed a customer base through word of mouth. After being laid off from the oil and gas industry in 2021, I committed myself fully to the company and operated it from my backyard. In 2024, we opened our commercial location in Tomball.
That growth represents years of long days, difficult decisions and personal sacrifice. More importantly, it reflects the trust customers placed in us before we had a large facility or an established name.
I am proud of the team we have built, the problems we have solved and the vehicles we have brought back to life. I am especially proud when a customer receives a finished vehicle that carries personal or family significance. In those moments, we are doing more than rebuilding a machine. We are preserving someone’s memories and creating something that can be enjoyed for another generation.
Our greatest achievement is not a single vehicle, award or milestone. It is the reputation we have earned by being honest, standing behind our work and refusing to compromise our standards.
Hardcore Kustoms is built on the belief that quality and consistency should not depend on the size, price or visibility of a project. Every vehicle that carries our name should reflect the same level of care.
That is what sets us apart, and it is what I am most proud of.
What makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is solving problems and watching an idea become real.
I enjoy taking on a vehicle that is incomplete, damaged or considered too difficult and finding a way forward. There is a special satisfaction in diagnosing a problem that has frustrated others, developing the right solution and finally seeing the vehicle operate as it should.
I am happiest when I am creating. That may mean bringing a classic vehicle back to its original condition, integrating modern performance into an older platform or adding subtle custom details that make a build truly personal. I enjoy the entire process, but nothing compares to hearing an engine start for the first time or watching a customer see the finished vehicle.
The customer’s reaction is one of the greatest rewards. Many of these vehicles represent family history, important memories or dreams that owners have carried for years. Knowing that my team and I helped preserve that history—or created something a family can enjoy for generations—makes the long hours and difficult days worthwhile.
I also find happiness in working alongside people who share my standards and passion. I am proud of what our team accomplishes together and grateful for the customers, friends and supporters who have helped Hardcore Kustoms grow.
Ultimately, I am happiest when I can use my engineering knowledge, creativity and hands-on skills to build something meaningful. Hardcore Kustoms gives me the opportunity to do what I love, overcome new challenges and leave behind work that speaks for itself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hardcore-kustoms.com
- Instagram: @hardcorekustoms
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/hardcorekustomstexas
